The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and Europêche, as the European Social Partners in the fisheries sector, have submitted a joint position paper to the European Commission. This response is part of the Commission’s ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Both organizations emphasized the need to address the CFP’s socio-economic shortcomings and its impact on workers and communities in the fishing industry.
The CFP has made notable strides toward environmental sustainability, particularly in terms of increasing fish stocks managed at sustainable levels. However, ETF and Europêche raised concerns about the policy’s failure to adequately meet its socio-economic objectives.
Shrinking Workforce and Declining Fleet
One of the most pressing issues highlighted by the social partners is the significant reduction in the EU fishing fleet, which has decreased by 28%, alongside a 33% drop in the number of full-time fishers. This decline has had a profound impact on the livelihoods of fishers, coastal communities, and the broader socio-economic fabric of the sector. Despite progress in environmental objectives, these figures underscore a troubling stagnation in profitability and employment prospects for those who depend on the fishing industry.
While the CFP has been effective in advancing environmental sustainability, it has come at the expense of socio-economic well-being. The decline in fleet capacity, the aging workforce, and a lack of job security are driving people away from this essential sector.
Generational Renewal and Workforce Challenges
Another critical issue raised in the position paper is the challenge of generational renewal in the fishing sector. The aging workforce is a growing concern, with limited efforts made to attract young, qualified professionals to the industry. ETF and Europêche urged the Commission to address this issue, stressing that a new generation of fishers is needed to secure the future of sustainable fishing in Europe.
To achieve long-term sustainability, the CFP must support not only environmental but also economic and social objectives. We need to equip young workers with the skills, training, and technology needed to build a resilient and modern fishing industry.
Impact of Bureaucracy and Regulatory Burden
Social partners also drew attention to the growing complexity of regulations within the CFP, which has placed an unnecessary burden on fishers. In particular, the enforcement of the landing obligation has been fraught with difficulties, both in its implementation and in its socio-economic consequences.
The increasing bureaucracy, coupled with stricter sanctions and controls, has led to an erosion of trust between the sector and regulatory bodies, with fishers feeling unfairly criminalized. Both organizations have called for a simplification of the regulatory framework and a shift toward policies that support both environmental and socio-economic goals.
Social and Labour Conditions in Global Trade
In addition to internal EU issues, ETF and Europêche emphasized the need for stronger protections against unfair competition from imports produced under lower environmental and social standards. They called on the EU to lead by example by ensuring that imported fish products meet the same stringent criteria applied to European fishers, particularly with regard to labour conditions and human rights.
Europe’s fishers should not be placed at a competitive disadvantage. The EU must ensure that its high standards on environmental and social issues are mirrored in global trade policies, banning products produced under exploitative or illegal conditions from entering the European market.
ETF and Europêche’s position paper underscores the need for a CFP that is coherent with other EU policies, particularly in relation to socio-economic development, food security, and trade. While environmental sustainability remains a priority, the social partners advocate for a more balanced approach that takes into account the livelihoods of fishers, their working conditions, and the future of coastal communities.
The ETF and Europêche call on the European Commission to revise the CFP to ensure that it not only protects the environment but also secures decent working conditions, supports generational renewal, and promotes socio-economic sustainability in the fishing industry. These changes, they argue, are essential for achieving a fair, prosperous, and sustainable future for Europe’s fisheries sector.
