Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture

The 2040 vision, initiated by the Commission, undoubtedly represents a significant political impetus. Nevertheless, the technical analysis reveals that the structural barriers to European inland aquaculture are not primarily operational or technological, but result from the current design and implementation of the European environment and species protection requirements.

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The European Association of fish Producers Organisations welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to develop an ambitious EU Vision for fisheries and aquaculture for 2040. EAPO has already contributed significantly to consultations of this Commissions mandate, over the last year and half, by publishing position papers, participating in implementation dialogues, public meetings, and numerous debates…

The Vision 2040 initiative appropriately emphasizes sustainability, biodiversity protection, and resilience in EU fisheries and aquaculture policy. In this context, the growing use of insect farming as an input to aquaculture and livestock feed warrants scrutiny.

Fisheries and aquaculture are strategic sectors for food security, territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability in the European Union. The development of a 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture represents a key opportunity to consolidate a sustainable, resilient and competitive fisheries and aquaculture sector in the long term.

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Vision 2040 aims to set out the overarching policy framework for competitive, resilient and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including the processing sector, in line with the European Ocean Pact. It will: identify critical issues affecting the entire value chain; outline policy responses; build on the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation; align with the EU strategy for external action…

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Kindly see feedback from Changing Markets attached. Changing Markets Foundation is submitting feedback to the EUs Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture to ensure the strategy reflects the full environmental, social and economic impacts of aquaculture growth.

Blue Marine Foundation has endorsed the Vision for fair and low impact fisheries in Europe, developed jointly by Seas At Risk and the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) and believes that this Vision should be the basis for the 2040 Vision for the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector that the European Commission is preparing.

Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) welcomes the Commissions initiative for a Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture. In CCB we feel strongly that such a vision must at the very least include that by 2040: Europe's seas are thriving, fish populations are healthy and living in fully restored marine habitats.

Please see the attached feedback, submitted on behalf of the Insect Institute, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to conducting research and providing policymakers, the public, investors, NGOs, and other stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations concerning the farming of insects as food and feed globally.

With the Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture, the Commission can provide a real, coherent pathway, aligning all stakeholders behind the same objective to turn the tide for fishers and coastal communities, and ensuring a resilient and sovereign Europe. Todays unstable supply chains and tense geopolitical context demand strong action to ensure Europe's strategic autonomy and resilience.

The future of Dutch fisheries lies in sustainability, environmental balance and social justice. In 2040, the sector was transformed into a robust, nature-inclusive and innovative system that delivers food with minimal damage to marine life and actively contributes to restoring biodiversity in the North Sea.

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FEFAC welcomes the initiative of the EU Commission to draft a Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. We however, believe that Fisheries and Aquaculture are extremely different sectors, with the latter more comparable to the agriculture / livestock sector. Consistency between the vision for Aquaculture and Agriculture is therefore essential.

1. Strengthening the sustainability of European fisheries 1.1 Stock management The decline of overfished stocks observed in recent years demonstrates the progress that has been made, but several stocks continue to be fished beyond safe biological limits.

A practical conclusion: The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy does not currently support a value-adding and long-term sustainable regional fishing industry. The Marint Centre was set up in 2010 by Simrishamn Municipality with the task of providing knowledge on marine environmental and fisheries issues. Until 2013, Simrishamn was Sweden’s largest fishing port in terms of the value of catches landed.

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Coastal fisheries in Germany are experiencing profound structural shifts. Major challenges include declining yields of commercially valuable fish & strongly variable shellfish stocks partly attributable to the poor ecological status of marine ecosystems with limited prospects for the recovery of stocks, the loss of traditional fishing areas, reduced interest among younger generations in pursuing fishing, rising fuel…

ONEI is an independent French organisation dedicated to the scientific analysis of insect farming. We welcome the Commission's 2040 Vision and wish to highlight concerns regarding the promotion of insect meal as a sustainable feed for aquaculture. 1. Economic non-viability Insect meal costs 3,5005,000 per tonne, 2 to 10 times more than fishmeal and soybean meal (Leipertz et al., 2024; Biteau et al., 2024).

The document attached to this contribution sets out BLOOM's analysis of the current state of the European seafood production sector and presents our recommendations to inform the development of the European Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture to 2040. This contribution is structured in two sections.

The University of Bergen appreciates the opportunity to give input to the Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture and supports the ambition of presenting a holistic approach to the future direction of fisheries and aquaculture activities.

