European Commission prepares strategic vision for the future of fisheries and aquaculture through 2040
The European Commission is preparing a new strategic vision for the future of fisheries and aquaculture in the European Union, looking ahead to 2040, for release at the end of September. The initiative is set to be discussed at a College of Commissioners meeting scheduled for September 30.
The strategy, titled “Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture,” is expected to set out the main guidelines for the development of the fisheries, aquaculture, and fish processing sectors over the coming decades, in a context shaped by climate change, the energy transition, shifting geopolitics, and the need to strengthen European food security.
The Commission’s push for a strategic reinforcement follows the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy, which identified progress but also challenges that remain unresolved. While some stocks have shown improvement, the recovery of certain resources continues to advance at a pace considered insufficient, while the sector faces high production costs, energy price volatility, international competition, and difficulties with generational renewal.
The energy transition is expected to play an important role in the 2040 strategy, given that the European fishing fleet remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, leaving operators exposed to energy price swings.
To that end, the Commission intends to accelerate the reduction of this dependency through efficiency gains, new technologies, and lower carbon intensity energy solutions. Similarly, aquaculture is expected to move toward more efficient and sustainable models, strengthening its contribution to European food supply.
Indeed, the Commission recognizes aquaculture’s potential to contribute to food security and reduce dependence on products from third countries. Its sustainable, competitive, and resilient development is expected to be one of the components of the 2040 vision, alongside efforts to add value across the entire chain, from production and catch through to processing and marketing.
At the same time, the expansion of offshore renewable energy, the installation of infrastructure and submarine cables, and the growth of protected areas are creating additional pressure on zones traditionally used for fishing. The future vision is expected to seek greater coordination between these different activities, ensuring that the energy transition and the protection of marine ecosystems remain compatible with the continuity of fishing activity.
The presentation planned for September 30 is thus expected to mark an important moment for the future of European fisheries policy. Rather than setting out immediate measures, Vision 2040 is expected to establish a strategic direction for the next 15 years, seeking to reconcile ocean sustainability with economic competitiveness, food security, and the social dimension of activities linked to the sea.
