Launch of new Vision for fair and low-impact fisheries

Today, 11 December, a diverse group of stakeholders including fishers, fishmongers, scientists and environmental NGOs from across Europe have unveiled a shared Vision for fair, low-impact fisheries. This Vision sets out a new direction for EU seas, showing how fisheries can thrive in harmony with nature, while ensuring fair livelihoods and healthy oceans. Under the name “Rethink Fisheries”, the group aims to inspire policy-makers and accelerate a just transition to low-impact fisheries *

As EU Fisheries Ministers meet to decide next year’s fishing opportunities, the Vision comes at a crucial moment. It sets out how fisheries management can finally shift course and address the long-standing problems that have pushed marine ecosystems and fishing communities to the brink. Ending overfishing, an unfulfilled legal obligation since 2020, remains essential, and can only be achieved through a different management model and a just transition to low-impact fisheries.

“European fisheries are at a crossroads,” said Marta Cavallé, Executive Secretary of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe and co-chair of the Rethink Fisheries Group. “As the world undergoes rapid ecological and societal change, we need a new shared vision of fisheries that lead us to ensure a better future. The future lies in low-impact fishing systems that restore ecosystem functions, uphold fairness and social justice, and foster vibrant local fishing communities and decent livelihoods.” 

“One thing is certain: there can be no fishing without fish,” said Tobias Troll, Marine Policy Director at Seas At Risk and co-chair of the Rethink Fisheries Group. “Our ocean is in critical condition. This Vision shows exactly what must be done. The time for talk and business as usual has passed, we need decisive action to protect the sea, fishers, and the communities that depend on them before it’s too late. We call on EU Commissioner Costas Kadis to champion this Vision and ensure it shapes every action for the remainder of his mandate. And we urge Member States, and their Fisheries Ministers to use the power they already have under EU law to drive the fair, low-impact transition our ocean urgently needs.”

Shifting from destructive fisheries practices towards low-impact, economically viable, and socially inclusive fisheries, demands deliberate, coordinated action to not only restore ecosystems and fish populations, but also reshape food systems to prioritise the use of fishery resources for direct local human consumption. Developed over two years by the Rethink Fisheries Group, the vision outlines a future where a healthy ocean supports thriving coastal communities and shows how to get there. It represents a shared pathway towards a sustainable and equitable future for European fisheries by building on the expertise of different stakeholders, offering a holistic view that integrates ecological, social, economic, and governance dimensions, reflecting the complexity of the sector and the diversity of those who depend on it. 

Such a shift is only possible through a just transition, one that emphasises quality over quantity, values sustainable livelihoods and employment, placing local fishing communities and the balance with nature at the centre of fisheries management.

The Vision was presented during an event hosted at the European Parliament by Thomas Bajada, a Maltese Member of the European Parliament for the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. Its release comes as the EU enters a new phase of policy development. The European Commission is preparing its 2040 Strategic Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture, evaluating the Common Fisheries Policy, and developing a new ‘Ocean Act’’ to bring greater coherence to marine governance. The Rethink Fisheries Vision provides a concrete and actionable contribution to these processes, offering a pathway centred on low-impact, low-carbon fishing practices, fair access to marine resources and space, and strong community participation.

‘At the national level, this Vision could have very concrete applications,’ says Nicolas Blanc, Fisheries and Biodiversity Coordinator at Sciaena, a Portuguese marine conservation NGO. “Marine biodiversity in Portugal should be something that inspires and motivates us to change certain behaviours, in order to ensure that the most degraded ecosystems can recover and support us in mitigating the effects of the climate crisis and ensuring that fishing communities can continue to operate in a stable manner. Fishing naturally has various impacts on the marine environment and, if we want to continue to have coastal communities with a strong traditional connection to fishing, it is urgent that Portugal prioritises supporting low-impact fisheries that respect marine habitats and biodiversity, based on a logic of local trade and responsible consumption.” 

André Dias, for his part, is a representative of MARSEMPRE, the Ferragudo Maritime Association, and has always had a strong connection to professional fishing. He was invited to be one of the speakers at the launch of this Vision. In his words, ‘With this vision, we could see the ocean regenerate within a decade.’

Developed through a collaborative process involving fishermen, scientists and environmental organisations, this vision aims to inspire policy makers to accelerate the transition to more equitable, resilient and environmentally responsible fishing models.

More information at RethinkFisheries.eu