Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

The ocean provides a healthy, rich, safe, nutritious, high-quality source of protein, which is crucial for European food security, but also to many coastal communities and Outermost Regions, that depends on it for food and economic activities. The European Union (EU) is the world’s second-largest market for fisheries and aquaculture products, and within this context, the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are vital to ensure a low-carbon and sustainable aquatic food, while also playing a critical role in the EU’s food security and strategic autonomy. Nonetheless, the EU remains 70 % reliant on imports. The Niinistö report recognises food as one of the essential sectors that provide vital services to citizens and asserts that food security, safety, and sovereignty in the EU, are non-negotiable.

The EU’s fisheries sector has been impacted by various events, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the rising prices of fuel, among others.

As fishing opportunities have remained quite stable for some years, only a full use of the total allowable catches, a strong bet in aquaculture, and reducing food waste could increase the availability of European aquatic food.

To strengthen food security, competitiveness, and support responsible fishing, the EU must actively promote the consumption of sustainably sourced aquatic products. This is especially important given the growing interest in alternative protein sources, otherwise we risk overlooking the established nutritional value of fish in the European diet.

Unfair competition in the sector, especially from third countries, is intensified by social challenges, including contractual conditions and labour issues, and, at a substandard level, safety, hygiene, and working conditions aboard fishing vessels.

In environmental standards, equally critical for the level playing field, and EU should address the sustainable processing methods and gears, with the possibility to use biodegradable and more efficient and advanced ones, that minimise environmental impact and reduces the fuel consumption. Also sustainable fishing practices, such as reducing bycatches and protecting marine habitats. This is essential for the long-term viability of marine resources. IUU fishing remains a serious threat to marine ecosystems, fishing-dependent communities and fishing sector’s reputation and it should require from the EU a zero tolerance approach.

In the economic standards, consumer trends in 2024 indicated a decrease in overall consumption, with price emerging as the most significant factor (55%) influencing purchasing decisions for aquatic food, surpassing product appearance at 52 %. This is why we need to guarantee that all aquatic food products entering in the EU have to respect the same/equivalent standards then the ones we obliged our fishers and producers, in order to not push down the prices, leading the European fishers, producers, industry and enterprises to an unfair competition, but at the same time, safeguarding access to aquatic food and protect consumer health, ensuring efficient use of resources. Strengthening the customs controls in ports and airports and fully utilising, particularly to enhance traceability, the eCatch system outlined in the new Control Regulation, may contribute to the effort for not allowing the entrance in the EU of aquatic products that are not align with European standards, that leads to an unfair competition and artificially lowering prices. It is also essential to register all imports of fisheries products from non-cooperative countries, as this will facilitate the collection of retroactive duties and tariffs in the event of investigations.

To guarantee the high-quality level of aquatic food consumed in the EU, it is essential to incentivise the creation of a stamp to assure equivalent conditions of the European Quality Schemes for imported products, with information about the origin, wild catch or farmed product, the nutritive value, among other requirements.

In the internal market, the EU must promote the consumption of sustainable and/or certified European products, including processed items, and also cut the administrative burden, and complex licencing process to European aquaculture facilities, as this sector only represents 10 % of total consumption and has a possibility to grow. It is also crucial to reinforce the use of quality labels for products caught using artisanal and selective fishing gear and those sourced from small-scale fisheries, thereby highlighting the value of local and traceable products.

A final word to the outermost regions (ORs), as they face unique challenges outlined in Article 349 of the TFEU, and fishing is a major economic driver, contributing to food sovereignty and being an integral part of its culture. It generates jobs both at sea and in industry, while also supporting tourism, which is a key sector. However, fisheries and aquaculture in the ORs faces higher operational costs, including fuel, transport, vessel maintenance and renewal, market access, etc, and one of the solutions is to grant greater autonomy to the ORs article in EMFAF, re-establishing the POSEI – Fisheries, to ensure the competitiveness of the sector and their full integration and participation in the single market.