The Commission is also preparing an evaluation of the common fisheries policy, outgoing Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius has announced.
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The European Commission has identified steady improvements in the sustainability of EU fisheries, with fewer stocks being overfished, according to its latest annual report.
The newly-released Commission communication, Sustainable Fishing in the EU: State of Play and Orientations for 2025, provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and future directions for the EU fishing sector.
However, despite positive developments, additional efforts are needed to bolster the resilience and long-term sustainability of crucial species across all EU sea basins, the Commission report argues.
The report, which will guide the Commission's proposals for 2025 fishing opportunities, highlights significant progress in several regions.
In the North-East Atlantic, fish stocks are generally within healthy ranges, which the Commission says reflects the success of EU sustainable fisheries management and the efforts of fishers. However, "several species essential for ecosystem balance and commercial purposes continue to underperform," the report notes.
Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, fish stocks are slowly improving, but fishing mortality rates remain 20% above the recommended sustainability levels. This indicates a need for sustained efforts to ensure the full recovery of key species and ecosystems, the Commission report suggests.
However, the situation in the Baltic Sea is particularly concerning, with fish stocks continuing to decline under various pressures. Four out of ten stocks in this region are no longer targeted and are only landed as by-catch.
The Commission plans to address these issues comprehensively but emphasizes that Member States must fully implement EU legislation to reverse this trend.
The new report also highlights the ongoing impact of climate change on fishing communities, leading to uncertainties due to the declining availability of fish stocks essential for their livelihoods.
Furthermore, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a significant ongoing problem that exacerbates resource scarcity, underscoring the need for increased efforts to ensure compliance with conservation and control measures.
The Commission is now inviting Member States, Advisory Councils, the fishing industry, non-governmental organizations, and citizens to share their perspectives on the state of play and future fishing opportunities for 2025. The online public consultation is open until August 31.
Following the consultation, the Commission will present three proposals for 2025 fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean and Black Seas.
The proposals will be based on multi-annual fisheries management plans, scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and economic analysis from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). Adjustments from the implementation of the landing obligation will also be incorporated.
The Council will discuss the proposals and determine fishing quotas for 2025 during its meetings in October and December 2024.
In parallel, the Commission is also preparing an evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy to assess its performance over the past decade.
This evaluation will also consider the evolving dynamics of fishing relations with non-EU countries. Contributions to this evaluation can be made via the ‘Have Your Say’ portal.
"I appreciate that in the EU there are fewer stocks being overfished. Sustainably managed stocks provide a better economic basis for our fishers. While sustainability keeps improving fishers face important challenges," said Outgoing Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius.
"The Commission is now preparing an evaluation of the common fisheries policy to assess if it is meeting its objectives and to help my successor make the best-informed decisions," Sinkevičius added.
Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to appoint a full-time Commissioner for fisheries, if re-elected - an election commitment which was welcomed at the time by European fishing industry trade body Europêche, which argues that a standalone EU commissioner focused only on fisheries is needed, reflecting the strategic importance of the sector in Europe.