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OPINION (COM(2023)0269 – C90190/2023 – 2023/0163(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002

PECH-AD-753474

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Clara Aguilera

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The Committee on Fisheries proposes amendments to the proposed regulation on the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), focusing on including fishing vessels and fishers in EMSA's mandate. The amendments extend EMSA's tasks to cover all types and sizes of vessels, including fishing vessels, and address safety, training, working conditions, and accident reporting for fishers. They also call for EMSA to cooperate with other EU agencies, such as the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), and to include a non-voting European Parliament representative on its Management Board.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries supports the regulation but proposes amendments to extend EMSA's mandate to fishing vessels and fishers, improve safety and training, and enhance cooperation with other agencies.

Key points

  1. The regulation should refer to 'maritime activities' instead of 'maritime transport' to include fisheries, which are economically and socially important and dangerous.
  2. EMSA should intervene, report, and record data on marine casualties and incidents involving any type and size of vessel, not just those over 15 meters.
  3. EMSA should harmonise working and living conditions for fishers, provide training in safety, digitalisation, and nautical and fisheries activities, and ensure mutual recognition of certificates.
  4. The Management Board should include one non-voting representative of the European Parliament, as in other agencies.
  5. The proposal should reinforce the social dimension of the fisheries sector and include social indicators to assess social aspects in EMSA's assistance to the Commission.
  6. EMSA's mandate should extend to monitoring and reporting incidents and accidents involving small fishing vessels, which are currently not covered.
  7. EMSA should work towards transposing the IMO STCW-F Convention into EU law to harmonise minimum training levels for fishers.
  8. When researching alternative power sources for decarbonisation, the different fisheries gears and areas should be taken into account.
  9. Measures for clean seas must be accompanied by funds and incentives to sustain fishing operations, especially small-scale and artisanal segments.
  10. EMSA should strengthen cooperation with EFCA on preventing and handling incidents at sea involving fishing vessels, and share information on lost fishing gear.
  11. The Agency should gather and analyse data on fishers in line with STCW-F and the Work in Fishing Convention, and improve onboard safety and working conditions.
  12. Cooperation on coast guard functions should include sharing data, equipment, and technologies, and implementing projects with third countries.

Who is affected

  • Fishing vessels of all sizes, especially small ones under 15 meters, will be covered by EMSA's safety monitoring and reporting.
  • Fishers will benefit from improved training, working conditions, and safety measures, and mutual recognition of certificates.
  • The European Parliament will have a non-voting representative on EMSA's Management Board.
  • EMSA and EFCA will cooperate more closely on fisheries-related safety and data sharing.

Figures and deadlines

  • 85% of fishing vessels in the EU are less than 12 metres long.