Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems: Your opinion counts – take part in targeted consultation

Today, the European Commission has launched a targeted consultation to ask stakeholders for their involvement in shaping the upcoming Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems (see roadmap for the initiative).

The action plan was announced in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and is planned for adoption in the spring 2022. Its goal is to exploit synergies between fisheries and environmental policies and help improve the implementation.  It will directly contribute to the European Green Deal, by making fisheries more sustainable and protecting marine ecosystems and their biodiversity.

The action plan will also complement the recently adopted report on the implementation of the 2019 Technical Measures Regulation (TMR). The report provided a first insight on the state of implementation and effectiveness of the technical measures currently in place in EU fisheries. It showed the positive impact of the regionalized approach, which some Member States have already used to introduce additional fisheries measures to protect sensitive species and habitats at the national and regional level. However, it also found that further action and more decisive steps are needed to meet the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

The action plan will complement other actions under the common fisheries policy and under environmental legislation, and will be an important step in the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy, alongside other measures such as the extension and effective management of marine protected areas and the adoption of legally binding restoration targets.

The targeted consultation launched today is asking for the respondents’ feedback on the elements of the action plan. Furthermore, it will to gather information and evidence on the current state of the conservation of sensitive species and habitats and the availability and potential of innovative, more selective fishing gears and techniques. In addition, respondents are asked for input and suggestions on actions that could improve the management, implementation and governance of the relevant fisheries and environmental legislation.

All stakeholders, including the fishing industry, non-governmental organizations, academic, scientific, social and economic partners are invited to take part in this targeted consultation by 10 January 2022.

Targeted consultation on the Action Plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems