The strategy, titled «2040 Vision for fisheries and aquaculture», aims to safeguard the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sector, which employs over 200,000 people in the EU. It covers the entire value chain, seeking to provide predictability for investment and growth while protecting aquatic resources and ecosystems. Priorities include healthy ecosystems, energy transition, supply chain security, increased demand, and ensuring a stable food supply, supporting producers, and facilitating access to finance, alongside strengthening international cooperation.
The Vision acknowledges that a competitive and resilient sector relies on healthy aquatic resources and ecosystems. It also addresses the landing obligation, admitting it has not yielded the expected results in controlling unwanted catches. To resolve this, the Commission will consider technological innovation and fully documented fisheries, with specific stakeholder dialogue this year, to better understand and prevent unwanted catches.
By 2030, the goal is to improve energy and resource efficiency, develop new technologies and skills, and utilize available clean fuels. From that date, efforts will focus on expanding low- or zero-emission technologies. The Commission will study how to define effective fishing capacity and update its 2014 guidelines on balancing fishing capacity with fishing opportunities, supporting Member States in fleet management.
To ensure Europe's supply of aquatic foods, the Vision proposes supporting investments in more efficient and safer vessels, innovation, and income diversification, including fishing tourism. In aquaculture, a legislative instrument will be prepared for a more coherent and secure regulatory framework for businesses.
The strategy also seeks to boost demand for EU-produced aquatic foods by promoting digital traceability of all products by 2029 to enhance transparency and market value. The Commission will launch initiatives to improve access to finance, support small-scale fishers, strengthen research and innovation using artificial intelligence, introduce harmonized training and certification standards, and prepare a blue generational renewal strategy.
The Vision also outlines a strategy for external action in fisheries, promoting sustainable fishing globally and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The Commission commits to advocating for fair competition conditions and protecting the European fisheries value chain from unfair global competition.
