Common Fisheries Policy: Sustainable Fishing & EU Funding 2021–2027

The EU manages its fisheries through the Common Fisheries Policy, aiming for sustainable stocks by 2020 under the Maximum Sustainable Yield target. It funds sustainable practices via the EMFAF, securing over €6 billion (2021–2027) for selective fishing, data collection, aquaculture innovation, and coastal community resilience. Despite producing 80% of its seafood domestically and 20% via aquaculture, the EU remains a net importer. Key species include herring, mackerel, and blue whiting, with Spain, Denmark, and France as top producers. Forty percent of stocks are overfished, including critically endangered bluefin tuna, and 20% of catches come from non-EU waters.