The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), together with Europêche and Copa-Cogeca, has sent a formal letter to Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission warning about the alarming and structural decline of the EU fishing fleet.
Based on the latest scientific and market data, the fisheriessocial partners highlight falling revenues, shrinking employment (down 31% since 2013), and a continued reduction in the number of active vessels and projections are pointing to further dramatic losses in the coming years. The letter stresses that this is not a temporary crisis, but a structural failure that threatens Europe’s food security, strategic autonomy, coastal communities and generational renewal in the sector.
ETF and its partners call for urgent corrective measures, including an Omnibus Regulation to address systemic shortcomings in the Common Fisheries Policy, a postponement of problematic secondary legislation, concrete measures to restore EU seafood production capacity, and a comprehensive Action Plan for the survival and competitiveness of the EU fleet under Vision 2040.
Without immediate action, the continued contraction of the fleet risks becoming irreversible.
The full letter can be downloaded here to learn more about the concerns raised and the concrete proposals put forward by the social partners.