Consultancy opportunity: Spain

About EJF

Our work to secure environmental justice aims to protect our global climate, ocean, forests, wetlands, wildlife and defend the fundamental human right to a secure natural environment, recognising that all other rights are contingent on this. EJF works internationally to inform policy and drive systemic, durable reforms to protect our environment and defend human rights. We investigate and expose abuses and support environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, communities, and independent journalists on the frontlines of environmental injustice. Our campaigns aim to secure peaceful, equitable and sustainable futures. Our investigators, researchers, filmmakers, and campaigners work with grassroots partners and environmental defenders across the globe.

Background and Context

Over the next three years, Europe will make critical decisions that will shape the future of its seas and the global ocean for years to come. During this decisive policy cycle, multiple foundational frameworks will be reviewed or introduced, including the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Marine Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD), the forthcoming Ocean Act (expected to align MSFD and MSPD), and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. These reviews are occurring amid rising political pressure for deregulation: weakening EU environmental protections would not only harm marine ecosystems and fish populations, but it would also threaten coastal livelihoods and undermine the EU’s credibility as a global standard-setter in ocean governance.

At the same time, civil society faces a more constrained operating environment, impacted by fragmented advocacy, reduced public trust, and limited access to high-level decision-makers. Meanwhile, industrial actors are actively benefiting from early agenda-setting with simple narratives. This situation highlights the urgent need to reshape political narratives and policies around sustainability and small-scale fishers to achieve economic resilience, climate stability, and social equity, which are foundational to a sustainable future for Europe and beyond.

The Environmental Justice Foundation, in close collaboration with trusted partners, are leading a campaign to secure a robust, fit-for-purpose EU regulatory regime that protects marine ecosystems and restores biodiversity while finally ensuring a more equitable and sustainable fishing sector and putting an end to the marginalisation of small-scale fishers. Our vision is of ecosystem security with thriving seas and thriving coastal communities going hand in hand, where a healthy ocean is the bedrock of sustainable livelihoods, jobs, and long-term economic prosperity. It is this inseparable link that will drive our engagement.

Within this context, one of EJF's key challenges in Spain is gaining meaningful access to the General Secretariat for Fisheries (SG PESCA) and the highest levels of the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) — and doing so through a sustainable fisheries and environmental protection lens.

Engaging the SG PESCA is structurally difficult. The institution operates with strict gatekeeping: initial contact must go through a generic email address, after which the relevant team decides whether to follow up. A meeting may be offered if the issue aligns with their priorities; if not, the enquiry may go unanswered.

This dynamic is illustrated by two contrasting experiences. When EJF introduced its report on the use of illegal driftnets in the Mediterranean in November 2024, we were invited to present the findings at a closed meeting with two Directors-General. The issue directly affects Spanish fishers, and the report does not cast the government in a negative light — factors that likely facilitated access. By contrast, our reports on squid fishing have been formally acknowledged, yet no meeting has been possible to date. The most plausible explanation is that the squid reports attribute a degree of responsibility to the Spanish government that may be contested, or that the issue is not currently a priority for the institution.

While senior-level access has been secured in the past, sustaining it requires long-term, deliberate relationship-building rather than issue-by-issue engagement.

The contrast with industry is stark. The fishing sector has traditionally enjoyed direct and informal access to the highest levels of both the SG PESCA and MAPA — an advantage that is consistently reflected in Spain's positioning on fisheries issues. Despite having a progressive government, Spain remains one of the most — if not the most — vocal advocates for revising the Common Fisheries Policy, a stance that closely mirrors industry lobbying priorities.

Objective of this engagement

This engagement sits at the heart of the broader campaign, with the specific aim of ensuring that senior decision makers actively engage with the campaign recommendations and integrate them into internal deliberations to shape EU and Member State negotiation outcomes.

Scope of work

This engagement is expected to include the following tasks, but these will vary depending on the specific context of the engagement, to be agreed in writing with EJF.

Political intelligence gathering and mapping:

• Identify key senior decision makers and decision influencers to target (from this brief and beyond), including rationale for engagement.

• Gather intelligence on high-level decision makers’ thinking regarding CFP/Fisheries Control Regulation/Ocean Act (MSFD, MSPD) and related legislation.

• Gather intelligence on who is working on which policy files and to what timelines.

• Identify other influential (and opposing) voices; what they are saying and gather intelligence to support rebuttal arguments.

Engaging directly with pre-identified and agreed stakeholders:

• Deliver agreed and prioritised key messages and campaign narratives.

• Debrief intelligence to EJF with strategic assessment on future do’s and don’ts.

• Where appropriate, gain access for EJF (and close campaign partners) to join important conversations / consult on drafts.

Where appropriate, support with developing arguments within campaign narratives that resonate with different decision makers.

Preliminary list of key targets in Spain:

• High-level presidential and ministerial cabinet access (e.g. Prime Minister Sanchez / close advisors; Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Agriculture (Planas) / close advisors).

• Access to SG PESCA leadership e.g., SG Artime, DG De La Figuera and DG De Blas Carbonero.

• Key MPs/MEPs from PP, PSOE and other relevant parties with access to party leadership (to be discussed).

• Key contacts/advisors to relevant regional ministers for fisheries in key fishing regions i.e. Galicia,Andalucía and the Basque Country.

• Other relevant decision and opinion makers that could influence the narrative around Ocean reforms or generate high-level access.

• High-level European Commission cabinet access (e.g. Ursula von der Leyen / close advisors).

• Key industry stakeholders at national and regional levels.

Deliverables:

• Map of senior decision makers with informed appraisal on relevance, previous positions and opportunities to approach to support the campaign.

• Engagement with identified targets and where relevant, introductions to EJF.

• Debriefing conversations and supporting evidence on engagement and future recommendations for engagement.

• Scheduled follow-up engagements with key targets (joint or individual meetings for EJF).

Budget and timeline:

A number of days work and fee will be agreed for this assignment with individual candidates along with expected timelines. Please provide day rates for each member of staff involved and number of days per task/deliverable per staff member.