The common fisheries policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks. It has an important impact on the availability and prices of fish as a feedstock for the bioeconomy.

CFP 2014-2020:

Main policy areas:

• Fisheries management — Between 2015 and 2020, sustainable catch limits had to be set to maintain fish stocks in the long term. The practice of throwing unwanted fish back into the sea was prohibited.
• International policy — Regulates the operation of European fishing boats outside EU waters and the international trade in fisheries products.
• Market organisation — Including marketing standards, consumer information, competition rules and marketing intelligence.
• European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2021-2027 will

• continue to support more sustainable fishing practices;
• focus particularly on supporting small-scale fishermen;
• contribute to strengthening international ocean governance for safer, cleaner, more secure, and sustainably managed seas and oceans;
• focus on protecting marine ecosystems and
• contribute 30% of its budget to climate change mitigation and adaptation.