This public consultation on the 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture is a key opportunity to highlight the strategic role of the outermost regions (ORs) for the European Union and the need to place them at the heart of future policy.

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A 2040 vision for aquaculture and fisheries must recognise the environmental and social imbalances in our food system, particularly when it comes to industrial fish farming. The vision should prioritise support for small-scale fishing fleets, and low-trophic regenerative aquaculture, both of which are sustainable food industries when practised within reasonable ecological limits.

Carp farming in Poland is a key component of aquaculture in Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore, the Society for the Promotion of Fish, considering the future of the sector, set up an author’s team and, in consultation with other Polish fishing organisations, drew up the Guidelines for the Carp Strategy 2035/2050, which contains an analysis of the current state and expectations of the Polish carp industry.

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The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) operates an independent third-party, science and multistakeholder-based certification scheme committed to transparency, accountability and demonstrating positive impact. The ASC programme aims to address the key impacts of aquaculture, and it verifiably contributes to approximately half of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 169 targets.

Current aquaculture practices rely heavily on fish-derived ingredients such as fish meal and fish oil, creating a paradox between economic profitability and the environmental costs associated with fishing activities. This dependency undermines the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of a sector that plays a crucial role in meeting global food demand.

The Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) is a European platform of small-scale fishers associations committed to minimising their impact on the environment and maximising the socio-economic benefits they generate. Currently LIFE incorporates 37 associations across 15 Member States, uniting around 10.000 small-scale fishers on the platform.

This document is the joint contribution of the Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions (CPRUP) to the European ‘Vision 2040’ strategy for fisheries and aquaculture. He highlighted the strategic role of these territories, which were helping to make the European Union a major maritime power, while facing specific structural constraints such as remoteness, linsularity, climate vulnerability and high…

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National Chamber of Agriculture (Hungary) The National Chamber of Agriculture makes the following observation on the initiative: 1. The vision should be supported by a dedicated and reinforced financial framework, with separate and adequate funding for fisheries and aquaculture in the next MFF. This would guarantee the necessary resources for modernisation, energy transition, innovation and sectoral flexibility. 2.

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The Vision 2040 represents a critical opportunity to address a major gap in EU policy: the absence of species-specific, binding animal welfare legislation for aquatic animals. Despite their recognition as sentient beings under Article 13 TFEU, farmed fish remain largely excluded from dedicated welfare rules at EU level.

The European Commission is preparing a 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture aimed at ensuring ecological and economic sustainability, strengthening food security, modernising the sector through innovation, digitalisation and simplification by integrating fisheries into major policies (climate, food, ocean).

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The European Commission’s proposal for a 2040 Vision for the European Union’s fisheries and aquaculture sector provides an important opportunity to define a long-term strategy that simultaneously responds to the economic, environmental and social challenges that characterise the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Europe. The strategy should therefore be based on: 1.

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This contribution comes from the research group of the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences of the University of Bologna (Italy) coordinated by prof. Matteo Vittuari. It relies on the results of the FishEUTrust project (Grant Agreement No.

Considering the problems identified by the EU, namely unfair competition, pressure on habitats and the crisis in generational renewal, the following strategic priorities are suggested: 1. Tackling Unfair Competition and Digital Supervision Proposal: Digital cross-checking of data between vessel tracking systems (VMS/AIS) and licensing databases (professional, recreational and tourist shipping).

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Introduction Kramers Seafood welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Vision 2040. As a modern family-owned processing company specialised in sustainable and hybrid seafood products, we see three priorities for a future-proof European sector: secure access to raw materials, sustainable market development and stronger innovation and competitiveness. 1.

The Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture should prioritise ecological restoration. It should incorporate the primary goals and activities outlined in the 'Vision for Fair, Low-Impact Fisheries in Europe' (see attachment), which was developed by the Rethinking Fisheries group, led jointly by Seas at Risk and the Low Impact Fishers of Europe.

The fisheries and aquaculture sectors are key sectors of the blue economy in Occitanie, particularly in the spirit of food sovereignty. The Occitanie Region, like the French regions, affirms several principles in a White Paper drawn up in 2025: — The common fisheries policy (CFP) must reaffirm the importance of fisheries and their place in the use of maritime space; — The CFP must recognise the co-activity of…

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The European Aquaculture Technology & Innovation Platform (EATiP) is pleased to comment on a Call for Evidence shaping the Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture. EATiP is a not for profit quadruple helix membership platform promoting technology, research & innovation in support of a growing sustainable European aquaculture sector. EATiP has an organisational reach of c. 850 aquaculture stakeholders.

The Brittany region is in favour of developing a long-term European vision for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. It calls on the European Commission to propose a 2040 vision for fisheries and aquaculture based on 5 main ambitions: 1. Recognise fisheries and aquaculture as essential pillars of European food sovereignty; 2.

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The Institute of Food Technology's Global Food Traceability Center welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the European Unions Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture initiative. Since its launch in 2013, the GFTC has co-convened the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), engaged hundreds of stakeholders across seafood supply chains, and developed actionable Critical Tracking Event (CTE) and Key…

Fishing remains a cultural and economic mainstay across Europe, but its survival directly depends on functioning ecosystems. The common notion of balancing environmental, economic, and social interests as equal pillars is misleadingenvironmental limits are not merely one consideration among others but the essential bedrock on which lasting social wellbeing and economic livelihoods depend.

The vision 2040 for the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector must highlight the need of low-carbon, low-impact fishing and aquaculture systems that conserve biodiversity, restore ecosystem functions, promote social justice, and ensure that marine space and resources are shared equitably with other users of the expanding blue economy.

The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) works to increase equity in global fisheries management by supporting low impact, one-by-one tuna fisheries. In setting out Vision 2040, IPNLF urges the Commission to prioritise the following critical issues. First, the prioritisation of low impact fishing methods through full implementation of CFP art. 7(d) and art. 17. This would also serve to implement art.

EFARO is the Association of the leading European Research Institutions engaged in fisheries and aquaculture research, including monitoring and research on living aquatic resources, their ecosystems, and production systems, providing related advice on conservation and management as well as innovative monitoring and production technologies. EFARO brings together 23 institutions from 19 countries.

The 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to address systemic challenges affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sector, ensuring its sustainability. Problems to be solved include the destruction of marine habitats caused by fisheries and other maritime activities, which negatively affect marine biodiversity or ecosystems.

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Contribution – Vision 2024: With more than 25 million km² of EEZs, the outermost regions (ORs) make the European Union a major maritime power. However, their fisheries are still weakened by the structural handicaps recognised in Article 349 TFEU (remoteness, insularity, narrow markets, additional costs, climate vulnerability).

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The South Producers’ Organisation (South PO) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to define a strategic vision for fisheries and aquaculture by 2040. This approach must make it possible to reconcile environmental sustainability, economic viability, food security and the attractiveness of jobs.

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The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) highlights the strategic importance of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors for Europes maritime, islands and outermost regions, and coastal communities. Fisheries and aquaculture are not only economic activities but also key components of regional identity, employment and Europes food system.

The Consellería do Mar de la Xunta de Galicia welcomes with interest the development by the European Commission of a Vision 2040 for the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors. This initiative, under the umbrella of the European Oceans Pact, aligns with the ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation, the energy transition roadmap and the European Union’s external fisheries action…

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Regions in France represent all the regional authorities in France, both the continental regions and the outermost regions. The French regions have published a White Paper on their common vision for the common fisheries policy. The French version of the White Paper is attached. An English version is also available.

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The French IUCN Committee calls on the European Commission to base its 2040 vision on an ecosystem approach, placing the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems at the heart of the development of fishing and aquaculture activities.

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WWF European Policy Office (EPO) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the call for evidence from the European Commission on the 2040 Vision for fisheries and aquaculture. As announced in the Commissioner Kadis Mission letter and the European Ocean Pact, this vision is crucial to set a long-term direction for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors while preserving our planets ecosystem health and marine resources…

The initiative Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture acknowledges the ecological, social and climatic challenges of these sectors and aims to improve their sustainability and ensure balance between food security and healthy marine ecosystems.

The existing variability of fishing areas in the EU is significant and within certain areas there is also such variability. In the case of Spain, the fishing area of the Mediterraneo has nothing to do with the cantabrica, and within the Mediterranea area there are differences between the north and the south. In the cantabrica area, the same applies to the area of Galicia with Asturias or Pais Vasco.

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The design of the Vision 2040 for European fisheries is highly relevant. I welcome references to broader EU policies: it enhances the resolution directions. I would like to add the recently published European Industrial Maritime Strategy. The principles set out therein also apply to seagoing fisheries, such as the importance of strategic autonomy and the advantages of alternative zero-emission fuels.

