EFFOP calls for integrating seafood production into EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food

EFFOP, representing producers of marine nutrients from 14 European countries, welcomes the European Commission’s recent Communication on the Vision for Agriculture and Food, but calls for a comprehensive strategy that fully recognises the vital role of seafood production in ensuring EU food security and sustainability.

EFFOP members are at the forefront of the blue economy, operating at the intersection of sustainable fisheries management and circular bioeconomy principles. By transforming responsibly sourced marine raw materials into high-quality feed ingredients for aquaculture, livestock and pet food, our industry contributes significantly to a resilient and sustainable food supply chain.

While the Commission sets an ambitious agenda, EFFOP is concerned about the lack of concrete measures to secure blue food production. Despite recognising the strategic importance of seafood production for the EU’s economy and food sovereignty, the current vision does not adequately integrate fisheries and aquaculture into the broader framework of EU food policy.

This position is also reflected in the composition of the European Board on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Commissioner for Food and Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, which is currently composed exclusively of representatives from the agricultural sector.

This narrow representation marginalizes the essential contributions of fisheries and aquaculture to food security. Seafood offers many benefits, including high nutritional value and a low carbon footprint, attributes that should be central to future EU food strategies.

With this in mind, EFFOP urges the European Commission to:

🐟 Recognise the importance of seafood production, including fishmeal and fish oil, as a key contributor to food security by embedding it within the overarching framework of EU food policies and strategies.

🍴 Take into account the inherent benefits of seafood, such as its high nutritional value and low carbon footprint, in building a resilient and forward-looking agri-food sector.

🌍 Adopt a systemic approach to ensure that the interplay between land-based and aquatic production is managed in a way that does not pit one against the other, but rather promotes a balanced, sustainable nutrient cycle across all food production sectors.

As Europe seeks to navigate the complexities of modern food systems, a truly integrated vision that encompasses both terrestrial and aquatic production is essential. EFFOP remains committed to engaging with policy makers, industry stakeholders and the wider community to ensure that the EU’s vision for agriculture and food is inclusive, ambitious and reflects the vital role that blue food production plays in our society.

Find our position here.