Troubled waters: the deep divide over EU fisheries reform

Troubled waters: the deep divide over EU fisheries reform

While some believe the 12-year-old Common Fisheries Policy still has much to offer, others are pushing for a major overhaul.

The overall objective of the Common Fisheries Policy, better known as the CFP, is to ensure that fisheries and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed consistently to generate economic, social and employment benefits, and to contribute to the availability of food products. To ensure sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources, the CFP should apply the precautionary approach to fisheries managem…

The EU Commission closed its consultation on the Common Fisheries Policy on Monday. The question is whether the fisheries policy, which was last reformed in 2013, is still up-to-date – a debate characterised by deep divides between industry, politics and environmental organisations.