EU 2040 Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture fails to address the environmental and welfare costs of carnivorous aquaculture, says NGO.

The EU Commission’s Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture sets out plans to expand the EU aquaculture sector through new legislative proposals in 2027, failing to prevent the expansion of carnivorous fish farming, protect our oceans, and improve animal welfare, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) warns today (21 October 2026).

Carnivorous aquaculture puts huge pressure on ocean ecosystems, contributes to overfishing, and reduces the supply of fish for coastal communities to eat, as outlined by CIWF in a report last year (The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture) and a further report earlier this year on the farming of Atlantic Bluefin tuna.

The NGO projections predict that carnivorous aquaculture in the EU could grow 30% by 2040, with the demand for wild-caught fish rising by 70%, further increasing ecological, social, and animal welfare pressures.

There is abundant scientific evidence, and the Commission’s own Strategic Guidelines on Sustainable Aquaculture point to the need for a fundamental shift to prioritising low‑trophic species which require little or no feed, introducing rules to protect the welfare of farmed aquatic animals, and preventing the further expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.

Although the Vision notes an intention to increase low-trophic aquaculture, the proposed legislation would lead to an increase in carnivorous aquaculture.

It also fails to address the issues around wild-caught fish feed and it does not rule out farming new carnivorous species, such as octopus, risking even greater pressure on wild fish and marine ecosystems.

While the Vision 2040 acknowledges high animal welfare as a pillar of EU aquaculture, and the need to further develop the EU framework for the welfare of farmed aquatic animals, CIWF regrets the lack of a commitment to adopt legislation to protect the welfare of farmed aquatic animals and the absence of a clear roadmap. It fails to address the concern of 91% of people polled across nine EU countries who believe the welfare of fish should be protected to the same or greater extent as other farmed animals.

Alexandre Cottier Pérez, Aquaculture Policy Officer at Compassion in World Farming, said:

Europe cannot claim to champion sustainability while expanding aquaculture systems that rely on stripping our oceans of billions of wild fish each year.

To protect marine ecosystems, global food security, and the welfare of countless sentient animals, we will follow the development of the aquaculture legislation closely and continue to push for the EU to prioritise low‑trophic species and halt the expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.

The future of our seas – and the communities who rely on them – depends on decisive action now.

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please email media.team@ciwf.org or call +44 (0)1483 521 615 

Notes to Editors 

Compassion in World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer who became horrified at the development of intensive factory farming. Today Compassion is the leading farm animal welfare organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and achieving humane and sustainable food production. With headquarters in the UK, we have offices across Europe, in the US, China, and South Africa.

EU vision for aquaculture falls short