Commission Seeks Feedback to Shape Future Fisheries External Strategy

European Commission launches consultation to shape future EU fisheries external action strategy, focusing on sustainability, governance, and ocean diplomacy

EU Seeks Industry Input to Shape Future Fisheries External Action Strategy

The European Commission has launched a public call for evidence to help shape a new EU strategy for fisheries external action, a move designed to strengthen the Union’s role in international ocean governance and sustainable fishing.

The consultation is open until 15 September 2025 and is targeting a wide range of stakeholders both within and outside the EU. Industry players, including commercial fishing companies, seafood producers, vessel owners, and related associations, are among those invited to contribute.

Focus on Sustainability and Global Fisheries Governance

The initiative stems from commitments laid out under the European Ocean Pact and forms part of a broader push to reinforce the EU’s ocean diplomacy and its leadership in sustainable fisheries management across international waters.

According to the Commission, the upcoming strategy aims to tackle core challenges including global sustainability standards, illegal and unregulated fishing, enforcement of multilateral rules, and improved traceability and accountability in fisheries governance.

Speaking on the launch of the call for evidence, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Kostas Kadis said:

“There is no sustainable future for EU fisheries without a strong EU fisheries external action. As demonstrated at the recent UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the EU is more committed than ever to strengthening international fisheries governance and sustain the multilateral rules system for the ocean. The EU can be more effective in putting its ocean diplomacy and fisheries instruments at the service of more sustainable international fisheries, thereby upholding a level playing field. We turn to stakeholders to help the Commission shape the fisheries external action that will be fit for the future.”

Key Policy Questions for Industry Input

The Commission is asking contributors to respond to three central questions:

How can the EU strengthen environmental, social and economic sustainability of fisheries globally?
How can the EU enhance global fisheries governance and uphold the rules-based maritime order?
What role should EU ocean diplomacy play in building stronger regional fisheries partnerships?

The feedback received will directly influence the preparation of a new communication on EU fisheries external action, scheduled for publication in 2026.

Background: Ocean Pact and Strategic Priorities

The European Ocean Pact, launched earlier this year, outlines a series of strategic actions to strengthen the EU’s role in ocean stewardship. These include:

Leading and advocating for stronger sustainability standards within Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
Developing a new generation of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) that align with regional EU strategies.
Enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Promoting the ratification and implementation of global agreements such as the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement and relevant ILO and IMO conventions.
Addressing ongoing abuse of “flags of convenience”.
Improving sustainability of imported seafood under the Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) regime.
Supporting recent reforms to Regulation 1026/2012, aimed at tackling non-sustainable fishing by third countries.

Industry representatives and stakeholders interested in submitting evidence can do so through the Commission’s official feedback platform until mid-September. The Commission expects to receive extensive input from across the fishing, seafood and marine governance sectors, which will inform its 2026 communication.