A British All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries (APPG) has held a “strategic exchange” with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis.
The commissioner, along with members of his cabinet and representatives from the EU’s delegation to the UK, held what was billed as an “exchange on fisheries priorities and cooperation” at the historic Fishmongers' Hall in London.
The meeting provided an opportunity for “a frank and constructive engagement on key issues affecting fishing communities across the UK and EU,”the APPG has said.
Alistair Carmichael MP, co-chair of the APPG on Fisheries, outlined the APPG’s work on an action plan for UK fishing, which will set out a clear vision and “aims to contribute to a coherent, forward-looking approach that situates the sector within broader priorities such as food security”.
In response, Commissioner Kadis provided an update on the European Ocean Pact, which, across six core pillars, aims to holistically align EU ocean policies, including relating to fisheries, and strengthen collaboration both within the EU and with external partners.
“An open exchange followed covering fisheries governance, sustainability, evolving policy frameworks, and the needs of fishing communities, before concluding with a reception,”the APPG said.
“The evening’s discussion underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the UK and EU to address shared fisheries and ocean challenges while supporting resilient coastal communities on both sides,”it said.
Carmichael said that “as an island nation, fishing is vital to the UK’s ocean economy, supporting livelihoods and regional economies, while providing a sustainable, climate-smart source of nutrition”.
“Though the UK and EU now operate under separate frameworks, our fisheries remain connected. Constructive engagement like this is key to building the shared understanding and respect needed to support sustainable management, safeguard regulatory autonomy, and secure prosperous fishing communities,” he said.
Signposting the need for integrated management, Commissioner Kadis said that “the sustainable management of ocean space is a global necessity – and only by working together, including through strong EU‑UK cooperation, can we ensure that our seas remain healthy, our resources protected, and our coastal communities thrive”.
