Sittings · Document
On the decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and the development and deployment of fishing gear
Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Ton Diepeveen
Parliament's resolution on decarbonising and modernising EU fisheries calls for a realistic, phased transition that supports all fleet segments, especially small-scale fishers, and urges changes to EU funding and capacity rules.¶¶¶ It demands revised EMFAF eligibility to allow public support for vessel upgrades and renewal, excluding social and safety tonnage from capacity limits, and a review of CFP rules.¶¶¶ On fishing gear, it calls for science-based innovation, faster approval, and support for pilot projects, while urging a common labelling framework and better data collection.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries proposes a resolution calling for a just and realistic decarbonisation of EU fisheries, with changes to funding and capacity rules, and support for innovative fishing gear.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for a realistic, phased decarbonisation roadmap based on scientific data, aligning technology, fuels and legislation across all fleet segments.¶
- Urges coordinated policy frameworks, like the European Ocean Pact, to ensure no fleet segment or region is left behind.¶
- Proposes fleet renewal schemes with public and private funding, noting the fleet's average age of 31.5 years.¶¶
- Calls for changes to CFP and EMFAF rules that restrict public support and deter private investment in vessel renewal.¶
- Asks the Commission to identify additional funding instruments beyond EMFAF and to support research into vessel design.¶¶
- Opposes EU-level fuel taxation for the fishing fleet until clean technologies are commercially available.¶
- Calls for adapted support for small-scale, artisanal and coastal fisheries, and for outermost regions' specific constraints.¶¶¶
- Demands that increased gross tonnage for decarbonisation or safety not count as increased fishing capacity.¶
- Calls for revision of EMFAF Articles 13, 17, 18 and 19 to allow support for vessel upgrades for safety, energy efficiency and sustainable techniques.¶
- Urges a mid-term review of EMFAF and CFP rules, and establishment of an emergency fund for fleet renewal.¶
- Calls for excluding 'social and safety' tonnage from fishing capacity calculations and reviewing capacity indicators.¶¶
- Supports innovation in fishing gear with pilot projects, 'living labs', and a common EU labelling and traceability framework.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- EU fishing fleet operators, especially small-scale and artisanal fishers, will benefit from proposed support and relaxed rules.¶¶
- Shipyards, equipment suppliers and financiers may see new investment opportunities in fleet renewal and decarbonisation.¶¶
- Fishers and coastal communities in outermost regions are targeted for tailored support due to their specific constraints.¶¶
- Consumers and buyers would be affected by a proposed common EU labelling framework for sustainable fishery products.¶
Figures and deadlines
Legal basis: Articles 3, 4, 9, 38, 174 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.