How to watch the Committee on Fisheries (PECH)

European eel regulation: status, management plans and enforcement gaps

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 6 others

The committee addresses Regulation 1100/2007 on eel, with the Commission detailing the species’ critical status, current measures and illegal glass eel trade, while MEPs raise governance of national plans, socio‑economic impacts, uneven closures, predators and calls for zero‑catch, followed by Commission replies on advisory structures, plan updates and stronger control tools. The rapporteur closes by outlining Parliament’s intention to keep political pressure on Member States and the Commission for a holistic eel recovery strategy.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to eel regulation item: state of European eelCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Commission: current eel measures, uneven progress and IUU glass eel trade
3. First MEP reactions: governance of eel plans and socio‑economic impactsBert-Jan Ruissen

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IUU fishing in Mediterranean: enforcement, EFCA role and MEP concerns

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 7 others

From the chair’s opening through Commission briefings and MEP interventions, the committee examines cross‑border IUU fishing in the Mediterranean, focusing on GFCM tools, EFCA operations, third‑country fleets (Tunisia, Turkey and others), import controls and the need for stronger EU‑level enforcement. The Commission then responds on Tunisia, trade leverage, Turkey’s obligations and planned use of the EU IUU Regulation and EFCA resources.

In this chapter

1. Opening: focus on cross‑border IUU in MediterraneanCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Commission (DG MARE): regional tools against IUU in Med
3. Commission: EFCA role, joint inspections and EU IUU regulationCarmen Crespo Díaz

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MEP legal concerns, Commission reply and session closure

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral PPE

An MEP questions the legal basis and proportionality of VMS monitoring obligations for small-scale vessels, the Commission defends the targeted porpoise monitoring act and details Bluefin TAC increases and FTA sensitivities, and the Chair formally closes the delegated acts point and the morning sitting.

In this chapter

1. VMS delegated act: legal concerns and porpoise monitoringPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. Bluefin tuna quotas, Indonesia FTA sensitivity and session closurePaulo do Nascimento Cabral

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Commission delegated acts on porpoise and tuna

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 1 other

DG MARE presents delegated acts on Baltic porpoise static-net restrictions and on Bluefin tuna alignment with ICCAT rules, with MEPs raising initial questions on bycatch control and the sensitivity of tuna in EU–Indonesia FTA negotiations.

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Crisis support, EMFAF and future EU fisheries funding

Isabelle Le Callennec and 10 others

Commission and MEPs debate emergency tools for the fuel price crisis and limits of EMFAF and state aid, before a broader political clash on the post‑2027 funding architecture, including NRPPs, the size and design of a dedicated fisheries fund, ring‑fencing, conditionality and the role of Global Europe and the Ocean Pact in financing both internal and external fisheries policy, SFPAs and ocean governance.

In this chapter

1. Fuel price crisis in fisheries: MEP demands and Commission replyIsabelle Le Callennec
2. Future fisheries funding in new MFF/NRPP frameworkAndré Franqueira Rodrigues
3. Global Europe instrument: external fisheries dimensionPaulo do Nascimento Cabral

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Opening, agenda and fisheries partnership votes

Chair opens the PECH meeting, adopts the agenda and conducts consent votes on the Fisheries Partnership Protocol with São Tomé and Príncipe and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Cook Islands, then the committee turns to impact reports on the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Baltic Sea multiannual plan with detailed amendment and final votes.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and fisheries partnership votes
2. Impact reports on Maritime Spatial Planning and Baltic Sea plan

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NRPF opinion (point 11): cross‑party opposition and search for alternatives

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 5 others

On the Parliament’s opinion to the NRPF, the rapporteur and shadows across groups denounce the absence of a legal fisheries minimum, major national cuts and the merger of CFP funding into the NRPF, warning of a de facto end to the common policy, while the Commission reiterates its interpretation of the €2 billion minimum and governance safeguards and MEPs announce work on alternative architectures to restore dedicated CFP financing.

In this chapter

1. NRPF opinion (point 11): rapporteur Rodrigues and shadows deepen criticismPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. Second Commission response and political call for alternatives on NRPFAndré Franqueira Rodrigues

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NRPF regulation: Commission proposal and first committee reactions

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 4 others

The Commission presents the new National and Regional Partnership Fund architecture and fisheries envelope within the post‑2028 MFF, then rapporteur and shadows from all main groups react, warning about cuts to CFP financing, loss of sectoral rules, risks of renationalisation and insufficient safeguards for small‑scale fishers, outermost regions, decarbonisation and biodiversity, before the Commission defends the NRPP model, €2 billion minimum and DNHS application.

