Brussels, 18 May 2026 – The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) considers the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), published by the European Commission on 30 April 2026, an important exercise to identify critical issues affecting workers in the fisheries sector. However, the report makes one reality painfully clear: prioritising environmental sustainability almost exclusively has not delivered the expected results.
The ETF notes that the Commission itself acknowledges the shortcomings of the CFP and the significant socio-economic cost paid by the sector. The social dimension has been neglected. Despite the major sacrifices made by fishers through reductions in fishing effort, fleet capacity, and employment, the results achieved in stock recovery, while important, remain below expectations.
The data presented in the evaluation highlights a worsening reality for workers at the heart of the industry:
• Job losses and wage stagnation: Employment has steadily and worryingly declined, falling from 141,064 fishers in 2014 to 119,479 in 2023. Moreover, the 2011 impact assessment forecast wage increases of up to 125% by 2022, but the actual increase has remained very limited.
• Dangerous working conditions and an ageing fleet: The average age of the active EU fleet has now reached 33.5 years. Outdated technology and ageing vessels increase the risk of accidents and make working conditions more hazardous for fishers.
• Unfair capacity rules: The current calculation of gross tonnage includes areas dedicated to crew accommodation, such as cabins and sanitary facilities. This is unacceptable, as it discourages vessel owners from improving living conditions onboard in order to maximise space for catches.
• Declining profitability: The overall net profit margin has fallen from 8% in 2014 to just 1% in 2023. As most fishers are paid based on catches, this inevitably affects their income and further undermines the attractiveness of the profession.
Reacting to the report, Juan Manuel Trujillo Castillo, Chair of the ETF Fisheries Section, stated:
“It is not acceptable that the fisheries sector alone is forced to bear the consequences of the impact on fish stocks caused by other human activities. We call for a truly balanced approach that gives equal weight to the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic and environmental. This evaluation lacks a critical assessment of the CFP measures. The dramatic findings of this exercise, which unfortunately reflect realities we already know too well, must be fully taken into account in future EU decisions.”
The ETF remains convinced of the crucial role that EU fisheries play in ensuring EU food security. Looking ahead, policies should enable the sector to prosper and create opportunities for growth, rather than introducing obstacles that hinder innovation, investment and improvements in working and living conditions for crews.
Full ETF reaction to the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy
