Water, Marine & Fisheries

Our Work

Our Marine Programme has a track record of analysing and commenting on the evolution of EU fisheries policies and related marine environmental initiatives for over a decade. The programme has launched a number of projects and studies on specific areas such as fisheries subsidies, indicators of sustainable fisheries, inshore fisheries management and governance of EU fisheries. In the next three years, the fisheries programme will focus on the reform of the CFP 2012 and the reform of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) in 2013 which are critical to ensuring sustainable EU fisheries in the next decade.

IEEP has a long track record of examining the challenges in the implementation of key marine and water legislation, which will dominate the EU environmental agenda for years to come, such as the Water Framework Directive (2000). More recently, we have extended our focus to the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008), the environmental pillar of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. Together, these Directives set ambitious goals and management approaches to all surface waters, ground waters and marine waters.

IEEP has an established Fisheries and Marine Programme that has been analysing and commenting on the evolution of EU fisheries policies and related marine environmental initiatives for over a decade. The programme has launched a number of projects and studies on specific areas such as fisheries subsidies, indicators of sustainable fisheries, inshore fisheries management and governance of EU fisheries. Our work has been funded by Esmee Fairbairn, Oak and other foundations, the European Commission, Defra (the UK environment ministry), the fisheries industry and a range of NGOs.

Whilst the programme focuses primarily on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and fisheries management issues, we recognise that current discussions are increasingly set within the wider context of marine management, specifically the EU Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP). As a result, the Marine and Fisheries programme is increasing its activities taking into account the potential impacts of EU enlargement and the external factors which are likely to hamper progress towards better management of our seas.

We publish a bi-annual fisheries newsletter El Anzuelo. The newsletter raises awareness on the complex issues related to the implementation of CFP but also provides a platform for broader dialogue on fisheries and the environment.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Water, Marine & Fisheries

  • The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

    This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.

  • The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

    This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.

  • The EU Water Blueprint: Assessing the policy options

    The Water Blueprint proposes action to address 12 key problems for Europe’s waters. An IEEP led study found that improved guidance, information system, data exchange and funding were the best instruments to address many of these problems, with limited scope for new law.

  • EU Natural Resources policy: Signposts on the roadmap to sustainability

    The EU is committed to building improved resource efficiency into its economic strategy, starting with a “roadmap” this year. A new paper from the Institute sets out the challenges, reviews the mixed results of previous EU policy in this area and suggests a number of ways forward. Both a broad vision and an array of practical policy initiatives are required.

  • INDECO: Review of the Usage of Socio-economic Indicators on the Environmental Impact of Fishing Activities

    This report constitutes deliverable number 8 of the INDECO project. The aim of the report is to review the usage of socio-economic indicators on the environmental impact of fishing ...

  • INDECO: A review of the current management framework - Policy objectives for which indicators are needed

    This report constitutes deliverable number 4 of the INDECO project. The aim of the report is to identify the policy objectives for which indicators are needed as a tool to measure ...

  • INDECO: Indicators - An Overview Internal Paper for Discussion

    This note was prepared as a follow-up on the INDECO kick-off meeting on 15.12.2004. It is not intended to be an exhaustive literature review. Rather its function is to assist in forging an ...

  • Analysis of the Legal and Institutional Policies relating to the South West

    The report commissioned by IEEP for Invest in Fish South West reviews fisheries management options within the current international, EU and UK legislation.Invest in Fish South West is a ...

  • CFP Briefing No 19

    The provisions for stock recovery plans within the ‘basic’ Common Fisheries Policy Regulation (2371/2002) are one of several positive developments that came out of the 2002 CFP reform. ...

  • El Anzuelo Volume 14

    European newsletter on fisheries and the environment.This issue:New Era: New and old challenges - Maintaining momentum of CFP implementation

  • El Anzuelo, Volume 13

    European newsletter on fisheries and the environment.This issue:Focus on Governance

  • CFP Briefing No 18

    On 9 October the Commission proposed a Regulation for the sustainable exploitation of Mediterranean Sea fishery resources (CO(2003)589). The Regulation would replace existing technical ...

  • CFP Briefing No 15

    At the beginning of October, the Commission adopted a Communication outlining intentions for the development of a Community Action Plan for the management of the European eel stock ...

  • CFP Briefing No 16

    In presenting its overall strategic approach to the Common Fisheries Policy reform in 2002, the Commission identified the conservation of commercial fish stocks as a key challenge facing ...

  • CFP Briefing No 17

    The Commission has come forward with its proposed decision on regional advisory councils (RACs), which is arguably the most concrete manifestation thus far of anew approach to EU fisheries ...

  • El Anzuelo Volume 12

    European newsletter on fisheries and the environment.This issue:Focus on Science

  • CFP Briefing No 13

    Control and enforcement was identified as an area that needed addressing in the Commission Common Fisheries Policy reform Roadmap (COM(2002)181). The new CFP basic Regulation 2371/2002 that ...

  • CFP Briefing No 12

    On 6 May 2003, the Commission finally released its proposal for a long-term recovery plan for cod. The proposal covers a number of stocks in EU waters that are threatened with collapse. ...

  • North-East Atlantic and Baltic Sea Health Check - Assessing the Status of Wildlife and Habitats

    The Health Check report was written by IEEP, on behalf of the WWF North East Atlantic Programme, to mark the first joint OSPAR and HELCOM conferences on the protection of the North-East Atlantic and Baltic ...

  • El Anzuelo Volume 11 (EN)

    European newsletter on fisheries and the environment (English edition).This issue:Towards ecosystem-based management: Focus on Marine Protected Areas