DG MARE

DG MARE
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Name	Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Native name	Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Formation	2014
Headquarters	Brussels
Parent organization	European Commission

DG MARE DG MARE is the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. It develops and implements policies on Common Fisheries Policy, maritime spatial planning, and coastal affairs across the European Union. DG MARE coordinates with institutions such as the European Parliament, Council of the European Union, European Council, and agencies like the European Fisheries Control Agency to manage fisheries and maritime resources.

History

DG MARE originated from restructurings of the European Commission's portfolios following enlargements and treaty changes such as the Treaty of Lisbon. Its predecessors include units within the Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and links to earlier bodies created after the Common Fisheries Policy's reworking in the late 20th century. Throughout crises like the 2008 financial crisis and incidents involving IUU fishing highlighted by reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization, DG MARE adapted regulations in coordination with bodies such as the European Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office.

Mandate and Responsibilities

DG MARE's mandate is defined by EU legislation including the Common Fisheries Policy and directives on maritime spatial planning. It is responsible for negotiating international agreements with third countries and regional bodies such as the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, and bilateral accords with states like Norway, Iceland, and Mauritania. DG MARE represents the European Union in multilateral fora including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and engages with treaty regimes like the Barcelona Convention.

Organizational Structure

DG MARE is organized into units and directorates reporting to the Director-General and Commissioner portfolios such as the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. It liaises with executive agencies including the European Maritime Safety Agency, the European Environment Agency, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on cross-cutting issues. DG MARE's internal units cover policy, international relations, compliance, and research coordination, interfacing with bodies like the European Research Council, the Joint Research Centre, and national authorities in member states such as France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Poland.

Policy Areas

DG MARE formulates policy across multiple domains: reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; management of marine protected areas consistent with the Natura 2000 network and directives such as the Habitats Directive; implementation of maritime spatial planning aligned with the Blue Growth strategy; and sustainable aquaculture in cooperation with initiatives like the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. It addresses enforcement and control measures linked to the Fishery Control Regulation and sanctions against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing referenced in World Trade Organization discussions and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.

Programs and Funding

DG MARE administers funding streams and programs including the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, support under the Cohesion Fund for coastal regions, and projects financed through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe research frameworks. It allocates grants to stakeholders such as small-scale fisheries associations, aquaculture enterprises, and coastal municipalities in regions like Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. DG MARE supervises project partnerships with institutions such as the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and universities like University of Lisbon, University of Bergen, and University of Cadiz.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

DG MARE engages with a broad array of stakeholders: industry federations like European Fish Processors Association, civil society groups including Greenpeace, scientific networks such as ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea), and trade unions representing crews on vessels flagged by states like Malta and Cyprus. It consults with regional authorities in Scotland, Brittany, Andalusia, and the Basque Country, and collaborates with international partners such as the African Union, United Nations Environment Programme, and World Wide Fund for Nature on conservation and capacity-building.

Criticisms and Controversies

DG MARE has faced criticism over enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy and perceived allocation of quotas that raised disputes among fleets from Spain, United Kingdom, France, and Denmark. Controversies include debates about bycatch reduction measures highlighted by environmental NGOs like Seas At Risk and accusations of inadequate action on IUU fishing raised by organizations such as the Environmental Justice Foundation. Legal challenges have reached venues including the European Court of Justice and scrutiny by the European Ombudsman and European Court of Auditors over transparency, allocation of subsidies, and impacts on coastal communities in regions such as Galicia and Sicily.

Category:European Commission