News item | 13-05-2026 | 5:25 PM
Dozens of concrete actions for future-proof, responsible food extraction by the fishing and aquaculture sector in the Netherlands. All this within the carrying capacity of nature, now and in the future. Recently, the Fisheries Working Table, led by Roelof Bisschop, has been working on an implementation agenda for the Vision on Food from the Sea and Large Waters. The Implementation Agenda was handed over today to State Secretary Silvio Erkens of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
For example, parties will work on the visibility of food from the sea as part of food policy in the Netherlands and the European Union. Research is also being started into the CO2 footprint of fish, crustaceans and shellfish and efforts are being made to make the fishing fleet more sustainable. In addition, there will be actions to reduce seabed disturbance and use less fuel in fishing. The latter is extra important in current geopolitical times.
“Roelof Bisschop: All parties have submitted actions for the implementation agenda, both for themselves and for others. We have worked together for a year to arrive at a joint list of our priorities. I only allowed actions to be included in the list with a clear action holder, concrete results and a clear timeline. I am proud that this has been successful and that there is now a nice agenda. I would say: now let’s work together!”
About the agenda
In 2024, the Ministry of LVVN published the Vision on Food from the Sea and Large Waters, a vision of an economically healthy and sustainable future for the Dutch fishery and the ecosystem in which it operates. To reinforce this vision, parties involved in the fishing industry have drawn up an implementation agenda with concrete actions to achieve the goals of the vision. These actions contribute to goals regarding the themes of food, space, entrepreneurship and management & regulations.
“State Secretary Silvio Erkens: Many thanks to Roelof Bisschop and all parties involved for their efforts and this great result. The implementation agenda is in line with my ambitions for innovation and food security. I am pleased that this process has led to better cooperation between the various parties. Together we are committed to a sustainable future for fisheries and aquaculture.”
Cooperation between sector parties and government
The implementation agenda was created thanks to a collaboration between the Fisheries Administrative Platform (BPV), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), National Fish Auction Consultation (NOVA), Dutch Fishermen’s Union (NVB), NetVISwerk, Northern Fisheries Alliance (NVA), secretariat of the North Sea Consultation (NZO), Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (PFA), Producers’ Organization of the Dutch Mussel Culture (PO Mossel), Stichting The North Sea (SDN), Shellfish Trade Association, Fish Federation, VisNed/PO Urk, Bird Protection Netherlands. They will work together to implement the agenda in the coming years.
