Following discussions between trade unions, employers and authorities that took place at national level on the raising concerns on high fuel prices and their impact on the fisheries sector, EU social partners ETF and Europêche addressed a letter to Commissioner Kadis and relevant EU institutions, asking to extend fuel aid.
Fuel accounts for one of the largest operational costs in fishing. With prices remaining at historic highs, the sector is facing serious problems in continuing sustainable operations.. For the ETF, this is a pressing workers' issue. Because fishers are traditionally paid through the share-catch system, escalating fuel costs are directly deducted from the vessel's revenue. This leads to a drastic drop in crew members' take-home pay.
The continuous energy cost shock directly threatens the livelihoods of crew members across all sea basins:
- Job security and tied-up vessels: to confront mounting operational losses, many fishing companies are reducing, postponing, or cancelling fishing trips altogether. In the most severe cases, vessels are remaining tied up in port, leaving fishers without work or a reliable source of income.
- Severe pressure on fishers’ livelihoods: in many European fisheries, fishers' remuneration is directly linked to the net revenue generated by each fishing trip. As fuel costs increase operating costs, fishers face a direct and drastic reduction in their net income, worsening working conditions and threatening job retention in coastal communities in a situation of already low attractiveness of the sector.
- Risk to employment and communities: without appropriate support, even historically sound fishing operators face serious financial troubles, jeopardizing employment, coastal economies, and the stable supply of European seafood
Key requests to the European Commission
The Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework is set to expire on 31 December 2026. Because fuel prices remain exceptionally high, ETF and Europêche call on the European Commission to:
- extend the temporary state aid framework beyond 31 December 2026 and allow Member States to prolong national support schemes without administrative delays
- Reconsider legal and practical frameworks: apply support per vessel rather than per company to fairly reflect actual operational costs
- Provide additional EU funding: activate dedicated financial resources and targeted top-ups, as many national EMFAF allocations are already fully exhausted by the previously taken measures.
While the long-term goal remains transitioning toward energy efficiency and alternative fuels, immediate support is vital to protect fishers, defend decent wages, and ensure the survival of coastal communities.
Please download the letter from here.
