Europêche has appointed Margot Angibaud as Senior Policy Advisor, a move aimed at strengthening the voice of EU fishers in Brussels and defending sustainable bottom fishing.
The announcement was made in Brussels on 30 October 2025. The organisation says the new hire aims to boost advocacy on ocean governance, market access, business competitiveness and fair treatment in the global seafood trade.
Focus on Bottom Fisheries
Angibaud will lead work on EU legislation, science and market policy, and will give strategic advice on relations with Norway and the UK in the North-East Atlantic region. Her main brief includes promoting sustainable bottom trawling and countering misinformation about its role in food supply and coastal economies.
Angibaud has worked in both environmental NGOs and the French fisheries sector. She argues that Europe risks losing control of its own seafood supply if its bottom fishing fleet continues to shrink. She warns that this could increase the EU’s already high dependence on imports.
Concern Over EU Food Security
“Bottom fisheries are vital for food and jobs,” she said. “If we lose more EU trawlers, we risk raising our dependence on imports from countries with lower environmental and social standards.”
She also highlighted new technology, including AI-based sorting systems that allow species and sizes to be separated underwater rather than on deck.
Industry Seeks Stronger Political Standing
Europêche states that European fishing remains one of the lowest-carbon protein sources; yet, marine protected areas, offshore energy zones, and political pressure are increasingly pushing aside fishers.
The organisation says it wants food production to be given the same strategic weight as energy and transport.