What changed

C. whereas in 2022, the EU’s self-sufficiency in seafood declined to 37.537,5 % and around 80 % of seafood consumed in the EU was imported, which creates a structural dependence on outside sources and weakens the EU’s food sovereignty; whereas at the same time, the EU’s fishing fleet has experienced a significant reduction over the past decade, and is now more than 13 % smaller than in 2014; whereas this contraction, coupled with increasing competition for the use of maritime space, threatens the economic viability of the fisheries sector, generational renewal and the ability of the fleet to contribute to the EU’s food security; whereas ensuring sufficient, balanced and predictable access to maritime space is therefore essential for developing competitive EU fisheries, as recognised by the European Ocean Pact;

U. whereas well-managed and effectively protected networks of ecologically connected marine protected areas are an essential tool for conserving marine biodiversity and can contribute to long-term gains through stock recovery, spillover to adjacent areas, and resilience for coastal economies, but their effectiveness and social acceptability depend on how they are designed, managed and coordinated with sustainable fishing activities, in particular through differentiated approaches based on scientific data and the participation of all stakeholders, including fishers and coastal communities;V. whereas offshore renewable energy will only be sustainable if it has no negative impact on the environment and on economic, social and territorial cohesion, especially in fisheries-dependent regions;communities;

V. whereas offshore renewable energy will only be sustainable if it has no negative impact on the environment and on economic, social and territorial cohesion, especially in fisheries-dependent regions;