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Fisheries management approaches for safeguarding sensitive species, tackling invasive species and benefiting local economies

TA-10-2026-0067 · P10_TA(2026)0067 · PE769.962

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Parliament's resolution on fisheries management approaches for safeguarding sensitive species, tackling invasive species and benefiting local economies calls for ecosystem-based management, reduced bycatch, and better protection of sensitive species. It urges action against invasive alien species, including improved monitoring, early warning systems, and funding for prevention and eradication. It stresses support for coastal communities, including compensation for affected fishers and temporary economic use of invasive species, while reaffirming eradication as the ultimate goal.

Key points

  1. Urges the Commission and Member States to implement an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, supporting fishers' prosperity and meeting EU goals on marine protected areas.
  2. Calls for reducing and eliminating incidental catches of sensitive species, ensuring they do not threaten conservation status.
  3. Stresses the importance of science-based management plans for marine protected areas and the EU target of protecting 30% of EU seas by 2030.
  4. Calls for full use of Common Fisheries Policy tools, including technical measures and compensation for fishers losing access to fishing grounds.
  5. Urges Member States to use Article 17 of the CFP Regulation to incentivise fishers to reduce bycatch and adopt selective gear, with attention to small-scale fleets.
  6. Calls for improved monitoring and species-specific bycatch data to inform adaptive management and ensure food security.
  7. Calls for assessing population sizes and impacts of unbalanced populations, and for considering all possibilities in the Birds and Habitats Directives for active population management.
  8. Calls for action in regional fisheries management organisations to reduce bycatch and restrict trade in seafood from illegal fishing.
  9. Regrets that only two marine species are on the EU list of invasive alien species of Union concern and calls for the list to be improved based on scientific advice.
  10. Calls for regional monitoring systems, early warning strategies, and improved monitoring methods for marine invasive alien species, with support for outermost regions.
  11. Calls for funding for research, prevention, and eradication of invasive species, and for compensation schemes for affected fishers and aquaculture operators.
  12. Recommends developing programmes for population control and temporary income from invasive species, while stressing eradication as the ultimate goal.

Who is affected

  • Fishers and fishing communities, especially small-scale and artisanal ones, who are to be represented and compensated.
  • Shellfish farmers and aquaculture producers affected by invasive species and predation.
  • Outermost regions and island and coastal areas, which are vulnerable to invasive species and need specific support.

Figures and deadlines

  • 30% of EU seas to be protected by 2030.
  • 88 invasive alien species are strictly regulated, including 47 animal and 41 plant species.
  • Only two marine species are on the list of Union concern.

Legal basis: Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union