In this chapter

1. Commission: introduction of NRPF maritime support regulation (point 10)Paulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. Rapporteur and shadows: first reactions to NRPF and CFP financingPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
3. Broader committee debate: 67% cuts, renationalisation and outermost regionsPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
4. Commission reply on NRPP model, €2 billion minimum and DNHSPaulo do Nascimento Cabral

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Cook Islands SFPA protocol: presentation and closing

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 1 other

The committee examines the 2025–2032 sustainable fisheries partnership protocol with the Cook Islands, with the rapporteur and shadows detailing financial terms, fishing opportunities, sustainability conditions and geopolitical context, followed by a critical intervention on broader blue‑economy interests, a brief Commission endorsement and the formal closure of the file with procedural deadlines.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and Cook Islands protocol itemPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. Rapporteur: content and rationale of Cook Islands SFPAPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
3. EPP and S&D shadows: support and geopolitical stakesPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
4. Critical view on wider economic interests and closure of Cook Islands filePaulo do Nascimento Cabral

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Fuel price emergency for fishers and shift to in camera SFPAs

Isabelle Le Callennec and 3 others

MEPs press the Commission for concrete instruments to address soaring fuel prices affecting the EU fleet before the chair closes the public session and moves the committee in camera for confidential updates on SFPA negotiations with Morocco and Mauritania.

In this chapter

1. Fuel price crisis and call for emergency support to fishersIsabelle Le Callennec
2. Transition to in camera discussion on SFPAs Morocco and Mauritania

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Seychelles SFPA mission: findings, model value and Commission stance

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 4 others

The rapporteur and delegation members report on the mission to Seychelles, underscoring the SFPA’s economic, strategic and RFMO importance, local political sensitivities and transparency gaps, while the Commission confirms alignment of sectoral support with Seychellois priorities and commits to enhanced transparency and beneficial ownership disclosure in the renewed protocol.

In this chapter

1. Mission to Seychelles: delegation report and political contextCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Other delegation members: economic benefits and exemplary SFPA modelFrancisco José Millán Mon
3. Commission on Seychelles SFPA and future transparency standards

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IFAC and Commission: responses and next steps on cormorant management

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 1 other

IFAC experts detail financing needs, coordination structures, timing, cost allocation and the limited role of Annex II listing, while the Commission sets out its planned actions on derogation guidance, AEWA options, monitoring and a 2026–2027 review; further exchanges address population figures, ecological side‑effects, AEWA prioritisation and IFAC’s request for Parliament’s endorsement of a modest EU coordination mechanism.

In this chapter

1. Experts’ initial replies: financing, coordination and predator scope
2. Experts on timing, costs and Annex II optionCarmen Crespo Díaz
3. Commission (DG MARE and Environment): response on cormorant conflictsCarmen Crespo Díaz

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MEPs’ positions on EU cormorant plan and legal status

Isabelle Le Callennec and 9 others

Political groups outline support and concerns regarding the proposed cormorant plan, questioning EMFAF funding, links to broader predator control, concrete EU tools to protect farmers and fishers, and calling variously for listing cormorants as huntable species, clarifying Article 9 derogations, robust science, cost estimates and possible Annex II changes.

In this chapter

1. EPP and S&D coordinators: questions on budget source and support toolsIsabelle Le Callennec
2. Croatian MEP: call to list cormorant as huntable speciesStephen Nikola Bartulica
3. Renew and Greens/Left: questions on Article 9, science and costsEmma Ytterell
4. Further MEP interventions: legal basis, Annex II and management optionsFrancisco José Millán Mon

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Cormorant management item: mandate and IFAC framework

Carmen Crespo Díaz PPE

The chair introduces the cormorant management agenda point, recalls previous Parliament work and IFAC’s mandate, and IFAC presents data on population growth, legal context, socio‑economic impacts and its proposal for an EU‑level adaptive management plan with dedicated coordination funding.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to cormorant management item and IFAC guestsCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. IFAC presentation: impacts and need for EU-level cormorant planCarmen Crespo Díaz

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Opening, vice‑chair election and 2027 budget votes

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 1 other

The Fisheries Committee opens its meeting, adopts the agenda with a political warning on the fuel‑price crisis, elects a new first vice‑chair from the EPP quota, and votes on pilot projects and preparatory actions for the 2027 budget.