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The National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua) is a leading European Institute in Fisheries and Aquaculture research with a track record spanning over 100 years across all major domains in these fields. Its mission is to ensure sustainable exploitation and management of aquatic living resources including monitoring and assessing their status and dynamics, describing and predicting the structure and function…

Response to the European Commission Call for Evidence: Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture Submitted by the Centre for Feed Innovation (CFI) The Centre for Feed Innovation (CFI) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture.

SINTEF Ocean welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Vision 2040 process, and we wish to highlight several challenges and opportunities that we believe are essential to strengthening innovation and sustainable growth in European fisheries and aquaculture.

In the design of the new vision for aquaculture, the EU must adopt a One Health regulatory framework that prioritises the prevention of antibiotic resistance. The most critical interventions for ensuring the sector's sustainability include the need for accurate species-specific data, and mandating high-welfare environmental standards such as optimised stocking densities and effluent treatment to naturally reduce…

The EUs Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to guide the sector toward sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness, yet it overlooks a fundamental structural gap: the absence of comprehensive, binding, species-specific welfare legislation for aquatic animals.

It is now well established that aquatic animals can experience pain, stress, and suffering, and that their welfare is affected by how they are kept, handled, and slaughtered. Despite this, their welfare is not protected by EU legislation , which has led to them often being kept and killed in ways that do not take their welfare into account.

On behalf of Nasekomo, a European insect biotechnology company and active member of IPIFF, we contribute to the European Commissions consultation on the Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040 from our direct experience.

This Vision for the Future of Fisheries, attached to this contribution, is the result of a three-year multi-stakeholder process involving environmental NGOs, low-impact fishers and scientists, who came together to co-develop a shared vision for a fair, resilient and sustainable future for the sector, under Seas At Risk Future of Fisheries project (2023-2025).

This Position Paper is the culmination of an extensive, multi-channel structural dialogue between the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) and the European Commission since July 2025 until the present day.

The conclusion from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCC) outcome of the first global stocktake (Article 35, 55 and 63d) is clear we need to restore the health of our coastal areas.

The Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture should integrate aquatic animal welfare as a core pillar of a sustainable blue economy, consistent with the Eurogroup for Animals supporting evidence. The framework must reflect strong public expectations and evolving food demand, as 91% of EU citizens support better protection for farmed fish and 70% support stunning before slaughter.

[Full contribution attached in PDF] EFFOP Marine Nutrients Europe welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Call for Evidence on the EUs Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Our contribution touches upon three main points: (i) the Vision for 2040 must recognise and integrate the full blue value chain, including the processing industries, and ensure that fisheries and aquaculture are treated equally with…

[Full contribution attached in PDF] The contribution of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) to the call for evidence on 'Fisheries and Aquaculture - Vision 2040' draws on the Partnership activities, including the co-funding of R&I projects and clustering initiatives in fisheries and aquaculture, and aims to provide insights to support the development of the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The European Molluscs Producers' Association (EMPA) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a Vision for fisheries and aquaculture in 2040. Shellfish aquaculture accounts for over half of EU aquaculture production and around half of the jobs generated in the aquaculture sector. It represents one of the most environmentally sustainable forms of food production in Europe.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) supports the 2040 Visions focus on ensuring robust implementation of pivotal EU policies, including but not limited to those spanning regenerative aquaculture initiatives and fisheries directly (CFP, EU Control Regulation, EU IUU Regulation,) the Nature Restoration Regulation, and complementary initiatives, such as the Vision for Food and Agriculture.

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) representing around 330,000 veterinarians across 38 European countries aims to enhance animal health, animal welfare, and public health and to protect the environment by promoting the veterinary profession. FVE welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Commissions call for evidence on the Vision 2040 for fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic food processing.

We strongly believe the future strategy should consider fisheries as a central, probably the most important, sector of the blue economy. For sure it is the oldest one, and it has shaped the ocean economy through centuries.

ABOUT MSD ANIMAL HEALTH MSD Animal Health is a global leader in animal health solutions, including technologies supporting fish health, disease prevention and traceability in aquaculture and fisheries. Through its work with fish farmers, researchers and public authorities, the company contributes to improving the sustainability, productivity and transparency of aquatic food systems.

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) welcomes the Commissions initiative to develop a vision for fisheries and aquaculture. Due to their impact on marine ecosystems, the welfare of aquatic animals (in particular the ones who are farmed) and on the lives of coastal communities, these sectors need to be truly resilient, which can only be achieved if they are rooted in sustainability.

