Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Added159. Recalls that big non-EU producer countries continue to heavily promote the growth of their finfish farming sector, with the EU being their main export market;

Added160. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to actively support the implementation of the revised strategic guidelines and the multiannual national plans and promote its long term sustainability with a focus not only to the environmental sustainability but also the economic and social sustainability of EU aquaculture;

Added161. Regrets that the EU’s current trade policy does not safeguard a level playing field between EU and non-EU producers that will allow the aquaculture sector to achieve sustainable economic results and in return to contribute to the social and economic development of the EU’s regions;

Added162. Recalls the importance of aquaculture in guaranteeing long-term food security and contributing to meeting the growing world demand for aquatic food, as well as its contribution to creating growth and employment for EU citizens, to better preserving ecosystems and biodiversity and being part of a more circular management of resources; regrets that since 2014 European aquaculture has been stagnant and limited progress has been made on reducing the administrative burden and on integrating aquaculture into maritime, coastal, and inland spatial planning; stresses that European aquaculture is far from full capacity and that 75 % of the seafood consumed in the EU is farmed in facilities outside the EU; calls on the Commission to actively support the implementation of the revised strategic guidelines and national plans and to promote their long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability;

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163. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.