MEPs back new rules to align statistical analysis for fisheries and aquaculture, with streamline data collection and reduced reporting burdens across EU.
MEPs back new rules to align EU fisheries and aquaculture statistics, streamline data collection and reduce reporting burdens.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has adopted its position on proposed new legislation aimed at simplifying and aligning the statistical data that underpins EU decision‑making on fisheries and aquaculture.
The data covered by the proposal is used to monitor progress against objectives set out in EU strategies, including the European Green Deal and the European Ocean Pact.
Ensure Consistency of Data and Reduce Red Tape
At present, the collection of statistical data for the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors is governed by five separate legislative acts, a situation that MEPs say has resulted in inconsistencies.
The proposed new legal framework on European fisheries and aquaculture statistics (EFAS) seeks to address this by combining the existing rules into a single regulation, with the aim of ensuring consistency, reliability and international comparability of EU statistics.
In the adopted text, MEPs backed provisions to streamline statistical processes, reduce administrative burden linked to data collection and improve legal certainty for operators.
Under the proposal, Eurostat would be permitted to transmit fisheries and aquaculture data to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development. The committee said this would help reduce duplication of effort and cut red tape arising from multiple reporting obligations.
Broader Coverage of Fisheries and Aquaculture Activity
MEPs also supported measures to significantly expand the scope of statistical coverage.
This would include data on all catches by EU fishing vessels worldwide, as well as catches by recreational fishers, discarded catches and the impact of fishing activity on sensitive species and landings.
The proposal would also result in more comprehensive data being collected on aquaculture, providing a fuller overview of the sector across the EU.
A More Complete Overview of Fishers’ Lives
In addition to aligning terms and definitions used across different regulations, MEPs want the new framework to include requirements for the collection of harmonised socio‑economic data.
This would cover indicators such as gender, age, education and income, alongside environmental parameters including energy and water consumption.
MEPs argue that this information would improve understanding of the competitiveness of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, their economic dynamism and the pace of generational change. They said the data should draw on existing monitoring systems, administrative sources and environmental reporting frameworks.
Next Steps
The Committee on Fisheries approved its draft report by 22 votes in favour, three against and one abstention.
MEPs also agreed to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, with 18 votes in favour, one against and three abstentions.
The text must now be confirmed by the European Parliament during the May plenary session, after which negotiations with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation can begin. The Council has already agreed its negotiating mandate.
Background
The core legislation governing European fisheries statistics dates back around 30 years and includes a series of regulations adopted in the 1990s. These were subject to a recast between 2006 and 2009.
The existing framework includes rules on nominal catch statistics in various Atlantic regions, landings of fishery products and aquaculture production. The resulting data are used by organisations including the EU Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and regional fisheries management organisations.
