Better compliance with the current fisheries policy rather than a new reform – this is BalticWater’s main message to the European Commission in the context of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
April 21 was the last day to contribute to the European Commission’s open consultation on the Common Fisheries Policy. Through a questionnaire, the evaluation assesses how well the current policy has met its objectives over the period 2014-2024, including its impact on the environment, economy and society.
BalticWaters has responded to the survey and emphasizes in its answers that stronger enforcement of current legislation is crucial to ensure viable fish populations.
Highlights from BalticWaters’ survey response:
- The current distribution of fishing quotas and financial support is unfair. The quotas have mainly gone to large-scale industrial fleets, as have the economic benefits.
- The dominance of large-scale vessels has led to increased fishing pressure, declining fish populations and a reduction in the number of small-scale fishers.
- Safeguards to reduce the environmental impact of fishing and ensure viable fish populations, such as the precautionary approach, are currently insufficiently applied. Larger safety margins are needed to reverse the negative trends for fish.
- Improved transparency in decision-making is necessary to strengthen democratic accountability, for instance in the Council of Ministers’ negotiations on fishing quotas.
- The CFP contains several tools to achieve long-term environmental sustainability, but many of these are underused. The implementation needs to be strengthened.
- Ensuring viable fish populations and future fishing opportunities requires a clear focus on environmental sustainability and a more ambitious application of the precautionary principle. Environmental objectives should be given the highest priority.
The European Commission will now review all the comments received from different stakeholders. In early 2026, the Commission is expected to decide whether or not to reform the current CFP. The last major reform of the CFP was in 2013.
