The Commissioner for Maritime affairs and Fisheries is a member of the European Commission. The current Commissioner is Maria Damanaki.
The portfolio includes policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy, which is largely a competence of the European Union rather than the members. The Union has 66,000 km of coastline[1] and the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering 25 million km².[2]
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Commissioner Borg was approved by the European Parliament in 2004 and served until 2010. His two main priorities were "setting the European Union on the path towards a European Maritime Policy" and "securing the ecological, economic and social sustainability of the European fishing and aquaculture industry" [3] On 7 June 2006 the European Commission published a green paper on a future Maritime Policy and opened a consultation that ended in June 2007 .[4] The green paper addressed a number of issues such as sustainable development, protection of the environment, skills and employment, technology and resources, coastal safety and tourism, financial support and heritage.[5] On 10 October 2007 the European Commission presented its vision for an integrated maritime policy with a detailed action plan [6] The Commission came under fire in May 2007 for not penalising French fishermen for over-fishing the threatened bluefin tuna by 65% while backing penalties on Irish fishermen for over-fishing mackerel[7]
| Name | Country | Period | Commission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franz Fischler | Austria | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission |
| 2 | Sandra Kalniete | Latvia | 2004 | Prodi Commission |
| 3 | Joe Borg | Malta | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I |
| 4 | Maria Damanaki | Greece | 2010 onwards | Barroso Commission II |