The document includes the contribution of the Llevant Marine Fisheries Local Action Group to the European Commission’s public consultation on the 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture. The text begins by calling into question the call for data itself, considering that it contains inaccuracies that cast a distorted image on the European fisheries and aquaculture sector.

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Oceano Fresco supports the European Commissions Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. We are a sustainable seafood company that produces native European bivalve species and committed to innovation, environmental sustainability and food security.

Before entering into the contributions to the Consultation on the 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture, we would like to make some comments on the content of the Call for Data for this initiative (Ref. Ares (2026) 1964203 20/92/2026), a document which reveals inaccuracies that can project an image of Community fisheries and aquaculture that has nothing to do with reality.

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The Government of the Canary Islands wishes to remind the European institutions that, in order to take due account of the structural social and economic situation of the outermost regions (ORs), in accordance with Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, specific measures must be adopted to lay down the conditions of application of the Treaties to these regions, including common policies, including…

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The GALP Costa Central welcomes the initiative to promote an EU Strategy for Coastal Communities and considers it an opportunity to better recognise the structural role of fisheries and the local blue economy in Mediterranean coastal territories. From the perspective of Costa Central, the future strategy should begin by recognising that fisheries remain an essential economic, social, and territorial driver.

At followfood, we strongly support the ambition of the EU to create a long-term vision for fisheries and aquaculture that ensures both sustainability and competitiveness. From our perspective, these two goals are not in conflict, especially when it comes to wild fish. Sustainability and economic viability must go hand in hand if the sector is to have a future. Wild fisheries depend on healthy ecosystems.

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AnimalhealthEurope, the association representing the manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products welcomes the possibility to provide feedback to the call for evidence on a Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture. Please find a more detailed feedback in the attachment.

Europêche welcomes the European Commissions initiative to reflect on the future of fisheries and aquaculture towards 2040. However, we must begin with a fundamental point: the sector does not need another visionit needs immediate, concrete action. President von der Leyen has repeatedly called for Europe to move from words to action. Nowhere is this more urgent than in fisheries.

Vision 2040 Fishermen are an integral part of marine ecosystems and have a societal mission to make marine natural resources accessible to consumers as an integral part of the maritime economy. Securing the supply of food to society by reducing import dependency is a political priority of overriding public interest, requires the protection of fishing areas and is given greater weight than other entrepreneurial…

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The 2040 Vision for European Fisheries and Aquaculture presents a pivotal moment to align the Unions blue economy with modern ethical and sustainability benchmarks. To ensure long-term sector legitimacy, the following pillars should be prioritized: Bridging the Legislative Gap: While Article 13 of the TFEU provides the constitutional basis for animal sentience, aquatic species remain a notable exception in practical…

Donau Soja welcomes the development of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Vision 2040 and urges the Commission to recognise aquafeed as a strategic sustainability priority for EU aquaculture. The Call for Evidence rightly addresses the sustainability, resilience and competitiveness of the sector, but these objectives cannot be achieved without tackling the sustainability of feed inputs, which represent a major share of…

The fisheries sector faces the challenge of becoming more stable and sustainable in order to be able to survive in the long term. To this end, it is crucial to promote regional supply of high-quality products while preserving jobs in structurally weak coastal regions. Future-proof fisheries must be climate-neutral, responsive to ecological changes and able to compete fairly with imports.

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To ensure that the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are strategically prepared for the future, climate-ocean impacts such as ocean and coastal acidification must be considered and incorporated into the Fisheries and Aquaculture Vision 2040. The ocean absorbs approximately 25% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions released into the atmosphere and absorbs 90% of excess heat caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

The National Committee for Shellfish Culture (Comité National de la Conchyliculture – CNC) has submitted its contribution to the development of the 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture. The document highlights the role of European shellfish farming in sustainable food production, the protection of marine ecosystems and the resilience of coastal territories.

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AquaGen welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a long-term vision for European fisheries and aquaculture. We strongly support the ambition to build a sustainable, resilient, and competitive aquatic food system in the EU and EEA. AquaGen is a global leader in aquaculture genetics, specialising in selective breeding programs for Atlantic salmon and other fish species.

