Oceana urges EU to hold firm on fisheries policy amid reform pressure
Environmental group Oceana is calling on the EU to preserve the core principles of its Common Fisheries Policy, warning that weakening it would threaten fish stocks and the bloc's global standing. The organization points to measurable gains achieved since the 2013 reform.
Environmental organization Oceana has issued a statement urging the European Union not to give in to pressure to soften the core provisions of its Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The statement comes as debate continues over the policy's future direction, with some stakeholders pushing for greater flexibility on exploitation rates, fleet capacity limits and the discard ban.
Results achieved so far
Oceana notes that the CFP is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive fisheries management frameworks in the world. Since its 2013 reform placed sustainability at the center of decision-making, conditions in the North Atlantic have notably improved — according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, the share of fish stocks fished at sustainable levels rose from 27 percent in 2003 to 74 percent in 2021.
The group emphasizes that the policy's reach extends beyond EU waters, since legally binding commitments to end overfishing, restore stocks and support small-scale fishers' access to resources also apply to EU fleets operating elsewhere. Through sustainable fisheries partnership agreements with non-EU countries and participation in regional fisheries management organizations, the EU has also helped raise sustainability and transparency standards globally.
Reform pressure and risks
The statement notes that the European Commission's own evaluation of the CFP concluded the policy remains broadly fit for purpose, with the main challenge being consistent implementation and enforcement rather than a change of principles. It also cites the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's finding that global fish stocks are currently overfished by 37 percent, underscoring the need for stronger rather than weaker governance.
Oceana concludes that sustainability is not a constraint on economic performance but its foundation, since food security and stable livelihoods in coastal communities depend directly on healthy fish populations and marine ecosystems.
