European Parliament Committee on Fisheries

The committee is responsible for the operation, development and management of the Common Fisheries Policy. Its remit includes conservation measures, the management of fisheries and fishing fleets, marine and applied fisheries research, aquaculture, seafood markets and the financial instruments supporting the sector.^[2]

Its responsibilities include:

• the operation and development of the Common Fisheries Policy;
• the conservation of fishery resources and the sustainable management of fish stocks;
• management of fishing fleets and measures affecting fishing capacity;
• marine and applied fisheries research;
• the common organisation of the market in fishery and aquaculture products;
• processing, marketing, traceability and labelling of seafood products;
• structural policy in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors;
• implementation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund;
• the integrated maritime policy insofar as it concerns fishing activities;
• sustainable fisheries partnership agreements with non-EU countries;
• relations with regional fisheries management organisations; and
• implementation of international obligations in the field of fisheries.^[2]

The committee also scrutinises the European Commission and EU agencies involved in fisheries management, particularly the European Fisheries Control Agency.^[3]

The Common Fisheries Policy provides the main legal framework for EU fisheries management. Its objectives include ensuring that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable over the long term while also producing economic, social and employment benefits and contributing to food supplies.^[4]

The committee plays a central role in legislation concerning fishing opportunities, technical conservation measures, control and enforcement, fisheries data, fleet policy and the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. It also considers the effects of climate change, invasive species, fuel prices, generational renewal and competition from imported seafood on the sector.^[1]

The European Union participates in regional fisheries management organisations and concludes sustainable fisheries partnership agreements with non-EU countries. These agreements provide EU vessels with regulated access to fisheries resources while including financial support for fisheries governance and development in partner countries.^[5]

PECH considers such agreements under the consent procedure and follows the EU's implementation of international fisheries obligations.^[2]

The following table lists the chairs of the committee since 1997.

More information Name, Political group ...

	Name	Political group	Member state	Took office	Left office
	Carmen Fraga Estévez	EPP	Spain	1997	1999
	Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna	EPP–ED	Spain	1999	2002
	Struan Stevenson	EPP–ED	United Kingdom	2002	2004
	Philippe Morillon	ALDE	France	2004	2009
	Carmen Fraga Estévez	EPP	Spain	2009	2012
	Gabriel Mato	EPP	Spain	2012	2014
	Alain Cadec	EPP	France	2014	2019
	Chris Davies	Renew Europe	United Kingdom	2019	2020
	Pierre Karleskind	Renew Europe	France	2020	2024
	Carmen Crespo Díaz	EPP	Spain	2024	Incumbent[6]

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The committee is supported by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies. It provides studies, briefings and analyses on fisheries management, aquaculture, seafood markets, marine ecosystems, international fisheries agreements and the social and economic conditions of coastal communities.^[7]

Research prepared for the committee is published through the Parliament's supporting-analyses database and the European Parliament Think Tank.^[8]

• Common Fisheries Policy
• European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
• European Fisheries Control Agency
• European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
• Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
• Agriculture and Fisheries Council
• Regional fisheries management organisation
• European Fishery MLS