Contribution OF Catalan Fishermen’s Associations (Cofradías de PESCADORES) TO THE EUROPEAN UNION CONSULTATION ON THE 2040 VISION OF FISHERIES AND ACUICULTURE Fishermen’s Associations (Cofradías de Pescadores), as entities representing the fisheries sector, key social economy entities in our communities, we wish to convey a clear concern to the European institutions: the future of the European fisheries sector is at…

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Fisheries Local Action Groups European Funds for Fisheries with each new programming period are becoming smaller and smaller. Therefore, every euro spent requires an analysis of the purpose of this expenditure. This pattern also applies to Fisheries Local Action Groups financed by European funds for fisheries.

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Urk, Netherlands, March 23 - 2026 Position Paper - Vision 2040 Fisheries & Aquaculture 1. Introduction: As a fish processing company highly dependent on the supply of fresh fish from the North Sea, we would like to contribute to the Vision 2040. A future-proof sector requires not only ecological sustainability, but also economic viability and strong regional value chains. 2.

The Aktaia Alliance represents 58 organisations across Greece covering roughly 90% of the coastlines affected by industrial aquaculture expansion, with formal support from 12 municipalities. Many of our communities have been fighting the expansion of industrial aquaculture for twenty years.

The North Sea fisheries are under pressure, not from the fishing pressure itself but from other factors that are deliberately ignored. This will bring food close to the past and put our food safety and security at risk. Coastal communities will also disappear with their centuries-old fishing culture and cohesion.

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This text provides a concise summary of FEAP's contribution. A more detailed version is attached. EU aquaculture has stagnated since 2000, contrasting sharply with rapid global growth that has helped meet FAO food production targets. A 15year strategic vision for the EU is timely and essential as a last effort to secure the sector's longterm competitiveness, relevance, and social viability.

Contribution to EU Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Submitted by: AlterContacts, on behalf of the CIRCU-TECH Project Consortium (Erasmus+ KA220-VET, grant no. KA220-VET-D3C00DE3), co-funded by the European Union. Vision 2040 should place circular waste management at the core of the EU's approach to aquaculture.

This text is a concise summary of Oceanas contribution. A more detailed version is provided in the attached document. Develop a Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture is an opportunity to align current and future EU initiatives, such as the European Ocean Pact, the CFP evaluation, the energy transition roadmap and the future external fisheries strategy, into a coherent framework.

Dyrevernalliansen (The Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance) welcomes the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture and urges the European Commission to explicitly include aquatic animal welfare as a core pillar of the strategy. As sentient beings, aquatic animals remain largely excluded from EU animal welfare legislation, despite being the most numerous farmed animals in Europe.

Fisheries and aquaculture are not only economic sectors but also essential pillars of the cultural identity of European coastal regions, the resilience of coastal communities and the EUs food security. In the global geopolitical context, guaranteeing access to sustainable local blue protein must remain a strategic EU priority.

Vision 2040 for competitive and resilient fisheries and aquaculture is an ambitious initiative undertaken by the EU to present a holistic approach to fisheries and aquaculture by identifying economic, social, and environmental trade-offs. However, such a holistic approach remains incomplete without due consideration of fish welfare.

In terms of monitoring management and and fish stock assements there is a need to explore and impelment alternative, non-invasive, and potentially more cost-effective method. New technologies to the data collection programs and are also needed and many of them are already available. Fishing locations and VMS data for example should be allowed and should be easy to be used by science.

As the Research and Policy Director of Shrimp Welfare Project, we believe that EU animal welfare legislation should be revised to include aquatic animals, and specifically invertebrates. Various EU countries already have included crustaceans in their animal welfare legislation, and there is precedent to draw from in how the legislation is framed.

Aquatic animals are the most widely used animals on land. Reared in high densities, transported under unspeakable conditions, subject to genetic editing, invasive and cruel handling and killed. For this reason, it is crucial to include aquatic animals in the revision of EU animal welfare legislation, and Vision 2040 should go in this direction, paving the way for stronger protections and higher minimum standards of…

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Difficulty in accessing European funds due to impractical requirements – Difficulty in finding workers – little value on the market for seafood products at a time when marine food products have risen all the less – lack of consumer knowledge of the product they buy in the supermarket – Opening up international markets that compete unfairly with costs in Europe – Demy bureaucracy and procedures that last too long –…

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Vision 2040 is an important and long-term approach to the development of commercial fishing and aquaculture. To be truly sustainable, this plan must include animal welfare in comprehensive way. First and foremost, this means a revision of the Unions animal-welfare legislation in a way which finally takes a full account of the aquatic animals and their welfare needs.

