EU Marine Action Plan
EFTTA and EAA (the European Anglers Alliance) welcome the EU action plan on protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries. The Action Plan was adopted by the European Commission in February 2023 as part of package on the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and in relation to the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The European Parliament is now working on a report to comment on this action plan. The preservation of marine ecosystems is crucial for healthy fish stocks on which recreational angling rely.
The plan mentions among other things that:
"Improved environmental sustainability, for example through effectively managed MPAs [marine protected areas], can provide additional or alternative livelihoods for local fishing communities, such as nature tourism and well-managed recreational fishing."
Win-win
Hopefully, the parliament will pick up on the social and economic benefits of recreational fishing/angling. The recreational sector (angling) can grow and improve the environment at the same time, inside and outside marine protected areas.
"Well-managed recreational fishing" will be easier when the revised EU fisheries Control Regulation takes effect and makes it mandatory for all recreational sea fishers to be licensed or registered, and their catches of some species to be registered, too.
