Fisheries Committee MEPs urge EU–private sector cooperation to renew fleet

Brussels – The EU fishing fleet is estimated to emit 0.015 of global carbon emissions, yet it aims to contribute to CO2 reduction, as environmental damage is triggering a severe crisis in the sector, with fish even migrating away as ocean temperatures rise.

The conversion to a cleaner, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable EU fleet requires both modernizing and renovating vessels. MEPs from the Fisheries Committee say it is possible to achieve this through renovation programs supported by national and EU funding, as well as through cooperation with private owners. 

In a report adopted today (11 November) by 19 votes in favor to three against, with three abstentions, the committee denounces that the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) “restrict public support for decarbonising the fisheries fleet and even discourage private funding.” For this reason, MEPs call “for changes to be made to the current legislative frameworks” so that EU funding programmes, together with state aid and private funds, can be used for investments in ports, energy infrastructure, and vessels, “from design to delivery.”

Modernisation and digitalisation

MEPs believe that the transition to a more sustainable and resilient sector should “go hand in hand with improvements in working and living conditions on board vessels.” They call for priority to be given to the modernisation of vessels to provide “enhanced capacity for proper on-board conservation of catches”, traceability, communication tools, and weather forecasting.

Highlighting the “strategic role of digitalisation” in fleet modernisation, MEPs point out that it will also “improve operational efficiency, safety at sea, and the working conditions of fishers” while helping to cut fuel costs. They also argue that energy audits should be carried out on fishing vessels and advocate the use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to optimise fishing routes.

Noting that small operators “with limited financial and technical capacity” face the challenge of decarbonisation more acutely, MEPs stress that “a one-size-fits-all approach” is not suitable for the diversity of EU fleets, regions, and socio-economic contexts. They therefore call for targeted measures to support the transition of small-scale fisheries.

Innovative fishing gear to reduce bycatch

The report urges the adoption of preventive measures to avoid potential harm to the environment when developing and deploying innovative new fishing gear (precautionary principle). The MEPs ask for “public policies and funding instruments that support fishers and communities who adopt sustainable gear, and practices that contribute to biodiversity preservation and long-term resource stability.”

Artificial intelligence-driven detection technology should be applied to support selective fishing practices, improve catch information, and reduce unwanted catch.

Finally, the MEPs aim to enhance the measurement of fishing effort by considering the actual time gear is used for catching (“immersion time” or “active fishing”), rather than merely counting the number of days at sea, as is currently the case. They therefore call for an update of the definition of “fishing activities” in EU legislation to reflect the different operational characteristics of fishing gears.

Parliament is expected to vote on this own-initiative report during the December plenary session.

Small-scale vessels make up 76 percent of the fleet 

EU fishing vessels need to decarbonise so that the EU can meet its goal of climate neutrality by 2050, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. The fleet has an average age of 31.5 years, and small vessels, which account for 76 percent of the EU fleet, face difficulties with modernization, not least because of the high costs involved. 

The EU fleet is estimated to emit 0.015 percent of global carbon emissions, a value attributed to the decline of the fleet, an emissions reduction of around 50 percent compared to 1990, and improvements in energy efficiency. The sector nevertheless has to contend with the consequences of climate change, including more adverse weather conditions and stock migration due to warmer sea temperatures.