In European fisheries, sustainability is not merely a declared objective: it is a matter of balance. Between rules and operational reality, between political ambition and the economic resilience of businesses, every decision carries weight because it affects timing, procedures, investments and the continuity of work at sea. This is where the distance — or coherence — between what is desirable on paper and what is truly practicable for fleets and coastal communities becomes evident.
We discuss this with Daniel Voces de Onaíndi González, Director General of Europêche, who in the interview emphasises the central importance of concretely implementable rules and an approach capable of aligning environmental sustainability with economic sustainability, competitiveness and generational renewal. A discussion that addresses the association’s stated priorities and the framework of issues on which, according to Voces, the capacity of European fisheries to remain effective and competitive in the medium term will depend.
How would you describe the current “state of health” of Europêche and how much influence does it exert at EU level?
Founded in 1962, Europêche is the leading European Union association representing the fishing sector. It is present in all major EU decision-making arenas — the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council — and is increasingly recognised as a credible and constructive interlocutor. Our influence does not stem from rhetoric, but from technical expertise, operational knowledge of the sector and the ability to bring coherent, science-based positions to Brussels.
Over the past two years, we have experienced significant growth, with the accession of large fleets from Denmark, the Baltic States and, more recently, Portugal. This strengthens our collective voice and enhances our capacity to defend fishing enterprises across all European sea basins.
The secretariat has also been reinforced, expanding from three to four staff members. This strengthening significantly increases our operational capacity. Combined with structured internal coordination and a growing membership base, Europêche is now on a clear development trajectory, expanding both the reach and impact of its activities at EU level.
Which Italian organisations are currently members of Europêche?
Our cooperation with Italian organisations primarily takes place within the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA). Through this platform, coordinated by the Europêche secretariat, we promote the environmental, economic, social and cultural importance of bottom-contact fishing gears, as well as the role of fishers and coastal communities that depend on them.
The Italian fleet is strongly represented in EBFA through Alleanza delle Cooperative Italiane, Federpesca, Coldiretti Impresa Pesca and UNCI Pesca, which together reflect a significant share of the Italian fishing sector. This ensures that the structure of the national fleet, mixed fisheries activities and Mediterranean specificities are fully taken into account in our work.
We also cooperate with ACI within the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries, where social issues, safety, training and working conditions are jointly addressed with trade unions at European level.
Italian organisations are not yet formal members of Europêche, but the cooperation already in place demonstrates the benefits of coordinated action at EU level. Considering the size and strategic importance of the Italian sector, a closer institutional link would strengthen both Italy’s voice in Brussels and the collective capacity of the European fishing industry to defend its interests.
What role does Italy play within Europêche?
Italy plays a constructive and influential role, particularly on dossiers related to Mediterranean fisheries, small-scale fleets and the socio-economic dimension of fisheries policy.
Italian experience helps anchor our positions in the operational realities of the Mediterranean, reinforcing the credibility of the messages we bring to Brussels. At the same time, the national sector faces a particularly heavy burden resulting from rising operational costs, the effects of climate change and EU regulatory pressure, particularly in relation to the Western Mediterranean fisheries framework.
The Italian voice is therefore essential in reiterating that environmental sustainability must move forward alongside economic sustainability and generational renewal.
With the accession of ADAPI from Portugal, how does Europêche’s influence change?
The accession of ADAPI significantly strengthens the association’s geographical and sectoral representativeness, expanding coverage to fleets operating under diverse ecological, economic and social conditions. This growth consolidates our legitimacy vis-à-vis European institutions, as we now represent a broader and more representative share of European fisheries.
Operationally, coordination is strengthened in the EU’s south-western Atlantic waters, in negotiations with Nordic non-EU countries and in international fora, where a geographically balanced mandate is essential for defending European fleets.
The entry of a new member also reinforces financial resources, enabling us to intensify technical and political activities at European and international level.
Looking ahead to the next 12 months: what are your priorities in Brussels?
Among the priorities is the revision of the Common Fisheries Policy. Europêche has played an active role in its evaluation, calling for a better balance between CFP objectives and a review of measures that have not delivered the expected results, particularly the landing obligation. In the coming months, we will intensify calls for an “omnibus” regulation to urgently address structural issues, with the revision of the Western Mediterranean framework as a central priority.
EU funding will remain crucial in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. We advocate for a strengthened, dedicated fund for fisheries and aquaculture aimed at fleet renewal, innovation, energy transition and the resilience of coastal communities.
On rules and controls, we are working to ensure that the Fisheries Control Regulation is implemented in a proportionate and practically feasible manner, with realistic timelines for digital tools and safeguards against measures considered excessively intrusive. The priority will be to intervene on provisions that are proving impracticable and that risk undermining safety at sea, legal certainty and operators’ competitiveness.
We are also involved in discussions on the European Ocean Act and the revision of related environmental legislation, promoting an approach that recognises the contribution of sustainable fisheries to food security, safeguards access to traditional fishing areas and avoids excessive regulatory complexity.
Economic sustainability will remain central to our action. Rising costs, market volatility and international competition require policies that allow businesses to remain economically viable. In this context, we will continue to promote realistic energy transition pathways, appropriate financial instruments and the principle of technological neutrality to decarbonise the fleet without compromising competitiveness.
On the social front, we will cooperate with the European Commission to integrate revised international rules on training and certification into EU legislation and participate in discussions on the implementation of the Forced Labour Regulation, ensuring that new requirements are practical, fair and effective in combating abuses along global supply chains.
Finally, ensuring a level playing field on imports will remain a priority. We will continue to call for fishery products from third countries to comply with standards equivalent to those applied to EU operators, particularly regarding controls and compliance. We will also support the integration of sustainability criteria for products benefiting from tariff derogations under the Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) system.
The objective is clear: to make European fisheries policy concretely implementable, so that environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness and food security can advance together.
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