Please find attached the opinion of the Austrian Lake Fisheries and Aquaculture Association (ALFAA) on the European Commission’s Vision 2040 initiative for fisheries and aquaculture. It outlines the key concerns of Austrian inland aquaculture and inland fishing.

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The European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) highlights the strategic role of algae in building a sustainable, resilient, and climate-neutral EU fisheries and aquaculture sector. Algae can contribute to food and feed security, reduce environmental pressures, and support the transition to a circular blue economy.

The Czech Republic welcomes the Vision 2040 initiative for fisheries and aquaculture and considers it an important strategic step towards establishing a long-term framework for a competitive, resilient and sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and downstream processing sector. The 2040 vision should cover the entire value chain, from production, fishing, processing and consumption.

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This contribution is submitted by Blue Ventures, reflecting the vision of the Make Fishing Fair campaignan initiative supported by 38 small-scale fisher organisations across Europe and coordinated with Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE). It is grounded in the lived experience of low-impact fishers and the calls to action set out in the Make Fishing Fair Roadmap.

We are a research team specialized in sustainable continental aquaculture, affiliated with L2A (University of Lorraine, INRAE). Our work focuses on the domestication of new fish species, the development of polycultures, and the analysis of the biological, ecological, and zootechnical processes underlying these systems.

The Federación Nacional de Asociaciones Provinciales de Empresarios Detallista de Pescados y Productos Congelados (FEDEPESCA), an organisation established in 1978 and representing specialised retail trade in fishery and aquaculture products in Spain, wishes to inform the European Commission of a number of considerations in the context of the public consultation for the future 2040 Vision for Fisheries and…

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M.A.R.E. Soc. Coop. a r.l., leader of the OPTIMA project, (project number: 2023-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000158681) and all the project consortium, suggests that Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture, especially for the European bivalve mollusc farming sector, should be focused on sponsorship of the sector among its key priorities.

Extract of the attached MEDAC advice on the call for evidence Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture (Ref.73/2026). And the link to MEDAC advice on the consultation on the CFP (Ref.148/2024): https://med-ac.eu/files/documentazione_pareri_lettere/2024/07/148_2024_medac_advice_cfp_consultation_2024.pdf The MEDAC welcomes the initiative to develop a holistic, medium- to long-term approach to improving many aspects…

Corbion, a leader in sustainable aquaculture nutrition, supports the Commissions 2040 Vision for Aquaculture and Fisheries as a vital opportunity to enhance sustainability. We emphasize the need to incorporate recommendations from the EU report on a Sustainable Algae Industry, particularly the shift from fish-based feed ingredients to algae-based alternatives.

Coldiretti, the largest organisation representing farmers and fishers in Italy and Europe, with its 1.6 million members, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to gather input on the future 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture. See detailed position paper attached.

Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission

The association of European small-scale fishers, Seas At Risk, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland and 12 other alliance partners published a vision for fisheries in Europe in 2025. Rethinking fisheries: A vision for fair and environmentally friendly fisheries in Europe has been developed in a bottom-up process for two years.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

The European Marine Board (EMB) welcomes this initiative to develop a 2040 Vision for fisheries and aquaculture, which will lay down a 15-year strategic framework to guide policy developments through the value chain in the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors, while aiming to address systemic challenges affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sector and ensuring its sustainability and long-term…

The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the public consultation on the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Our view is that animal welfare of aquatic animals must be a foundational element of the Vision, in alignment with the Union's constitutional mandate to pay full regard to the welfare of animals, as per Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the…

The German Angel Fishers’ Association (DAFV) welcomes the development of the EU Vision 2040 and supports the objectives of sustainable, socially acceptable and economically efficient use of fish stocks. Pole-and-line fishing, particularly in German coastal regions, contributes directly to food security: Around 200.000 German sea anglers spend around 1.8 million angling days a year in the North Sea and the Baltic…

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the backbone of the European fisheries and seafood value chain. However, many SMEs in the sector still face structural barriers in adopting robust approaches to sustainability, authenticity and food safety. These barriers are not only economic or technological, but also cultural and organisational.

