Fisheries ministers exchanged views on the basis of a Commission communication on the state of play of sustainable fishing in the EU and the main orientations for the fishing opportunities for 2025.

During this discussion, they expressed their views on their main priorities for this year's exercise of setting fishing opportunities for 2025.

Thanks to our action, the sustainability of EU fisheries is overall improving. We must continue our efforts to safeguard our fish stocks and support the industry's efforts to modernise the fleet and reduce dependencies. This way, we can ensure a thriving and profitable fisheries sector, today and tomorrow.

Hilde Crevits, Belgian Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and the Family, and responsible for Fisheries

Ministers welcomed the fact that the biological situation of our marine resources continues to improve, with the exception of the Baltic Sea where the environmental situation is particularly worrying and Russia’s fishing activities further undermine the EU’s efforts to rebuild the fish stocks in that basin.

Ministers also welcomed the upcoming evaluation of the common fisheries policy as announced by the Commission during the informal ministerial meeting that took place in Bruges in March 2024, under the Belgian presidency.

The Council stressed that many challenges, such as the energy transition and the related need for funding, remain for the EU’s fleet to guarantee an economically viable future for the EU's fisheries and aquaculture sectors, which depend on healthy fish stocks.

When it comes to stocks shared with third countries, ministers agreed that it is important to ensure a level-playing field.

The Commission has invited member states, advisory councils, stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the communication by 31 August 2024. It intends to publish its proposal for fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea at the end of August, while that for fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas is expected for mid-September. The Commission proposal for the Atlantic and North Sea is expected for the end of October.

The Council will seek to reach a political agreement on the proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea at the October Agriculture and Fisheries Council, while a political agreement for the other two proposals is expected during the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council.