A group of leading organizations representing fishing and aquaculture have joined together to urge the European Commission to develop and adopt an action plan for blue foods by 2026.
The European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD), Europêche, the European Association of Fish Producer Organizations (EAPO), the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), and the E.U. Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP) launched a joint call at European Parliament urging policymakers to integrate blue foods into the bloc’s broader food strategy.
“Blue foods must be at the core of the E.U.’s Ocean Pact and its sustainable food strategy. They are healthy, low-carbon, and essential for the resilience of our coastal regions,” Carmen Crespo Díaz, the chair of the committee of fisheries at the European Parliament, said in a release.
The coalition unveiled a stakeholder proposal and an action plan that it said the E.U. should adopt to improve food security, strategic autonomy, European health, and climate and marine ecosystems. Some of those measures include focusing on a reduced dependence on imports, efforts to promote seafood consumption inside Europe, and stronger measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“This action plan is a timely and science-based roadmap; we now call on the European Commission to move from vision to action by supporting responsible aquaculture, fair market conditions, and a competitive, future-oriented fisheries sector. There is no truly ambitious Ocean Pact without a strong commitment to blue food systems,” Crespo Díaz said.
During the launch event, Europêche President Javier Garat said the European Economic and Social Committee has supported the call for a blue food action plan.
The coalition said its call comes as recent FAO data indicates Europe is the only continent that is experiencing a decline in local aquatic food production, while per-capita consumption of wild-caught seafood has reached its lowest level in a decade.
Data compiled by the AIPCE-CEP has shown decreasing seafood consumption and increased dependence on imports for years.
“Europe cannot afford to ignore its own capacity to produce aquatic food,” FEAP Project Manager Szilvia Mihalffy said. “At a time when imports dominate and production at home stagnates, we need a dedicated E.U. Action Plan that recognizes fish farming as strategic for food security, jobs, and sustainability. Blue foods are not the future. They are here, and Europe must act now.”
AIPCE-CEP Chair Guus Pastoor said supporting responsible fisheries in the E.U., while also securing more open trade with international partners, will be essential actions to take to secure the seafood supply chain in the bloc.
As part of its push for an action plan, the coalition said the European Commission should establish an “E.U. Blue Foods Platform” with institutional and financial support to align Europe’s policies with global sustainability initiatives.
“The E.U. must take decisive steps to ensure food security, enhance ocean health, and create economic opportunities for fishers, aquaculture farmers, and seafood processors,” the groups said.
