In recent years, the EU coastal states have moved backward rather than forward in terms of sustainable use of the seas. The fishing industry in particular has not been able to deliver sustainable development. That is the conclusion of a recent study conducted by Wilfried Rickels, a researcher at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, together with colleagues. According to this study, almost all EU coastal states are in a worse position in 2018 than they were in 2012 with regard to sustainable development of their seas and oceans.