Appointments of Chair, Vice-Chairs, Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Working Groups, and Executive Committee (2026-2029)

Appointments of Chair, Vice-Chairs, Chairs and Vice-Chairs of
Working Groups, and Executive Committee (2026-2029)

On 5 February 2026, the members of the Market Advisory Council (MAC) appointed the Chair, Vice-Chairs, Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Working Groups, and Executive Committee for the 2026-2029 period.

Ms Yobana Bermúdez, candidate proposed by Seafood Europe, was consensually reappointed Chair. Ms Bermúdez has more than 20 years of experience in the food industry and is currently the General Director of Conxemar (Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Importers, Manufacturers and Exporters of Fish products and Aquaculture).

The Chair stated: “I am very grateful for the confidence expressed by the MAC membership in reappointing me as Chair. In the past three years, I had the pleasure of working together with representatives from the entire fisheries and aquaculture supply chain as well as of other interest groups from across the EU. In this second mandate, with more experience and lessons learnt, I am confident that our Advisory Council will continue to provide high-quality consensual advice to the European Commission and to the Member States, ensuring a resilient and sustainable EU market”. 

Dr Christine Absil, candidate proposed by the Dutch NGO Good Fish Foundation, was reappointed Vice-Chair on behalf of the Other Interest Groups of the membership. Through various positions in civil society organisations, Dr Absil has contributed to sustainable fisheries management and market transformation, including via the launch of the Good Fish Guide to increase consumer awareness on seafood sustainability. She currently works as an independent consultant.

Mr Julien Lamothe, candidate proposed by EAPO (European Association of Fish Producers Organisations) was reappointed Vice-Chair on behalf of the sector membership. Mr Lamothe was also reappointed Chair of Working Group 1 (EU Production). He has extensive experience in the fishing industry, having held various positions of responsibility within French producer organisations. He is currently Director at FROM Sud-Ouest and Secretary General of ANOP, the national association of producer organisations.

Dr Stefan Meyer, candidate proposed by Seafood Europe, was appointed Chair of Working Group 2 (EU Markets). Dr Meyer has extensive expertise as a scientific researcher and as a project manager on aquaculture matters. Since 2023, he is the General Manager of the German Association of Fish Processing and Wholesale.

Mr Benoît Thomassen, candidate proposed by FEAP (Federation of European Aquaculture Producers), was reappointed Chair of Working Group 3 (EU Control and Sanitary Issues, Consumer Rules). Mr Thomassen is a project manager in data acquisition and animal health modelling. He is also an instructor on aquaculture business at the Wallon Institute for Apprenticeship Training and for the Self-Employed and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, while also working as a freelance consultant on aquaculture and caviar matters.

As determined by the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, the Executive Committee is based on designations from the sector organisations and from the other interest groups. The following composition was consensually appointed: