Directorate-General for Maritime Policy and Sustainable Fisheries (DGPMPS), Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya)

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.

Statement We consider the OceanEye initiative to be both highly relevant and timely, particularly in the current context of increasing societal and environmental demands for robust ocean observation capabilities across Europe. We strongly support the initiative's objective of improving the coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of ocean observing activities.

While pushing for a specific omnibus procedure to reform the CFP and the Control and EMFAF Regulations, we consider it a priority to immediately adopt the Western Mediterranean MAP Omnibus Regulation, within a timeframe compatible with its approval at AGRIFISH in December, in order to correct the dysfunctions generated and their cumulative negative effects.

Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission

The EMFAF must remain an effective and future-oriented instrument supporting the objectives of the CFP through a balanced environmental, economic and social approach. It should provide sufficient flexibility to address sector needs, promote generational renewal, strengthen competitiveness, support fleet modernisation and decarbonisation, and ensure simplification, proportionality and subsidiarity.

The Directorate-General for Maritime Policy and Sustainable Fisheries welcomes the progress achieved in the environmental sustainability of Mediterranean fisheries, as reflected in reduced fishing mortality and the gradual recovery of several stocks.