From Vision 2040 to delivery: why marine ingredients matter

On 20 October 2026, the European Commission published its Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture. This document sets out a long-term roadmap for making European fisheries and aquaculture more resilient, competitive and sustainable. This Vision is not a set of binding regulations, but rather a strategic framework designed to guide future EU policies, investments, and potential legislative changes up to the year 2040.

We welcome the Commission’s recognition of the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to Europe’s food and nutritional security. We particularly welcome the explicit acknowledgement that aquatic foods contribute to both the food supply and nutrition. At a time of growing global demand for high-quality protein and essential nutrients, this dual perspective is both timely and necessary. We also support the emphasis in the Vision on robust scientific advice, effective fisheries management, innovation, resource efficiency, and the maximisation of the value of aquatic resources, as the foundations of long-term resilience and competitiveness.

Although the Vision rightly acknowledges that healthy fish stocks are indispensable, stock recovery must also be viewed through a broader environmental lens. Fisheries management is just one part of the equation. The condition of marine ecosystems is influenced by pollution, habitat degradation, and wider environmental pressures originating far beyond the fisheries sector. Therefore, a truly ecosystem-based approach should address all factors affecting the health of aquatic resources.

While EFFOP supports the document’s overall direction, there are several areas where marine ingredients could contribute even more to achieving the Commission’s objectives. The document fails to recognise the importance of the industrial dimension and the processing sector for the implementation of the Vision 2040.

A strong ambition for aquaculture

The Commission’s ambition is clear: by 2040, EU aquaculture should become “a strategic and fully integrated pillar of the EU’s sustainable food system”.

EFFOP fully supports this objective. The Vision correctly identifies the key conditions for sustainable growth, such as streamlined governance, innovation, climate adaptation, resource efficiency, animal welfare, and fair competition.

However, achieving sustainable growth also depends on having reliable access to sustainable feed ingredients. Fishmeal and fish oil are key ingredients in the diets of many farmed aquatic species, providing essential nutrients and supporting their health and welfare. As the Commission aims to further develop its framework on aquatic animal welfare, nutrition must remain a key consideration.

In this regard, Europe is well positioned. The European marine ingredients industry already provides a secure, highly circular source of feed ingredients. The recent EU Study on Feed for Aquaculture estimated that the EU is approximately 80% self-sufficient in marine ingredients for aquaculture. Furthermore, around 40% of production originates from fish processing by-products. As aquaculture production expands, ensuring access to these sustainable ingredients will be crucial.

EFFOP also welcomes the planned EU Initiative on Sustainable Aquaculture and stands ready to join the discussions on the sector’s sustainable development.

Aquafeed: strategic autonomy, low-carbon and alternative feed ingredients

One of the more interesting statements in the accompanying documents is the Commission’s intention to “incorporate the impact of aquaculture feed into its overall approach to trade measures”.

As is often the case with statements of intent, it remains to be seen what this will mean in practice. Nevertheless, it raises important questions about how different feed ingredients may be assessed under future sustainability and trade policies. Such an approach must be firmly grounded in sound science, rather than assumptions relating to the origin of ingredients.

The Vision 2040 also identifies support for alternative feed ingredients as a means to strengthen the strategic autonomy and resilience of EU aquaculture. Innovation in new feed solutions is welcome and can play an important role in future feed formulations. However, alternative ingredients should be viewed as complementary to marine ingredients rather than replacing them.

This is particularly relevant given that the Commission’s own technical assessment acknowledges the commercial, economic and biological limitations that currently constrain the large-scale deployment of some novel feed ingredients. It notes that sourcing low-trophic pelagic species for feed remains more cost-effective than large-scale production of alternatives such as insect meal or fermented mycoproteins, which can themselves require considerable energy inputs.

The accompanying documents also emphasise the importance of reducing the carbon footprint of aquaculture feed. Similarly, policy choices should be based on robust and consistent life-cycle assessment methodologies that take into account not only carbon impacts, but also nutritional performance, functionality, and scalability.

Therefore, EFFOP supports a technology-neutral and science-based approach, recognising the complementary role that marine and novel ingredients can play in achieving sustainable growth in aquaculture.

Strong fisheries management remains the foundation of sustainable marine ingredients production

Healthy fish stocks are essential for sustainable fisheries, food security, and the marine ingredients value chain. EFFOP therefore strongly supports the commitment to science-based fisheries management set out in the Vision, both within the EU and in the governance of international fisheries. With regard to rebuilding strategies, we urge the Commission to address the issue appropriately: fish stocks cannot be improved in a degraded environment. It is therefore essential to implement measures to manage pollution at source.

In the North-East Atlantic, the Commission rightly highlights the need to address the current challenges to cooperation within the NEAFC and between coastal states. Stable, predictable, science-based sharing arrangements are essential in order to provide long-term certainty for fishing communities and the industries that depend on them.

Now that we have a direction, we need to map out the roads. This cannot be done without the involvement of the processing sector, and the European marine ingredients industry is ready to contribute to the journey towards 2040.