EU Seafood Industry Groups Press Commissioner For Blue Foods Plan

EU seafood industry groups met with Commissioner for Fisheries and the Oceans, Costas Kadis to urge the Commission to embed a Blue Foods Action Plan within Vision 2040 framework

Industry Groups Seek Firm Commitments Ahead Of Vision 2040

European fisheries and aquaculture organisations have urged the European Commission to embed a dedicated EU Blue Foods Action Plan within the upcoming Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, warning that aquatic food production risks being sidelined in wider food and competitiveness policy.

The European Bureau for Conservation and Development and the EU Seafood Alliance met Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis in Brussels on 1 December to outline what they described as shared priorities on boosting consumption and recognition of EU aquatic food.

The EU Seafood Alliance brings together Europêche, the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers and Seafood Europe.

Push For Blue Foods Action Plan Gains Momentum

With Vision 2040 now included in the European Commission’s 2026 Work Programme, stakeholders said pressure is growing for a formal Action Plan to support what they call Blue Foods. According to the groups, the proposal has already attracted backing from Members of the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and several Advisory Councils.

The organisations argue fisheries and aquaculture should be treated in the same strategic way as agriculture, as core elements of food systems linked directly to food security and food sovereignty. They said this recognition should be explicit in the Commission’s long-term vision.

Call For Bottom-Up Policy Development

The group proposed working closely with Commissioner Kadis’ services to co-develop the Action Plan through what they described as a genuinely bottom-up process. As an initial step, they called for the establishment of an EU Blue Foods Platform, supported with institutional backing and dedicated funding.

Such a platform, they said, could help drive sustainability initiatives while accelerating research, innovation and long-term investment across the fishing sector and aquaculture industry.

Concern Over Fragmented EU Policymaking

Participants also raised concerns over policy fragmentation within the Commission. They warned that aquatic food policy currently cuts across fisheries, aquaculture, maritime affairs, health, trade and environmental regulation, often without sufficient coordination.

The organisations said avoiding this fragmentation would be essential if Vision 2040 is to deliver a credible and workable framework, rather than repeat past initiatives that failed to align economic, environmental and food policy goals.

Nutrition, Climate And Competitiveness Arguments

The meeting reiterated long-standing claims about the nutritional and environmental value of aquatic foods, often described by proponents as nutrient-dense and comparatively low-carbon. The groups argued these characteristics strengthen the case for treating Blue Foods as both a public health asset and part of the EU’s climate response.

They also warned that fisheries and aquaculture must not be left behind as the Commission pushes regulatory simplification and competitiveness reforms, stressing the importance of coastal and rural jobs linked to seafood production.

Continued Lobbying Planned

The stakeholder coalition said it will continue engaging with Commissioners, EU institutions and other partners to reinforce its message that an ambitious Blue Foods Action Plan must be firmly embedded within Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Source: Press Release