The Council of the European Union has agreed to establish a new framework for fisheries and aquaculture statistics in the bloc, consolidating existing regulations without increasing reporting requirements.
“Once adopted, the new framework will help ensure that policymakers, researchers and stakeholders have access to high-quality data to support sustainable fisheries, responsible aquaculture and evidence-based policymaking across the European Union,” Cyprus Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou said in a statement.
The framework was first proposed by the European Commission in July 2025. The new system will replace five current regulations governing E.U. catch data, landings, the fishing fleet, and aquaculture production. The proposal called for the reuse of administrative data already collected by the European Commission, reducing the need for additional reporting by member states and any associated increase in administrative burden. The commission is also seeking data on discarded catches, recreational fisheries, sensitive species, landings from third-country fleets in E.U, ports, and organic aquaculture production for the first time.
“This proposal will not only improve the quality and availability of fisheries and aquaculture data but also reduce the administrative burden on Member States. It will allow us to make more informed decisions and support the long-term sustainability of our fisheries more efficiently,” Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said when the framework was first proposed.
Now, the Council of the European Union has agreed to a mandate to begin negotiations with the European Parliament on crafting the framework. Negotiations are expected to start later this year, the council noted.
