The EU's Common Fisheries Policy failed to achieve its central objectives, the government's review of the balance of power between the UK and the EU has concluded.
Those submitting evidence to the review "overwhelmingly" felt it had not successfully maintained fish stocks, the government said.
This had prompted "significant debate on how well the UK's national interest is served" by the policy, it added.
But recent reforms had helped, it said.
The government began an audit of all the policy areas over which the EU institutions exercise power in July 2012, consulting widely with organisations and individuals with an interest in each policy area, and has published its findings in phases since July 2013.
The latest batch of reports focused on fisheries, agriculture, human rights, social cohesion, energy, the free movement of services, competition and consumer policy, financial services, the EU budget, and employment.
In its review of fisheries policy, the government noted that the UK had been calling for fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for many years.
