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REPORT (2025/2010(INI)) 2026-07-16

On the role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Paulo do Nascimento Cabral

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Parliament's resolution on social, economic and environmental standards in aquatic food products calls for fair competition, food security and stronger EU fisheries and aquaculture. It asks for better labelling, harmonised import controls, action against illegal fishing, support for aquaculture, fleet renewal and funding. It wants equal treatment of socio-economic and environmental goals in the Common Fisheries Policy, reciprocity of standards in trade agreements, and protection of small-scale fisheries and outermost regions.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries proposes a resolution calling for fair competition, food security and stronger standards for aquatic food products, including better labelling, harmonised import controls, action against illegal fishing, support for aquaculture and fleet renewal, and ring-fenced funding.

Key points

  1. Stresses that fisheries and aquaculture are vital for EU food supply, sovereignty and security, and calls on the Commission to give the sector more prominence in its future 'vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture'.
  2. Calls for awareness campaigns on nutritious and sustainable EU aquatic food, responsible consumption and reduced food waste.
  3. Asks the Commission and Council to weigh fisheries' contribution to food security more heavily and to assess the economic and social impact of measures so they do not favour imports.
  4. Wants the evaluation and possible revision of the Common Fisheries Policy and the common market organisation to simplify rules, cut administrative burden and give socio-economic factors and food supply equal weight with environmental criteria.
  5. Calls on Member States to use transparent, objective criteria including environmental, social and economic ones when allocating fishing opportunities, and on the Commission and Member States to set total allowable catches in line with scientific advice.
  6. Requests improved consumer information and new mandatory labelling for all fishery and aquaculture products, including imports and the HORECA sector, covering species, origin, production method and fishing gear, plus a standardised digital labelling system.
  7. Urges the Commission to draw up a European blue food action plan by the end of 2026 and to support a voluntary 'EU aquatic food product' label and an EU-wide awareness campaign in 2027.
  8. Calls for harmonised import controls and customs rules across Member States, more inspectors and resources, and timely reporting on the CATCH IT system mandatory from January 2026.
  9. Calls for stronger sanctions on Russia and restrictions on imports of all aquatic food, especially cod and Alaska pollock, including when reprocessed in non-EU countries.
  10. Asks the Commission to assess whether trade instruments such as autonomous tariff quotas undermine EU fisheries objectives, and to require equivalent standards, mirror measures and reciprocity from non-EU countries.
  11. Calls for full implementation of rules against forced labour and illegal fishing, stronger traceability, and continued zero tolerance for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through the carding system and international forums.
  12. Urges action to boost EU aquaculture, improve working conditions and training, support women and young people, and provide ring-fenced funding for the Common Fisheries Policy in the 2028-2034 budget, rejecting a proposed 67 % reduction.

Who is affected

  • EU fishers, aquaculture producers and shellfish farmers, who would face new labelling, funding and competition rules.
  • Small-scale and artisanal fishers and shellfish gatherers, who would receive targeted support and recognition.
  • Outermost regions and islands, which would get specific measures, infrastructure investment and possibly a Fisheries POSEI programme.
  • Non-EU countries exporting aquatic food to the EU, which would face stricter import controls and equivalent-standard requirements.
  • Consumers, who would get clearer labelling and information on origin, sustainability and production method.

Figures and deadlines

  • Around 70 % EU dependence on aquatic food imports.
  • 70 280 vessels in the EU fishing fleet in 2023, of which 53 260 active in 2025.
  • 119 479 fishers, equal to 73 974 full-time equivalents, a decline of around 2 % compared with 2022.
  • 3.39 million tonnes of seafood landed in 2023, valued at EUR 6.1 billion.
  • Revenue fell to EUR 6.47 billion in 2023 and net profit to EUR 59 million, a net profit margin of 0.9 %.
  • Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing may account for up to 19 % of global catches.
  • Investment of between EUR 10 billion and EUR 25.6 billion needed to renew, modernise and decarbonise the fisheries sector.
  • Average age of the EU fleet is 32 years.

Legal basis: Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.