Latest documents

Summary : The multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea has failed to halt fisheries collapse, with four of the seven key stocks critically depleted. Conventional single-species reference points are inadequate under combined pressures from climate change, eutrophication and chronic assessment errors. This briefing highlights ecosystem reference points (ERPs), the ecosystem-adjusted fishing mortality FECO and complementary size- and age-based indicators, exploring how they could be developed in the Baltic Sea setting.

Summary : Women remain under-represented in the EU fisheries sector, particularly as regards fishing and aquaculture activities. This in-depth analysis provides an overview of women’s participation in the sector, exploring available statistics and the incorporation of the gender dimension in EU fisheries policy. It also outlines the gradual integration of gender considerations in EU funding schemes, and the impact of the sectoral support provided by sustainable fisheries partnership agreements on women in third countries.

Authors : BREUER Marcus Ernst Gerhard, POPESCU Irina, MIRES ROJAS JANNYNA STEPHANY

Authors : SANDERSKI ANDRZEJ, SERPIERI Margherita

Summary : This European implementation assessment of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 establishing a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks aims to inform the ongoing work of the European Parliament's committee on Fisheries (PECH) on an own-initiative implementation report, 'The multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea and ways forward' (2024/2127(INI)). This European implementation assessment is composed of two parts. First, an introduction by the EPRS provides essential historical and institutional background to the Baltic Sea multiannual plan and sets out the scope and the limitations of the attached evaluation study for clarity on the weight and bearing of the findings and recommendations. Second, an evaluation study undertaken by a team of external experts that covers all Member States concerned over the 2016 to 2025 period. Based on interviews and desk research, it provides up-to-date and original sources on the status of the regulation's implementation over the past decade, allowing an evidence-based assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of the Baltic Sea multiannual plan. It also offers recommendations for making the current system work better and for possible legal revisions.

Authors : JANSEN Talander Hugo

Authors : SANDERSKI ANDRZEJ, SERPIERI Margherita

Summary : The Baltic Sea multiannual plan aimed to shift fisheries management toward long-term, ecosystem-based planning. However, it failed to restore depleted cod and herring stocks due to pre-existing low biomass, worsening environmental conditions, assessment uncertainties, and political non-compliance with scientific advice. The analysis recommends improvements for more effective, regionally adapted future fisheries management in the Baltic Sea.

Summary : The European Parliament is vested with powers of democratic oversight and political scrutiny vis-à-vis the European Commission. These powers of Parliament enhance the democratic legitimacy of the EU as a whole, and help increase the transparency and accountability of the Commission as the EU's executive body. This study examines Parliament's oversight and scrutiny powers over the Commission. It focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on the powers that are enshrined in specific provisions of the EU Treaties. This includes Parliament's role in the Commission's investiture, in motions of censure, parliamentary questions, committees of inquiry and special committees, and in the Commission's obligations to report, consult and inform. It also looks into Parliament's scrutiny over budgetary issues, of delegated acts, in the context of the EU legislative procedure and agenda-setting, of legal proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and of the EU's external relations. The study builds on a previous EPRS study on parliamentary scrutiny of the Commission, originally requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) in 2018. The data presented in this edition focus on the ninth term parliamentary term (2019 to 2024).

Authors : TENHUNEN Susanna, EISELE Katharina, AHAMAD MADATALI HANNAH NAFIZE, JANSEN Talander Hugo

Summary : This study focuses on the recent development of the market for plant-based seafood substitutes and the challenges that it has generated for the EU fisheries sector in terms of labelling. The study shows that potentially non-compliant marketing strategies indeed exist on a large scale, and provides an overview of national initiatives to tackle such issues. Finally, it proposes some adjustments to the current EU legal framework, to ensure that the labelling of novel products provides accurate information to consumers.

Summary : This study focuses on the recent development of the market for plant-based seafood substitutes and the challenges that it has generated for the EU fisheries sector in terms of labelling. The study shows that potentially non-compliant marketing strategies indeed exist on a large scale, and provides an overview of national initiatives to tackle such issues. Finally, it proposes some adjustments to the current EU legal framework, to ensure that the labelling of novel products provides accurate information to consumers.

