Aquaculture feed giants BioMar, Skretting, Cargill, and salmon farming giant Mowi gave the thumbs up to the European Council's bid to shift to sustainable fish production.

The companies expect the new strategy to lure regulators of the coastal nations to set quotas for fisheries in Europe within the scientific recommendations.

The 'Farm to Fork Strategy' is at the heart of the European Council's green deal, setting out how to shift Europe into one of the first climate-neutral continents by the year 2050.

The sustainability of the food supply chain has been under the microscope after deeming vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blue whiting -- used for fishmeal and fish oil -- is one species the companies point out as being affected by not having quotas set within scientific recommendations.

"Without agreement on this among regulators, these key fisheries cannot be sustainably managed and Europe will be failing on its ocean stewardship," the companies said in a joint statement.

The last time coast nations agreed on a quota for blue whiting within scientific recommendation was in 2014, more than five years ago.

Atlantic mackerel and herring have struggled from a similar hiatus, with quotas within scientific recommendations last agreed in 2009 and 2012, respectively.

BioMar, Cargill, Mowi and Skretting are calling on additional negotiations on a quota sharing structure in line with scientific recommendations, in order to ensure the viability of the fisheries where they source raw materials from.

The Americas and Asia accelerated work on managing their stocks sustainably and Europe should take a similar approach, the companies said in the joint statement.

At present, the companies are unaware of any efforts to restart negotiations between regulators of coastal nations prior to quotas being decided on towards the end of 2021.

The companies see the date as too late for the stocks, which are already under massive pressure, calling for pre-emptive action to guarantee regulators' agreement for the long-term.