BRUSSELS: The European Commission has unveiled a long-term vision for fisheries and aquaculture through 2040, aiming to strengthen Europe’s food security, support fishing communities and accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced aquatic food sector.
The strategy focuses on ensuring Europeans have access to safe, sustainably sourced and fully traceable fish, while strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture industries.
Fisheries and aquaculture are considered vital to Europe’s prosperity and food security, together employing more than 200,000 people across the sector.
Energy Transition at the Heart of the Vision
A major priority of the EU’s 2040 vision is reducing the sector’s dependence on conventional energy sources.
Until 2030, the European Commission plans to improve energy and resource efficiency while encouraging the development of new technologies. From 2030 onwards, the focus will increasingly shift towards scaling up zero-emission technologies, supported by financing, infrastructure development and modernisation of the fishing fleet.
Boosting Europe’s Aquatic Food Supply
The Commission also aims to strengthen Europe’s domestic supply of aquatic food and encourage consumers to choose products produced within the EU.
Investment in fishing vessels, innovation and income diversification will be supported, while measures will be introduced to stimulate demand for EU-produced aquatic products.
Digital traceability is another key component. The Commission plans to promote digital traceability across the aquatic food supply chain by 2029, giving consumers greater transparency while helping strengthen trust and the market value of products.
Supporting Fishers and Attracting a New Generation
The vision also identifies better access to finance, support for small-scale fishers and increased investment in research and innovation as important priorities.
Research will help improve the ability to anticipate future fish-stock availability, while harmonised trainiyounger people to fisheries and aquaculture and help address the sector’s generational challenges.
Stronger Global Action Against Illegal Fishing
Beyond Europe, the EU intends to strengthen global sustainability and fairness in fisheries.
The strategy calls for intensified efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, stronger international fisheries rules and a new generation of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements.
The Commission also pledged to maintain a level playing field and protect Europe’s fisheries value chain from unfair global competition.
Vision Developed Through Broad Consultation
The 2040 vision was developed through an extensive participatory process involving fishers, aquaculture producers, the fish-processing industry, EU member states, non-governmental organisations, advisory councils, young people and citizens.
The European Commission says the approach is intended to create the right conditions for a resilient, competitive and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector capable of contributing to Europe’s food security well into the future.ng and certification standards are expected to strengthen skills across the industry.
The Commission also plans to launch a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy in 2027, designed to attract
