Following social partners’ calls for change to gross tonnage limitations, the SWWAC has adopted an opinion in favour of measures to encourage the modernisation of fishing vessels.

There is growing evidence that the fleets scoring worst in global IUU fishing are also the ones where more cases of forced labour and human rights and labour abuses are observed. To stop imports of fish products from countries that are violating environmental as well as labour standards to the EU, European Social Partners of the fisheries sector adopted a resolution, urging the Commission to take appropriate actions.

Social partners call for a revision of the current fishing capacity rules to allow for improvements in safety and working conditions and move the industry closer to the European Green Deal goals.

The living and working conditions on board fishing vessels need to improve. The ETF believes that alternative methods to calculate the gross tonnage could help achieve that aim and, at the same time, protect the sustainability of the resource.

ETF affiliate FLAI-CGIL presented the findings of new research today, highlighting that fishers catch huge amounts of plastic every day, and the various opportunities that collecting plastic can offer to the fishers.

ETF, Europeche and Cogeca addressed a letter to the relevant authorities of Senegal and Ivory Coast to ask for their cooperation and support in facilitating the repatriation of fishermen stranded in West Africa.

Social partners in fisheries – ETF and Europeche – issued a new resolution, calling for an introduction of social objectives in the CFP.