Final report on Data collection and analysis supporting the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation

This report presents findings of a study undertaken to support the evaluation of the intervention (Common Fisheries Policy Regulation), including the instruments and tools to achieve its objectives.

The Common Fisheries Policy is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks. It was designed to manage a common resource and therefore gives all European fishing fleets equal access to European Union (EU) waters and fishing grounds and allows fishers to compete fairly (Sissenwine and Symes 2007). 

The EU has exclusive competence as regards the conservation of marine biological resources under the Common Fisheries Policy. This applies both in EU waters, including by fishing vessels flying the flag of, and registered in, third countries and by EU vessels outside EU waters.

The Common Fisheries Policy Regulation is structured around three “sustainability pillars” combining environmental, social and economic sustainability objectives, aiming for long-term sustainability for fisheries and aquaculture and contributing to the protection of the marine environment, the availability of food supplies and a fair standard of living for fisheries and aquaculture communities. The latest reform of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation in 2013 brought together for the first time the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the EU fisheries policy, as well as the need for it to contribute to the availability of food supplies.

The European Commission (EC) is evaluating the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, following the Better Regulation guidelines (EC 2021).