European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) - Main contents

The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), based in Vigo, Spain, was set up to promote the highest common standards for control, inspection and surveillance under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

EFCA brokers operational cooperation between EU countries, and assists them and the Commission. It organises and coordinates cooperation between national control and inspection activities and trains national inspectors and trainers, to ensure that CFP rules are respected and applied effectively and consistently.

The Agency helps to ensure there is a level playing field for the fishing industry so that obligations are observed and everyone in the sector is treated equally, wherever they operate. It also contributes towardssustainable fisheries by improving compliance with existing conservation and management measures for the benefit of present and future generations.