Press releases/news articles

Tuna is the most consumed fish product in the EU. Every one of us eats, on average, 2.78 kg of tuna every year, most of which is canned tuna. As the most important product of the canning industry, tuna generates around 20,000 direct jobs and 60,000 jobs in supporting sectors. The industry is growing considerably in response to demand, but processing methods remain largely traditional with low levels of mechanisation.

Artisanal fisheries are characterised by their diversity: its catches belong to multiple species and biological groups. They are also diverse in their setup, organised in loose groups for which it is difficult to coordinate coherent marketing strategies.

Promoting sustainable fisheries and supporting local communities in diversifying their economies and creating new jobs are key priorities of the EU’s common fisheries policy. The EU-funded project Terre et Mer (land and sea), in the Hérault department in southern France, does all of the above and goes one step further, advocating inclusion in the job market.

“Bathymetry” is the study of underwater depth of ocean floors or lake floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to hypsometry or topography and a crucial source of data and information enabling many economic and scientific activities at sea.

The European Commission is partnering with the European Investment Fund, to announce EUR 45 million of BlueInvest fund financing into 2 funds targeting the blue economy across Europe.

The European Commission and the External Action Service have released the summary of the results of the public consultation on the way forward for the European Union’s Arctic policy.

After the launch of the Farm to Fork Strategy in 2020 and just ahead of the start of DG MARE’s own #TastetheOcean campaign, the latest episode of Ocean looks at the complex journey of seafood from the moment it is caught to the moment it lands on your plate.

EUMOFA is conducting a brief online survey about its services. The survey will provide a better understanding of the users’ needs and expectations and help to improve EUMOFA services.

On 8 January 2021, the EU and Greenland concluded negotiations for a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) and a new Protocol that will strengthen their cooperation in the fisheries sector for the next four years with the possibility of a two-year extension.

The 2020 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet projects that in 2020, the EU fleet remained profitable overall, despite the effects of COVID-19 on the fleet and fish markets. More sustainable fishing and lower fuel costs have helped to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed to a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), applicable on a provisional basis from 1 January 2021.

The European Commission has just published an online consultation on its roadmap towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector.

As the European Commission prepares its new guidelines on sustainable aquaculture to be released in February, this episode of Ocean tells the success stories of two very different family-run aquaculture companies — one farming organic mussels in an isolated area of the Atlantic coast of Ireland, another growing trout at a popular touristic destination in landlocked Hungary.

Martin Traxler took a life-changing decision. For the love of nature, he left his previous managerial job in Vienna to start a fish farm in the mountains of Styria, Austria. Learning aquaculture by self-study and through exchange of experiences with other fish farmers, Martin, with the support of his wife Elke, has built an enterprise that covers the entire value chain: from rearing to marketing and serving products at his restaurant on-site. EU-funding has helped turning his vision for a different life into a successful reality.

There has always been a symbiotic relationship between seabirds and fishermen. In a time before technology took over, birds were guiding fishing boats to the fish schools at sea, and today, they still crowd around trawlers. Unfortunately, many times seabirds attracted to fishing boats are accidentally caught on hooks or in nets and end up drowning.

Quality packaging is essential to the shelf life of seafood products. Today, the bulk of packaging is made from single-use plastics, thus representing a big source of pollution. The food processing industry is therefore looking for sustainable alternatives, and the EU-funded FISH4FISH project is part of the solution.

The latest implementation report of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is now available. It highlights the most important achievements supported by the EMFF across the EU. The report is based on data provided by the Member States, reflecting the state of implementation at the end of 2019. The first data reflecting the impacts of Covid-19 are due to be reported by the Member States at the end of April 2021 and will feature in the next report.

At their 11 December ministerial meeting, in the presence of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, Black Sea countries agreed to strengthen regional cooperation on the blue economy. This cooperation, established in 2019 under the so-called common maritime agenda, should boost synergies across countries and sectors and will benefit the entire region.

In August 2019, a new technical measures regulation entered into force. This important regulation contains rules on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems. A stakeholder consultation on the effectiveness and the impact of the regulation is underway until 15 February 2021.

In parallel with EMD Conference in Den Helder (20-21 May 2021) EMD In My Country 2021 events will take place all over Europe from April to October 2021.