Summary : Commitments made at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate 2024-2029

Summary : This handbook provides an illustrated overview of the main marine and freshwater species relevant to the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector. For each species, the handbook shows its main biological characteristics, whether it is caught, farmed or both, and by which Member States, along with some significant EU conservation measures. In addition, it indicates the name of the species in Danish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Swedish.

Authors : BREUER Marcus Ernst Gerhard, POPESCU Irina, TWISK DANA DIVERA

Summary : This study reviews the implementation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) in the Netherlands, as regards the first acquisition of a fishing vessel, the replacement or modernisation of a main or ancillary engine and the increase of gross tonnage to improve safety, working conditions or energy efficiency (Articles 17-19 of the EMFAF Regulation). The study also assesses the future needs of the Dutch fishing fleet and makes proposals for the adjustment of EMFAF for the next budget period.

Summary : This synopsis is the first out of a series of four studies, commissioned for a PECH Committee Workshop on “The future of the EU fishing fleet − First assessment of the EMFAF programming for 2021-27”. The study focuses on EMFAF Article 17 (First acquisition of a fishing vessel), Article 18 (Replacement or modernisation of a main or ancillary engine) and Article 19 (Increase of gross tonnage to improve safety, working conditions or energy efficiency”). The synopsis deals with the situation for all 22 coastal EU Member States, while at the same time considering results of three additional case studies on Spain, France and the Netherlands.

Summary : The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) provides for public co-funding to support the modernisation of the fishing fleet during the current funding period (2021-2027). Funding opportunities are subject to specific conditions framed by the EMFAF Regulation as regards the first acquisition of a fishing vessel (Article 17), replacement or modernisation of a main or ancillary engine (Article 18) and increase of gross tonnage to improve safety, working conditions or energy efficiency (Article 19).

Summary : This study is the second contribution to a PECH Committee Workshop on “The future of the EU fishing fleet – First assessment of Member States’ EMFAF programmes for 2021-27”. The general objective of this study is to provide information to Members of PECH Committee on the state of play of the Spanish EMFAF programming and its implementation with regard to Articles 17-19 of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Regulation.

Summary : This workshop provides a first assessment of the programming of the EMFAF for the period 2021-27. It focuses on Article 17 on “First acquisition of a fishing vessel”, Article 18 on “Engine replacement or modernisation” and Article 19 on “Increase of gross tonnage to improve safety, working conditions or energy efficiency”. While a synopsis study provides a general overview of the implementation of the EMFAF by Member States, three case studies on Spain, France and the Netherlands discuss the national specificities of the fishing fleets and the support provided under the current EMFAF rules.

Summary : This study provides an overview of the Common Fisheries Policy and other EU policies in relation to Fisheries, Aquaculture, the Blue Economy and International Ocean Governance. The current and future challenges facing these are described. Strengths and weaknesses of EU policy in addressing these challenges are assessed, leading to the authors making a range of specific policy recommendations.

Summary : This study provides an overview of the Common Fisheries Policy and other EU policies in relation to Fisheries, Aquaculture, the Blue Economy and International Ocean Governance. The current and future challenges facing these are described. Strengths and weaknesses of EU policy in addressing these challenges are assessed, leading to the authors making a range of specific policy recommendations.

Summary : This handbook provides an illustrated overview of the main fishing gears currently used in the EU. For each gear, the handbook outlines the essentials of its design, operation method and target species, and shows the main Member State fishing fleets that use it. In addition, it indicates the name of the gears in Danish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese.

Authors : BREUER Marcus Ernst Gerhard, POPESCU Irina

Summary : This in-depth analysis explores the complexities of fisheries and aquaculture management in the United States, focusing on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The MSA establishes ten national standards and eight Regional Fishery Management Councils to develop and enforce regulations. The research paper highlights the collaborative efforts between state and federal authorities in monitoring and regulating fisheries and aquaculture activities in the US. Finally, the analysis addresses US aquaculture regulation, environmental concerns, and initiatives to expand the sector despite existing challenges.

Authors : BREUER Marcus Ernst Gerhard, POPESCU Irina, TWISK DANA DIVERA