The European Association of Fish Producers Organisation calls for changes to EU marine rules as review of Marine Strategy Framework Directive raises concerns.
Producer Organisations Respond To Review Of Marine Directive
The European Association of Fish Producers Organisations has urged the European Commission to ensure that the revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive reflects both environmental objectives and the socio-economic realities of the fishing sector.
In its response to the Commission’s call for evidence on the future of EU marine environmental protection rules, the organisation said it supports the directive’s core aim of achieving a “clean, healthy and productive ocean” through an ecosystem-based approach.
However, it argues that the ongoing review of the directive must lead to a more balanced and practical framework that properly considers the economic and operational impacts on the fishing industry.
The organisation represents producer organisations across the European fishing sector and said the revision offers an opportunity to correct shortcomings that have become apparent since the directive was introduced in 2008.
Concerns Over Overlapping EU Environmental Policies
A central concern raised by the association relates to what it describes as the growing complexity of EU marine governance.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive interacts with a wide range of other environmental and fisheries policies, including the Birds and Habitats Directives, Natura 2000, the Water Framework Directive, the Nature Restoration Regulation, the Common Fisheries Policy and the Marine Spatial Planning Directive.
According to the organisation, the interaction between these frameworks often creates overlapping objectives and inconsistent policy requirements.
The association argues that this lack of coherence can make the regulatory landscape difficult for the fishing sector to navigate and may hinder effective implementation at the level of individual fisheries.
It says the revision of the directive should focus on aligning environmental legislation more closely with the Common Fisheries Policy and other emerging initiatives such as the proposed European Ocean Pact.
Sector Warns of Policy Impact On Fishing Operations
The fishing industry group also warns that environmental policies are increasingly being implemented without sufficient assessment of their socio-economic consequences.
In particular, the association raises concerns about the development of quantitative threshold values linked to the directive’s indicators for achieving “Good Environmental Status” in European seas.
These thresholds, it says, are often developed at technical or administrative levels and risk functioning as binding targets without adequate evaluation of their practical impact on fishing activity.
The organisation argues that in some cases these targets are based on pressure modelling rather than direct ecological evidence, which could lead to unrealistic or poorly calibrated limits.
It highlights seabed integrity indicators as a particular example where modelling approaches may attribute environmental degradation primarily to fishing while overlooking other pressures affecting marine ecosystems.
If such thresholds are applied without proper scientific validation and socio-economic assessment, the association warns that they could result in severe restrictions on fishing activities or extensive spatial closures.
Calls for Greater Role for Fishing Industry
The association also criticises what it describes as the limited involvement of the fishing sector in the development and implementation of marine environmental measures.
It argues that fishermen and coastal communities should be actively involved in decision-making processes because their livelihoods depend directly on healthy marine ecosystems.
According to the submission, the practical knowledge of fishermen about fishing grounds, seasonal ecosystem dynamics and marine conditions should be recognised as a valuable source of information for policymakers.
The organisation therefore calls for stronger engagement with stakeholders, particularly through the EU’s regional Advisory Councils, when designing environmental measures that affect fisheries.
Food Security and Sustainability
While supporting improvements in scientific knowledge and environmental monitoring, the association emphasises that fisheries management must also consider Europe’s long-term food security and seafood supply.
The organisation argues that a well-functioning and economically viable fishing sector is essential for maintaining EU food sovereignty and reducing reliance on seafood imports.
It also points to the efforts made by the fishing sector in recent years to improve sustainability, including adopting more selective fishing techniques, modernising gear and vessels, and collaborating with scientists to reduce environmental impacts.
In its submission, the association concludes that future marine policies must integrate environmental protection with economic sustainability.
Without that balance, it warns that regulatory measures could weaken the fishing sector while failing to deliver the intended environmental outcomes.