Decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and the development and deployment of fishing gear
TA-10-2025-0344 · P10_TA(2025)0344 · PE772.077
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 450–93–37 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2024/2123
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament's resolution on decarbonising and modernising EU fisheries and developing fishing gear stresses the need for a just, inclusive transition to climate neutrality by 2050, with tailored support for small-scale and outermost region fleets.¶¶¶ It calls for revised EU funding rules to allow vessel renewal and upgrades for safety, energy efficiency and sustainable gear, without increasing fishing capacity, and for new financing instruments.¶¶¶ It urges support for innovative, selective fishing gear and pilot projects, and for excluding 'social and safety' tonnage from capacity limits.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for a realistic, phased decarbonisation roadmap based on scientific data, aligning technology, fuels and legislation across all fleet segments.¶
- Rejects EU-level fuel taxation for fishing until clean technologies are commercially available, to avoid worsening socio-economic challenges.¶
- Calls for changes to CFP and EMFAF rules to allow public support for vessel renewal and upgrades, and for additional funding instruments beyond EMFAF.¶¶¶
- Urges that increased gross tonnage for alternative propulsion or safety not count as increased fishing capacity, and that 'social and safety' tonnage be excluded from capacity calculations.¶¶
- Calls for a mid-term review of EMFAF and targeted review of CFP rules, plus a dedicated emergency fund for fleet renewal.¶
- Supports innovation in fishing gear to improve selectivity, reduce bycatch and seabed impact, with pilot projects limited in duration and vessels until impacts are assessed.¶¶
- Calls for financial support to mitigate income loss during experimental phases and for 'living labs' to test innovations.¶¶
- Calls for a common EU labelling and traceability framework for fishery products meeting high environmental, sanitary and social standards.¶
- Calls for improved training using EU programmes like Erasmus+ and the European Social Fund Plus, and for recognising vocational skills.¶
- Supports sustainable aquaculture, shellfish and algae farming to lower carbon footprint, and suggests a common aquaculture policy with quantified targets.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- EU fishing fleet, especially small-scale, artisanal and coastal vessels, and those in outermost regions.¶¶¶
- Fishers and coastal communities, who may gain from improved working conditions and training.¶¶
- Non-EU countries and long-distance fleets operating in developing regions face infrastructure gaps for new fuels.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
Legal basis: Articles 3, 4, 9, 38, 174 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