Aquatic Life Institute

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the evaluation of the Public Procurement Directives. As an organization committed to improving the welfare of aquatic animals and promoting sustainability in food systems, we recognize the significant role that public procurement plays in shaping market demand and influencing industry practices.

Aquatic Life Institute welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the European Ocean Act. As an international non-governmental organisation working to improve the welfare of aquatic animals globally through policy, research, and engagement with decision-makers, we see this initiative as a timely and important step toward more coherent, effective, and forward-looking ocean governance in the European Union.

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.

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.

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) welcomes the development of an EU Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy. ALI works to ensure that aquatic animal welfare is recognised and protected in the frameworks governing aquatic food systems. Water resilience is not only about water availability, efficiency or economic use.

Aquatic Life Institute notes the relevance of this evaluation to emerging One Health and marine governance priorities. The Regulations original objectives focused on internal market functioning and protection of human and animal health and the environment.

Ocean health and aquatic animal welfare are connected, but they are not interchangeable. Research measuring biodiversity, stock status or ecosystem condition does not necessarily capture the welfare of individual animals. The Strategy should recognise aquatic animal welfare as a distinct research objective and measurable outcome.

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) welcomes the planned revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and supports the objective of improving effectiveness, coherence, and data use while reducing unnecessary administrative burden.

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence on the revision of fisheries management rules under the EU multiannual plans. ALI works across supply chains, certification standards, and legislative reform to ensure aquatic animal welfare is recognized, protected, and prioritized.

Aquatic Life Institute welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the proposed amendment of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. As the EU seeks to simplify the implementation of EMFAF and give Member States greater flexibility, it is important that public funding continues to support meaningful improvements in aquatic animal welfare.

We welcome the development of a strategic approach to the EUs external action in fisheries and appreciate the opportunity to contribute. We urge the European Commission to ensure that this initiative aligns with the EUs environmental values, legal obligations under Article 13 TFEU, and global leadership on sustainability and ocean diplomacy.

Aquatic Life Institute welcomes the opportunity to respond to the European Commissions annual state of play and orientations for sustainable fishing in 2027. However, we urge the Commission to explicitly account for the welfare of sentient aquatic animals, and to ensure that the orientations for 2027 explicitly cover aquatic animal welfare, including fishes, cephalopods, and decapod crustaceans.

As a representative of Aquatic Life Institute, an NGO dedicated to aquatic animal welfare, I am pleased to provide feedback on the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The progress towards achieving sustainable fisheries within the EU is commendable, particularly the reduction in the number of overfished stocks and the movement towards Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).