ETF, Europêche, EAPO, COGECA, and SEA Europe have jointly written to European Commissioner for Fisheries and Ocean, Costas Kadis, urging the European Commission to deliver an ambitious and properly funded Roadmap for the Energy Transition of Fisheries.
The letter, co-signed by representatives of fishers, producer organisations, cooperatives, and shipyards, stresses that the sector is fully committed to decarbonisation and long-term sustainability, but warns that the transition will not succeed without decisive policy support and targeted public investment.
The joint letter identifies three urgent priorities for the forthcoming EU Roadmap:
Overcoming regulatory barriers — The signatories call for a review of outdated limits on vessel tonnage and engine power that currently block innovation. They argue that these restrictions prevent the adoption of cleaner propulsion technologies and improvements in onboard living conditions for crews.
Unlocking and scaling up financing — The organisations underline that without substantial and sustained public funding, complemented by private investment, the transition will not be financially viable. They call for dedicated EU and national funding mechanisms, a targeted amendment to the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), and simplified state aid rules to de-risk investment in fleet renewal and retrofitting. Training, re-skilling and upskilling of the existing workforce is crucial.
Fostering collaboration and viable business models — Building on the work of the Energy Transition Partnership, the letter calls for stronger links between fishers, shipyards, investors, and technology providers, and for fisheries to be fully integrated into broader EU maritime and industrial strategies.
The organisations urge Commissioner Kadis to ensure that the forthcoming Roadmap sends a “clear, coherent and adequately funded policy signal” to the sector, instilling confidence among investors and workers alike.
The joint letter marks a significant step in aligning the fisheries sector around the shared objective of a sustainable future. By bringing together industry, workers, cooperatives, and shipyards, it sends a powerful message to EU policymakers: the energy transition of fisheries must be inclusive, properly financed, and anchored in real sectoral needs.
Please download the joint letter on the Roadmap for Energy transition in Fisheries from here