Europe's big ambitions for fisheries and oceans

In mid September, we learned that the Europe Union has nominated a new Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans for 2024-2029: Cypriot biologist and politician Costas Kadis.

While yet to be confirmed by a European Parliament vote, the appointment of Kadis has already received backing from industry stakeholders including Spanish aquaculture industry association APROMAR and Europe-wide fishing industry body Europêche.

With the fisheries sector described, in President Ursula von der Leyen's words in her mission letter to the new commissioner, as "the lifeblood of our coastal communities and economies", and with 40% of the European population living in coastal areas and 75% of the EU’s foreign trade volume being conducted by sea, Kadis' remit is of crucial importance for the European Union.

As WeAreAquaculture previously reported, the responsibilities of the 27 European Commissioners has undergone a reshuffle under Von der Leyen's re-election as President, with the previous portfolio for Environment, Fisheries and Oceans now allocated to two separate commissioners. This move was welcomed by APROMAR and Europêche, both of which have criticised the previously combined remit, under former Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius - with APROMAR describing his tenure as "a missed term".

But, as Europe's new Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans gets ready to take office, what will be his key priorities and responsibilities over the next five years?

The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) has been urging Europe to update the Common Fisheries Policy to give aquaculture an "equal footing with capture fisheries", and has proposed introducing a Common EU Policy for Aquaculture, arguing that a coordinated approach across all EU member states would "unlock the potential of EU fish farming".

But are we likely to see any significant changes being made under Kadis' tenure?

According to the "mission letter" from von der Leyen to Kadis, which details the role and remit of the appointment, the new Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans will be expected to first of all ensure the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) across all member states, "to support the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and their competitiveness across the EU, achieve sustainable fish stocks and to minimize the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem".

However, Europe is currently in the process of a comprehensive evaluation of the CFP, consulting both industry stakeholders and the wider public on the policy, asking about its effectiveness and efficiency since it was last reformed in 2013. The new Commissioner is thus tasked with completing this process, with a public consultation due to be released in the fourth quarter of 2024. A summary report detailing all the findings is due to be published at the beginning of 2025.

Based on the outcomes of this, Kadis is also tasked with preparing "a vision for the fisheries sector with a 2040 perspective", and requested to "tackle the issues that affect the fishing community and work to support job creation in the sector and ensure its long-term competitiveness and sustainability".

This may mean revising the CFP, with Kadis instructed by Von der Leyen to "if and where necesary, take appropriate measures to refine and enhance the CFP to deliver on our goals."

The Commissioner has also been instructed to take decisive action to protect the European fisheries chain from unfair global competition, particularly in seafood products, and to uphold a "level playing field". Additionally, Kadis will focus on ensuring stability and predictability of access to neighbouring waters for the EU fishing fleet.

Meanwhile, on the international stage, Kadis is expected to strengthen Europe’s global leadership in sustainable fisheries. This includes developing a strategic approach to external fisheries action, maintaining Europe’s "zero tolerance" stance against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and promoting sustainable fisheries partnership agreements, particularly in Africa and the Indo-Pacific.

However, the key overarching theme which frames the Commissioner's five-year term is the new European Oceans Pact, which von der Leyen says will ensure "coherence across all policy areas linked to the oceans".

The Pact, a central pillar of new Commissioner's mandate, will bring together all EU initiatives related to the seas, oceans, and coastal regions, focusing on promoting a resilient blue economy, managing marine resources sustainably, and advancing marine knowledge, innovation, and investment. A key aspect will be strengthening maritime spatial planning to balance the economic uses of the ocean with safeguarding its health.

Throughout his term, the Commissioner is also requested to engage directly with coastal communities, organizing "Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues" to incorporate the views of all stakeholders, including small-scale and artisanal fisheries, into the design of the European Oceans Pact.

In support of the EU’s Mission "To restore our ocean and waters by 2030," Kadis is also tasked with spearheading the development of a European ocean research and innovation strategy. This includes exploring the feasibility of establishing European blue carbon reserves and other innovative business models to support economic activity and jobs within coastal communities.

The new Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner is also tasked with leading EU efforts to ratify and incorporate into law the newly established Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), sometimes referred to as the High Seas Treaty or Global Ocean Treaty, of which the key goal is to ensure protection of at least 30% of the High Seas by 2030. Additionally, Kadis will work to promote international cooperation in designating new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), particularly in the Southern Ocean, the mission letter states.

A strategic approach to ocean diplomacy is another critical priority, with the Commissioner expected to ensure the EU remains a leader in global ocean governance. This will be particularly important at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in 2025, where the EU will seek to advance its leadership on marine sustainability.

With the growing impact of climate change on coastal regions, Kadis is also expected to the EU’s Climate Adaptation Plan, ensuring that fisheries and ocean policies align with broader climate resilience strategies.

Full details of the Commissioner's objectives can be viewed in the Mission Letter here.

The public consultation on the European Common Fisheries policy can be accessed here.