On the occasion of the World Fisheries Day (21 November, 2020), sixteen small-scale fisheries organizations, from Europe and Africa, environmental and development NGOs, and the former Vice-chair of the European Parliament fisheries committee have signed a statement calling the European Commissioner-designate for Environment and Oceans, Virginijus Sinkevitius, to secure sustainable fisheries and prosperous fishing communities in Europe and in partner developing countries through an inclusive oceans strategy that recognizes the central role of fisheries.