In this chapter

1. Opening, agenda adoption and fuel price warningCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Election of first vice-chair (EPP quota)Carmen Crespo Díaz
3. Vote on pilot projects and preparatory actions, budget 2027Carmen Crespo Díaz

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Commission: phased implementation of revised fisheries control regulation

The Chair opens the agenda item on the staged entry into force of the revised fisheries control regulation and the Commission details the 2023 reform, the 2024–2029 phase‑in calendar for key obligations (VMS, CCTV, small‑scale vessels, weighing, engine power and traceability), and ongoing delegated and implementing acts with Member State consultations.

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Commission and expert replies: management, multi‑use and feeds

The Commission outlines EU strategies, CFP evaluation and offshore wind–aquaculture pilots, while Huntington addresses fuel‑efficient gear, limits of stock rebuilding for self‑sufficiency, support for low‑trophic aquaculture and spatial mapping; both then respond to follow‑up on fishmeal and fish oil, explaining shifts in aquafeed ingredients and announcing an EU study on feed supply and demand.

In this chapter

1. Commission (De La Cruz): EU strategies and offshore wind–aquaculture
2. Expert replies: management, sovereignty, mapping and climate change
3. Follow‑up on fishmeal, fish oil and sustainable feeds

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MEPs’ questions on self‑sufficiency, pelagics and aquaculture model

Bert-Jan Ruissen ECR

MEPs Ruissen, Levin and others question the feasibility and instruments to boost EU self‑sufficiency, the role of stock management and pelagic uses, offshore multi‑use with wind farms, low‑trophic aquaculture, trade standards, food sovereignty, and the need for EU‑wide mapping of fisheries and aquaculture to reduce import dependence and ensure a level playing field.

In this chapter

1. MEP Ruissen: questions on tech policy and offshore multi‑useBert-Jan Ruissen
2. MEP Levin: stock management, pelagics and low‑trophic aquaculture
3. Other MEP interventions: level playing field, food sovereignty, mapping

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Study on seafood imports and EU self‑sufficiency: presentation

The Chair opens the agenda item and expert Tim Huntington presents key findings on EU seafood self‑sufficiency trends, cost competitiveness of EU fisheries and aquaculture, case studies on Turkish seabass/seabream and Chilean mussels, innovation needs in offshore bivalves and RAS, financing gaps, and eight policy recommendations on support, technology, aquaculture expansion, trade consistency and sustainability labelling.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting: study on seafood imports
2. EU seafood self-sufficiency trends and import dependence
3. Cost competitiveness of EU capture fisheries and aquaculture

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São Tomé fisheries protocol: presentation, political backing and Q&A

The Chair, rapporteur and shadows outline the strategic, developmental and fisheries-management aspects of the 2025–2029 Fisheries Partnership Protocol with São Tomé and Príncipe, the Commission details quotas, sectoral support and implementation issues, and MEPs question training and use of opportunities before the rapporteur reaffirms support and the Chair sets the amendment deadline and closes the sitting.

In this chapter

1. São Tomé and Príncipe Fisheries Partnership Protocol: Chair and rapporteur
2. São Tomé protocol: political support from shadows
3. São Tomé protocol: Commission detail, Q&A and close

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Fisheries and aquaculture statistics regulation: debate and amendments

The rapporteur and shadows present positions on the draft regulation to consolidate and modernise EU fisheries and aquaculture statistics, addressing data quality, burden reduction, socio‑economic indicators, confidentiality and delegated acts, followed by the rapporteur’s explanation of his amendment package and confirmation of the amendment deadline.

In this chapter

1. Fisheries and aquaculture statistics regulation: rapporteur and stakeholders
2. Statistics regulation: rapporteur’s response and amendment structure

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Opening and votes on RFMO, ocean diplomacy and budget

The Chair opens the Fisheries Committee meeting with information on storm damage and EU aid mechanisms, then members hold successive voting blocks on implementing RFMO measures into EU law, adopting the report on oceanic diplomacy for EU competitiveness, and approving the committee opinion on the interim financial report, including final roll‑call votes and mandates for negotiations.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting: storm damage and EU aid
2. RFMO measures into EU law: full amendment vote and mandate
3. Report “Oceanic diplomacy for EU competitiveness”: adoption
4. Opinion on interim financial report: compromises and final vote

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