- Theme
- European Atlas of the Seas
Interested in seafood? Have you heard of the European Union (EU) funded projects VeriFish and MrGoodFish3.0 working to help you make more sustainable choices when buying fish? The Euronews article ‘Scan before you buy: why two new apps aim to change seafood shopping’ highlighted that most of us have no idea whether our choices help or harm the ocean. More than half (58%) of Europeans eat fish at home at least once a month. When buying fish, purchases are based mostly on price, then appearances and the origin of the product, rather than the environmental, social or ethical impacts.[1] Making sustainable seafood purchases is not only important for marine ecosystems. It is also necessary to ensure a thriving European seafood industry.[2] The VeriFish and MrGoodFish3.0 projects therefore both developed an app to help you make informed decisions!
The MrGoodFish3.0 app enables consumers to quickly find information about marine species. It includes seasonal recommendations and recipes. Running through 2027 and partnering with aquariums, chefs, and science centres across all 27 EU Member States, MrGoodFish3.0 aims to prove that saving the ocean can start with your dinner plate. [3]
VeriFish aims to make it possible for consumers to get information describing the status of stocks, activities, food composition information, biological characteristics of species as well as environmental information. Understanding biodiversity helps us understand why species differ, biologically and ecologically, and motivates us to make responsible consumption choices.[4]
Speaking about fisheries, did you know that the European Union supports coastal area development through community-led initiatives? Fisheries Local Action Groups (LAGs) unite fisheries sector representatives, local public and private stakeholders and civil society to craft local development strategies. Enabled by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), they allocate funding to projects that foster sustainable development. Explore the Map of the Week and click on the symbols on the map to learn more about the Fisheries Local Action Groups.
Wish to learn more about sustainable seafood?
- Check out the key findings of the survey on EU consumer habits regarding fishery and aquaculture products;
- Have a look at the Overfished! Card game developed by VeriFish;
- Print and play the Pillars of the Sea board game developed by Mr.Goodfish3.0;
- Read the Mr. Goodfish article about a student-led cooking workshop;
- Browse the seasonal Mr.GoodFish recommendations to help you choose sustainable seafood;
- Explore the European Bureau for Conservation and Development priorities for sustainable fisheries & aquaculture;
- Learn more through the Fishers of the Future study by the European Commission, exploring different scenarios for the EU fishing sector towards 2050;
- Join the German Ocean Foundation's upcoming Ocean Decade Dialogue titled ‘How can the ocean sustainably feed the world's population?’ that will take place online on 19 February 2026, at 5 p.m.
During the European Ocean Days that will take place on 2-6 March 2026, a series of events will be organised to encourage a shared vision for the ocean. People from all backgrounds will come together for consultations, panel discussions, workshops and more to transform the European Ocean Pact into action. 2026 is a decisive year for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The future of these sectors will be outlined in the Vision 2040, providing an overarching policy direction toward competitive, resilient and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, including the processing sector. [5] On 4 March, the session ‘Towards the Vision 2040 for a thriving fisheries and aquaculture sector’ at the European Ocean Days will be dedicated to this topic.
The data in the map is provided by the European Commission.
The European Atlas of the Seas is powered by the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).
[1] https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3213
[3] https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/12/16/interview-how-to-make-sustainable-seafood-the-easy-choice
[5] https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/governance/european-ocean-days_en