Fisheries

Commission seeks feedback on the future of the fisheries and aquaculture sector

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2026

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to gather views from stakeholders, experts and citizens on the Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture. The Vision 2040 will establish a 15-year strategic framework to address the sector’s structural challenges and secure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

The EU fisheries and aquaculture sector are crucial for European food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Yet they face mounting pressures: an ageing workforce, insufficient generational renewal, external shocks, fossil fuel dependency and the pressing need to harvest fish stocks sustainably. The Vision 2040 aims to address these challenges across the entire value chain, covering fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic food processing.

Building on the European Ocean Pact’s commitments, the Fishers of the Future foresight study, and the ongoing evaluation of the common fisheries policy regulation, the Vision 2040 will address four interconnected dimensions

Aquatic food demand
Aquatic food supply
Workforce
Infrastructure and financing

The Vision 2040 will also address simplification, ensuring that objectives are achieved in a cost-effective and proportionate way.

Have your say on the fisheries and aquaculture sector

The call for evidence will run until 24 March 2026, with the Commission encouraging contributions from a broad range of stakeholders, including

Fishing industry representatives and producer organisations
Aquaculture and aquatic food processing operators
Non-governmental organisations and civil society
Academic and scientific institutions
National, regional and local authorities
Social and economic partners
Citizens

Responses can be submitted through the Commission’s Have Your Say portal.

Next steps

Feedback collected through this call for evidence will directly inform the development of the Vision 2040. In addition to the call for evidence, the Commission is engaged in ongoing structured dialogue with stakeholders, including discussions on achieving a level playing field, strengthening food security, conserving marine biological resources, and driving the green, digital and social transition in coastal communities.