Common Fisheries Policy – evaluation

ClientEarth asserts that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a sound framework but suffers from systemic failures in implementation and enforcement. The organization argues that the EU has missed the 2020 deadline to end overfishing in all European sea basins and calls for the strict application of maximum sustainable yield (MSY), the landing obligation, and the integration of environmental legislation. Key recommendations include the deployment of remote electronic monitoring (REM) to combat illegal discards, the use of transparent social and environmental criteria for quota allocation, and the redirection of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) away from harmful subsidies toward small-scale, low-impact fisheries.

• The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) framework is considered effective and relevant, but its goals are hindered by a lack of full implementation and enforcement of its provisions and related EU environmental laws.
• The legal deadline of 2020 to end overfishing for all harvested species and achieve maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was missed across all European sea basins.
• Non-compliance with the landing obligation (LO) persists, and ClientEarth argues that total allowable catches (TACs) should be set below maximum catch advice to account for illegal discards when robust monitoring is absent.
• The 'Joint Recommendation' procedure under Articles 11 and 18 of the CFP Regulation, intended to align fisheries with the Habitats, Birds, and Marine Strategy Framework Directives, is underused and often prioritizes commercial interests over conservation.

APA

ClientEarth (2024). Common Fisheries Policy – evaluation. https://www.clientearth.org/media/xtaigq43/clientearth_cfp-evaluation-response_september-2024.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Common Fisheries Policy – evaluation. 2024. https://www.clientearth.org/media/xtaigq43/clientearth_cfp-evaluation-response_september-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Common Fisheries Policy – evaluation |date=September 2024 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/xtaigq43/clientearth_cfp-evaluation-response_september-2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2024common, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Common Fisheries Policy – evaluation}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/xtaigq43/clientearth_cfp-evaluation-response_september-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }