(BRUSSELS) – The European Commission presented a package of measures Tuesday to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU’s fisheries sector including reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
The package includes four elements: A Communication on the Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture sector; an Action Plan to protect and restore marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries; a Communication on the common fisheries policy today and tomorrow and a Report on the Common Market Organisation for fishery and aquaculture products.
The proposed actions will be carried out gradually to help the sector adapt. A ‘Pact for Fisheries and Oceans’ will also support the full implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in coordination with Member States and fisheries stakeholders, including fishers, producer organisations, regional advisory councils, civil society and scientists. The proposals also have at its heart making the sector an attractive job place for the younger generations.
According to the EU executive, the sector’s current dependency on fossil fuels is not only environmentally unsustainable, but also makes it vulnerable to energy price increases. When fuel prices increased in 2021 and 2022, many vessels stayed in port and the sector required financial support as a large part of the EU fishing fleet was unable to cover operational costs. Aquaculture was similarly exposed to higher prices of both fuel and feed. The sector benefited from EU financial support.
The Commission is proposing to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and aim towards climate neutral fisheries and aquaculture sector, in line with one of the ambitions of the European Green Deal to reach climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. It is proposing measures to support the sector in accelerating its energy transition, by improving fuel efficiency and switching to renewable, low-carbon power sources.
With climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean pollution threatening the sustainability of fisheries resources, the Commission is presenting a marine action plan to reinforce the CFP’s contribution to the EU’s environmental objectives and reduce the adverse impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems, particularly through seabed disturbance, by-catch of sensitive species and effects on marine food webs.
The Commission calls on Member States to take conservation measures to protect and manage marine protected areas (MPAs) effectively, with a clear timeline. These efforts it says should include the protection of fish spawning and nursery areas, the reduction of fish mortality rates and the restoration of core areas for sensitive species and habitats.
Urgent action is also needed to reduce the impact of fishing on the seabed, says the Commission, pointing to their significance as hotspots of EU marine biodiversity and the importance of blue carbon in marine habitats for tackling climate change. The Commission calls on Member States to propose joint recommendations and take national measures to phase out mobile bottom fishing in all MPAs by 2030 at the latest and not to allow it in any newly established MPAs. First measures should be taken already by March 2024 for Natura 2000 sites under the Habitats Directive that protect the seabed and marine species.
The action plan also proposes actions to increase the selectivity of fishing gear and practices and to reduce the incidental catches of threatened species, setting a timetable to help Member States prioritise those species that require most protection.
While the Commission says the common fisheries policy is an ‘adequate legal framework’ to address the challenges that EU fisheries, several challenges remain for the CFP to be fully implemented, and faster and more structural transformation is needed to reduce environmental and climate impacts of fishing and aquaculture.
The Commission proposes a ‘Pact for Fisheries and Oceans’, bringing together all stakeholders, to open a new phase of dialogue and cooperation between Commission and fisheries stakeholders, to ” build common understanding of the objectives to be achieved and help adapt the policy where necessary”.
Factsheet – Sustainable and resilient fisheries, aquaculture and marine ecosystems
Common Fisheries Policy
Common Fisheries Policy today and tomorrow - guide
Staff working document on the common fisheries policy
Protection of marine ecosystems for sustainable fisheries
Action Plan to protect and restore marineecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries - guide
EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries
Nature and biodiversity actions – EU
Energy transition in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector
Energy transition in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector - guide
Possibilities and examples for energy transition of fishing and aquaculture sectors
Common Market Organisation
Report on the results of Common Market Organisation for fishery and aquaculture products
