PECH Committee to Assess Fisheries Conflicts in Bay of Biscay – The Fishing Daily

Report on the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee Mission to the Bay of Biscay

A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH) conducted a fact-finding mission in the Bay of Biscay from 27 to 30 October. The mission’s primary objective was to assess the implementation of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and its alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning marine ecosystems, economic stability, and international cooperation.

Mission Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The delegation’s investigation focused on critical areas where fisheries policy intersects with sustainable development. The core objectives included:

• Evaluating the CFP’s Efficacy: Assessing the policy’s success in managing fish stocks and conserving marine biodiversity, directly contributing to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
• Investigating Socio-Economic Impacts: Understanding the effects of fisheries management on French and Spanish fishing communities, which relates to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 1 (No Poverty).
• Addressing Cross-Border Management: Examining tensions and cooperation between member states, a key component of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Analysing Sustainable Aquaculture: Investigating the challenges and potential of aquaculture in the region to support SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and promote responsible production under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Key Focus Area: Regional Fisheries Management and Cross-Border Tensions

A significant point of investigation was the impact of regional management measures, specifically the one-month fishing closures implemented in the Bay of Biscay during 2024 and 2025. These measures, while intended to support stock recovery in line with SDG 14, have created considerable challenges.

1. The closures directly affected approximately 300 vessels from France and Spain.
2. The mission assessed the economic repercussions on fishers and their communities, evaluating whether the policy provides adequate support to ensure decent work and economic resilience (SDG 8).
3. The situation highlights the need for enhanced cross-border dialogue and collaborative solutions to manage shared resources, reinforcing the principles of SDG 17.

Stakeholder Engagement for Sustainable Governance

In pursuit of a multi-stakeholder approach as advocated by SDG 17, the delegation engaged with a wide range of parties:

• French and Spanish fishing industry representatives
• Fishers’ cooperatives
• The national sea rescue association
• National and regional government officials, particularly concerning the management of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

Delegation chair Eric Sargiacomo emphasized the mission’s goal to “defend a social and sustainable fisheries industry that works for locals,” underscoring the commitment to achieving both environmental sustainability (SDG 14) and social equity (SDG 8).

Aquaculture and the Future of Sustainable Food Systems

The mission dedicated significant attention to the aquaculture sector’s role in achieving sustainable food security. This aligns with global efforts to meet the targets of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Activities included:

• A visit to a rainbow trout farming and processing facility to observe sustainable practices.
• Meetings with stakeholders from the fish farming industry and a cannery to discuss challenges and growth opportunities.

This focus reflects the broader context of the European Commission’s stocktake of the CFP’s performance over the past decade, aiming to strengthen its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

This is the most central SDG, as the article focuses entirely on fisheries management, conservation of marine resources, and the impacts of fishing policies. The European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is explicitly mentioned as a mechanism “to manage fisheries while ensuring the conservation of marine resources.” The investigation into fishing closures in the Bay of Biscay and the challenges of aquaculture directly relate to the sustainable use of oceans and marine life.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The article highlights the socio-economic dimensions of the fishing industry. It mentions the impact of closures on “approximately 300 vessels” and the delegation’s goal to defend a “social and sustainable fisheries industry that works for locals.” This connects the environmental aspects of fishing to the livelihoods and economic well-being of the fishing communities in France and Spain.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article describes a multi-stakeholder and cross-border effort to address fisheries challenges. The fact-finding mission itself is an act of policy review. The delegation’s meetings with “French and Spanish fishing industry representatives,” “fishers’ cooperatives,” and “national and regional government officials” exemplify the partnerships required to achieve sustainable development. The “cross-border tensions” also highlight the need for effective international cooperation.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The article’s focus extends to aquaculture, with the delegation planning to analyze the CFP’s impact on it, including a “visit to a rainbow trout farming and processing workshop.” Aquaculture is a critical component of global food security, and ensuring its sustainability, as discussed in the article, directly contributes to the goal of ending hunger and promoting sustainable food production systems.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield.
  
  Explanation: The entire purpose of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the “stocktake of the CFP’s performance” is to regulate harvesting. The implementation of “one-month closures” is a direct management measure aimed at conserving fish stocks.
• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
  
  Explanation: The CFP’s stated goal of “ensuring the conservation of marine resources” and the use of closures as a management tool are actions intended to protect the marine ecosystem of the Bay of Biscay.
• Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.
  
  Explanation: The mission’s focus on the impact on “French and Spanish fishers,” their cooperatives, and the desire to defend an industry that “works for locals” points to a concern for the access and viability of local and small-scale fishing operations.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
  
  Explanation: The article’s concern for the 300 vessels impacted by closures and the stated goal to defend a “social and sustainable fisheries industry” directly relates to protecting employment and ensuring decent work within the local fishing communities.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
  
  Explanation: The visit is described as part of the “Commission’s ongoing stocktake of the CFP’s performance over the last decade.” This review process is a clear example of assessing and aiming to improve policy coherence for the sustainable management of fisheries.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
  
  Explanation: The delegation’s engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including “fishing industry representatives,” “fishers’ cooperatives,” and “national and regional government officials,” demonstrates a multi-stakeholder partnership approach to governance and problem-solving.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
  
  Explanation: The mission’s specific focus on analyzing “the CFP’s impact on aquaculture” and visiting a “rainbow trout farming and processing workshop” directly addresses the need to ensure that aquaculture, as a food production system, is sustainable.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Target 14.4 (Regulate harvesting)

• Implied Indicator: Implementation of fisheries management plans.
  
  Explanation: The article explicitly mentions the “application of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)” and specific “regional fisheries management measures, such as the one-month closures.” The existence and enforcement of these policies are indicators of progress.

Target 14.2 (Protect marine ecosystems)

• Implied Indicator: Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas.
  
  Explanation: While not a permanent protected area, the “one-month closures implemented in French waters of the Bay of Biscay” serve as a temporary protective measure. The implementation and area covered by such closures can be used as an indicator of management action to protect the ecosystem.

Target 8.5 (Full and productive employment)

• Implied Indicator: Number of people employed in the fishing sector.
  
  Explanation: The article mentions that the closures “directly impacted approximately 300 vessels.” This number serves as a proxy for the scale of employment and economic activity that is dependent on the fishing industry in the region.

Target 17.17 (Effective partnerships)

• Implied Indicator: Number of multi-stakeholder partnerships.
  
  Explanation: The article lists the various groups the delegation will meet: “French and Spanish fishing industry representatives,” “fishers’ cooperatives,” “the national sea rescue association,” and “national and regional government officials.” The formation and functioning of this engagement process is an indicator of a multi-stakeholder partnership in action.

Target 2.4 (Sustainable food production)

• Implied Indicator: Growth and sustainability of the aquaculture sector.
  
  Explanation: The delegation’s visit to a “rainbow trout farming and processing workshop” and meeting with “fish farming industry stakeholders” implies that the activity and development of the aquaculture sector are being monitored and assessed for sustainability.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: thefishingdaily.com