Europêche presses EU to put fisheries at the core of trade policy

The industry body outlined its concerns during a meeting on 12 November with María Martin-Prat, Deputy Director-General at DG TRADE, and officials responsible for Asia and trade coordination. Discussions focused on ensuring fair market conditions for EU producers in negotiations with Thailand, the UK, Norway and other coastal states.

Europêche President Javier Garat said the sector supports open and rules-based trade but cautioned that the EU must avoid granting tariff advantages to imports produced under weaker labour and environmental regulations.

“The EU cannot continue to tighten sustainability obligations on its own fleets while granting duty-free access to products caught or processed under far lower conditions,” Garat said. “Trade policy must uphold the same sustainability and social standards that guide the EU’s fisheries policy.”

Thailand FTA: Tuna tariffs spark competition and labour concerns

Thailand — one of the world’s largest tuna processors — was a major topic of discussion. While the country produces around 450,000 tonnes of tuna annually, only a small share enters the EU due to existing tariffs.

Europêche warned that reducing or eliminating tariffs under a future EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement could distort competition, as much Thai-processed tuna originates from fleets with what it describes as weak environmental oversight, traceability gaps and labour-rights concerns. Production costs for EU tuna vessels are estimated at double those in Southeast Asia.

The organisation is calling for:

• Strict rules of origin, limited to wholly obtained tuna
• No cumulative rules allowing non-Thai raw material to qualify
• Binding ratification of ILO Convention 87 as a precondition for tariff benefits
• Enhanced traceability and origin labelling, including vessel flag and catch area

UK relations: Industry uneasy over MPA restrictions

Europêche welcomed the extension of mutual access under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement until 2038. But new Marine Protected Area (MPA) measures — already introduced in Scotland and under consideration for southern UK waters — are raising alarm.

According to the organisation, the restrictions cause five times greater economic losses for EU vessels compared to UK vessels operating in the same zones. It urged the Commission to ensure that MPA rules remain proportionate and non-discriminatory, and to press the UK to reopen the sandeel fishery, which EU fleets say was unjustifiably closed.

Norway and coastal states: Concern over unilateral quota increases

Unilateral quota hikes by Norway, the Faroe Islands and Russia on mackerel, herring and blue whiting were another key concern. Europêche said these moves have contributed to the overfishing of pelagic stocks and a 70% drop in mackerel catches projected for next year.

The organisation urged the Commission to activate the EU Regulation against unsustainable fishing practices and to scrutinise tariff-free Norwegian imports of Russian-caught cod.

Europêche also suggested revisiting the EU–Norway fisheries cooperation agreement to secure access to Norwegian waters even when quotas are not finalised by 1 January.

The organisation also called for focus on the EU’s relations with Morocco and the United States. For Morocco, it said it supports the new EU mandate to negotiate a fisheries agreement and wants opportunities to reflect recent stock performance, particularly in pelagic fisheries. With regards to the US, it said the 15% tariff on EU seafood has become a barrier for exporters, while many US products continue to enter Europe duty-free. As such, it wants the EU to seek reciprocal market access.

Meanwhile, for Autonomous Tariff Quotas (ATQs), the organisation said tariff derogations must be tied to sustainability criteria and should exclude tuna to protect EU fleets.

Europêche also warned that the EU’s new due-diligence reporting requirements risk becoming unbalanced. While EU producers must comply by 2027, it noted obligations for non-EU operators have been postponed indefinitely. The group urged the Commission to ensure simultaneous and equal application of the rules to avoid disadvantaging EU fleets and processors.

With multiple trade negotiations underway and pressure mounting from global competition, Europêche said stronger coordination between DG TRADE and DG MARE is essential to ensure Europe’s fisheries sector is not left behind in the EU’s broader economic and sustainability policies.