The Advisory Councils (ACs) are stakeholder-led organisations that provide the Commission and EU countries with recommendations on fisheries management matters. This may include advice on conservation and socio-economic aspects of management, and on simplification of rules. Advisory Councils are consulted in the context of regionalisation. Advisory Councils should also contribute to data for fisheries management and conservation measures.

Advisory Councils are composed of representatives from the industry and from other interest groups (with a 60% - 40% allocation of the seats in the general assembly and the executive committee). They receive EU financial assistance as bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest.

• Aquaculture AC
• Baltic Sea AC
• Black Sea AC
• Long Distance AC
• Market AC
• Mediterranean Sea AC
• North Sea AC
• North-western waters AC
• Outermost regions AC (not set up)
• Pelagic stocks AC
• South-western waters AC

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1575 of 23 June 2017 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/242 laying down detailed rules on the functioning of the Advisory Councils under the common fisheries policy

Promoting Stakeholders´ Dialogue and Better Ocean Governance for Sustainable Fishing and Trade (video by Long Distance AC)

Information on the pilot project intended to support small scale fishermen get involved in the consultation and decision making process