A recent report from the European Environment Agency paints a worrying picture of Europe’s marine life. Only 28% of commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks assessed between 2020 and 2023 are considered sustainable. Regional disparities are striking: while 41% of stocks in the North-East Atlantic and the Baltic Sea remain in good condition, that number plummets to 9% in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, making them some of the most overfished waters in the world.
To understand the scale of the problem, it helps to look at the policies meant to protect our oceans. The EU relies on several key frameworks:
- GES (Good Environmental Status): A policy under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The goals of this policy are to maintain clean waters, as well as healthy and ecologically diverse seas. Good Environmental Status depends on fishing mortality, reproductive capacity and the age/size structure of fish populations. Yet the last criterion cannot currently be evaluated due to the lack of agreed indicators, making the picture incomplete, so it could potentially be worse than we think.
- SSB (Spawning Stock Biomass): Measures the weight of mature fish capable of reproducing in a stock, a vital indicator of a stock’s ability to renew itself.
- MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield): Sets the highest catch level possible without harming future stock growth.
Then, we can say that there have been improvements. Policies such as Total Allowable Catches (limits set by the EU on the maximum amount of a specific fish species that can be caught within a given year) have helped reduce fishing pressure, especially in northern waters. Fishing mortality is declining, and in some areas, reproductive capacity is beginning to recover. But the overall reality remains alarming. Many stocks are still exploited beyond sustainable limits, and reproductive capacities have shown little progress since 2003. In the Mediterranean and Black Seas, where monitoring is weaker, more than half of landings come from stocks that cannot even be fully assessed.
In order to finish with a good note, we are now going to try find some solutions. Indeed, despite the grim outlook, there is room for urgent action:
The EU should first of all tighten and enforce fisheries regulations on a legal basis. Stricter TACs, stronger control at sea and in ports, and consistent application of EU policies across all Member States could prevent further decline. Enforcement remains patchy, especially in southern regions.
Furthermore, we should shift to ecosystem-based management, leaving behind species-by-species rules; this approach considers habitats, bycatch and the interactions between species. Strengthening marine research agencies could support the Green Deal, improve sustainability and create jobs.
And last but not least, the EU needs to engage communities and raise awareness. Sustainable fishing cannot succeed without the involvement of fishers, NGOs and the public. EU-wide communication campaigns, school programs and regular forums with stakeholders could help build a culture of responsible consumption and long-term stewardship.
We need to keep in mind that civil society is fundamental for sustainable development because it creates inclusive spaces where citizens can participate in shaping policies that affect their lives. It ensures accountability, promotes transparency, brings local knowledge into global debates and acts as a driver of social justice and long-term structural change. Without an empowered civil society, sustainable development risks becoming a top-down process disconnected from real societal needs. And we need to start adressing the planet’s problems as our own!