Regulatory barriers must be removed urgently

Participants highlighted that EU rules limiting the possibility to increase spaces on board are incompatible with modern, cleaner propulsion systems and innovative vessel designs. These constraints not only hinder the deployment of hybrid, electric and alternative fuel technologies—which often require additional space on board—but also prevent improvements in safety and well-being for crews, ultimately undermining the attractiveness of the sector for young workers.

Closing the funding gap for the Energy Transition

The organisations stressed that the energy transition will not be achievable without strong public support and clear policy signals. Current funding frameworks remain insufficient in scale and overly restrictive, rendering many necessary investments either ineligible or financially unviable. They therefore called for a revision of EU funding rules, the establishment of a fleet renewal plan, enabling funding for the withdrawal of obsolete vessels and the creation of dedicated financing pipelines combining EU and national funds with public guarantees to effectively de-risk private investment in the aquaculture and fisheries sectors.

Skills, safety and strengthening of the value chain

The transition to new technologies requires investment in training, safety and working conditions, as well as closer cooperation across the value chain. The sector called for structured dialogue between fisheries, shipyards, investors and research partners, and for fisheries and aquaculture to be fully integrated into broader EU maritime and transport energy strategies.

A clear call to action – “Fisheries and Aquaculture Omnibus”

Stakeholders in the meeting concluded with a unified message: the energy transition of fisheries must move from ambition to implementation. This requires to quickly remove urgent regulatory bottlenecks, without waiting for a full reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. It also demands simplified access to adequate EU funding for energy transition investments and fleet retrofit, underpinned by a stable, long-term policy framework capable of restoring investor confidence and accelerating deployment on the ground.

The organisations welcomed Commissioner Kadis’ commitment to work closely with the sector and to deliver a forward-looking Roadmap that stimulates a competitive, sustainable and socially responsible blue economy.

Press contact:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: Email: daniel.voces@europeche.org; phone: +32 489 26 81 07

European Shipyards, Maritime Manufacturing and Fisheries Sectors Press Release – Energy Transition Commisioner

Governments across the globe and its industries are looking for solutions that can help lower their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. While the fishing sector’s emissions constitute a minor fraction, accounting for only 0.1% to 0.5% of global GHG emissions in 2023, Europêche acknowledges the industry’s responsibility in minimising its impact. The sector has already achieved significant progress, with emissions from the EU fisheries sector being reduced by 50% since 1990.

In the path towards decarbonisation, Europêche highlights the progress made by fishers in investing in selective fishing gears and reducing seabed contact, resulting in lower fuel consumption and emissions. EU vessels are increasingly adopting diesel-electric engines, efficient propellers and refrigeration systems, while actively participating in circular economy schemes. These efforts exemplify the industry’s dedication to embracing low-impact practices.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, declared: “The fishing sector is a key component of our society and an example to be followed. Fishers are at the forefront of the combat against climate change as providers of one of the healthiest animal proteins with a minimal carbon footprint. The EU fleet has been making progress on the path to climate neutrality since 1990. This should be the baseline year for the reduction of emissions for capture fisheries to recognise the efforts made by the sector”.

Europêche recognises though that the transition to alternative energy sources presents challenges, as certain technologies, such as hydrogen storage, require four times more space on board compared to traditional fuel oil. Given the fact that the EU fishing sector faces capacity restrictions concerning gross tonnage (space on board), impeding the installation of green technologies, Europêche advocates for adapting the definition of fishing capacity in Europe to enable fleet modernisation.

Europêche emphasises the necessity for institutional support and targeted financing to realize these ambitious goals. However, the EU fisheries fund is insufficient to cover the associated costs. Europêche encourages exploring additional sources of financing, such as the European Investment Bank, the creation of a new funds or simply revising the new fisheries fund (EMFAF). Furthermore, with the average age of the European fleet being 31.5 years, fleet renewal plans are imperative to facilitate the transition to a modern fishery. According to Europêche, changing the engine is neither sufficient nor feasible on such old vessels.

Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, concluded: “Achieving a complete decarbonisation of the sector necessitates a comprehensive approach that includes zero-emission energy sources, vessel modernisation, improved gear design and composition, reduced time spent at sea and a careful analysis of energy consumption per kilo of fish landed. This transition should not jeopardise the fishing industry’s continued contribution to sustainable EU food production and therefore requires a realistic timeline aligned with technological advancements, logistical considerations, and supportive legislation. Engaging all stakeholders within the supply chain and developing necessary infrastructures are also vital components of the process”.

Press contacts:

Rosalie Tukker, Senior Policy Advisor of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 rosalie.tukker@europeche.org

EP Pres Release – Decarbonisation

© Picture: Padmos, the MDV1 vessel.

The fishing sector, represented by Europêche, describes as deceptive and unhelpful the document “A way to decarbonise the fishing sector by 2050”, made public today by Oceana. In the opinion of the sector, the report takes an overly simplistic, biased approach. It does not rely on the advice of experts and scientists, nor does it offer a fair portrayal of the great challenge of decarbonising the European fishing fleet, as it fails to take into account the work, efforts and achievements over the last decades. Europêche warns about the consequences for European citizens of the progressive radicalisation of environmental advocacy groups present in the European arena. Many of those pursue the sole objective to decimate or even eradicate EU fisheries, falsely denying their crucial contribution to food security and regardless of their accomplishments in terms of sustainability.

Europêche welcomes and supports the effort to make the decarbonisation of the sector a reality. For this purpose, the EU fleet has been continuously investing in technologies to reduce energy consumption, improved gear design and vessel efficiency, upgraded waste management plans, smarter procurement of sustainable materials and supplies to decarbonise our industry. By way of example, EU vessels are more and more installing diesel-electric engines, efficient propeller and refrigeration systems and participating in fishing for litter and in circular economy schemes.

However, a complete decarbonisation is a serious challenge that will require time, research, funding, innovation, digitalisation, training and port infrastructures to make technologies and low-emission energy sources commercially available, cost-efficient and safe.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, commented: “The sector has already significantly reduced its emissions since 1990. In fact, and according to the data reported by the EU in compliance with the Kyoto Agreement, the sector has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by almost half compared to those of 1990, the base year for the agreements on climate change. The fleet has also reduced the power of the engines by an average of 59% compared to that same year. Likewise, new technologies have allowed a continuous development in energy efficiency (proportional ratio of the fuel used to make their catches)”. In this context, Europêche stresses that 1990 is the reference year defined at international level to measure the GHG reduction commitments of States and not 2005 as recently chosen by the European Commission when adopting its global decarbonisation strategy; as a matter of convenience in view of the reality of past efforts made by many economic sectors.

Mr Garat continued: “For years the sector has been preparing for its decarbonisation within the regulatory and technological possibilities available and in a context of global pandemics and crisis. We are not waiting for NGOs to initiate this path. On the contrary, it is sad to see that many environmental NGOs, instead of proposing realistic solutions hand in hand with the sector, prefer to invest millions of euros in campaigns to demonise fishing gears such as bottom trawling and to “sell” the mistaken benefits of Marine Protected Areas”.

Europêche recalls that it was precisely the environmental NGO community that advocated against innovative fishing gears such as pulse fishing. A carbon-friendlier fishing method, backed by science, that was finally banned in Europe due to the pressure exerted by such NGOs on EU policy-makers.

In addition, the sector also points to the constant reduction of an ageing EU fleet, which currently has 65,000 active vessels (75% with <12 meters), compared to 81,600 in 2018 and 103,800 in 1996. In this sense, it is surprising that Oceana’s report converts this trend (gloomy for the fleet) into an attack when measuring the greenhouse gas emissions of the different countries and types of vessels. While size is certainly not an absolute measure of a vessel’s carbon footprint, it is worth noting that fuel-related innovations will often require larger vessels, raising the capacity of the fleet which right now is a regulatory impossibility.

According to Europêche, fishing is a global activity, and the constant erosion of the EU fleet will cause fish to become a luxury food product for privileged population groups. The supply of this healthy protein for the rest of the population will be left in the hands of non-EU countries with lower sustainability credentials, such as China, which are continuously increasing their capacity and filling the gap left by a shrinking EU fleet.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – OCEANA decarbonisation