There is no doubt that stocks in EU waters, in particular in the Mediterranean, have improved substantially over the last 20 years, thanks to the efforts of the sector and administrations. However, social and economic sustainability aspects have often not been taken into account, so although the resource has improved, it has been at the cost of losing the fleet that exploited it.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

ANFACO-CYTMA submits the attached document as its contribution to the European Commissions public consultation on the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. The document outlines the perspective of the Spanish seafood processing industry on the future of the European aquatic food system, highlighting the importance of strengthening competitiveness, sustainability and innovation, while ensuring a level playing…

The Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture represents an important opportunity to strengthen the long-term sustainability and societal legitimacy of Europes aquatic food systems. In this context, it is important to address the current gap in EU animal welfare legislation for aquatic animals.

As a major global fisheries actor, the EU has both the responsibility and the capacity to promote an approach to governance that supports sustainable marine ecosystems, resilient coastal communities and equitable international partnerships.

Since 2024, Vision 2040 has clearly reduced administrative burden in areas like paperwork, payment timing, and transparency. However, bottlenecks remain in digital adoption, hidden compliance costs, and uneven implementation across regions.

We support the EUs Aquaculture Vision for 2040, particularly its objectives of strengthening food security, conserving marine biological resources, and advancing reforms and innovation. We appreciate that the EU wants to take a holistic approach for all aspects of fisheries and aquaculture, taking into account consumer demand, aquatic food supply, workforce needs, and the optimisation of production systems…

The Fisheries Producers’ Organisation (PO), representative of the Mediterranean distant-water fleet specialised in deep-water giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp fisheries (Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus), hereby submits the following contribution. Deep-sea fishing for deep-water giant red shrimp can become a European model for the sustainable management of demersal stocks.

Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission

Fishing in Greece guarantees food security, livelihood sustainability and is a barrier to long-standing expansionism and the search for vital space by third countries. But the sector is neglected: Obsolescence, lack of adequate support, ageing fleet with ageing personnel, ageing port facilities.

Filed in Greek · English published by the European Commission

Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040 Contributor (France) Dr Emmanuel Parlier PhD Court-appointed Expert in Aquaculture Author of Blue Economy: Horizons and Challenges in a Changing Climate (2025) Author of Blue Sovereignty Towards a Resilient and Independent European Maritime Strategy (forthcoming) This contribution is provided from the perspective of a court-appointed aquaculture expert, regularly involved in…

WE ARE ALMOST ABOUT TO DISAPPEAR BECAUSE AGENDA 2030 HAS ACHIEVED WHAT YOU WANT, CUTTING RED TAPE FOR ABURRINOS AND REDUCING QUOTAS SO THAT BUSINESSES ARE NOT PROFITABLE. I GRADUALLY TURN OUT THE MAP, EUROPE’S DICTATORSHIP HAS ACHIEVED WHAT YOU WANT, THAT PEOPLE LOVE, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING AND HAPPY SERAS, WE SHAMEFULLY ERR WITH MORE THAN 30 BOATS AND NOW WE ONLY HAVE FIVE, SO THAT, OF THOSE FIVE IN A COUPLE OF…

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

The WASSP multibeam echosounder (sonar) system enables the generation of high-resolution 2D and 3D imagery of the seafloor, as well as the detection and visualization of objects within the water column, such as fish concentrations, from the seabed to the water surface. More than 2,500 commercial fishing vessels worldwide currently operate the WASSP multibeam system as part of their daily fishing activities.

Earthworm Foundation welcomes the development of a long-term strategic framework for the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector to 2040. A coherent 15-year vision is essential to address systemic trade-offs, strengthen competitiveness, and ensure ecological integrity across the aquatic food value chain, as outlined in the Call for Evidence.

Contribution of the FLAG Province of Valencia Vision 2040 In relation to Vision 2040, which aims to establish a policy framework for a competitive, resilient and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector, the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) of the Province of Valencia highlights the need to structurally integrate the territorial dimension and local governance.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

Freshwater aquaculture must evolve from a seasonal, climate-exposed pond system into an integrated water-energy-food production platform capable of year-round output, hydrological stability, and energy autonomy. Currently, European pond production is crippled by climatic instability; declining water availability and rising temperatures push fish beyond biological comfort zones.

Aquatic Life Institute welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture. The forthcoming framework arrives at a critical moment for the sector, as it faces intersecting challenges related to climate change, energy transition, ecological limits, market pressures, and public trust.

The COOL BLUE ("Community Ocean Farms and Local Business Clusters") Horizon Europe CSA and COOL BLUE BALTIC EMFAF Flagship projects (outputs from both can be found under coolbluefuture.org) both focused on low- and multi-trophic ("regenerative") aquaculture of primarily algae and shellfish in the Baltic and North Sea regions.