Fisheries remains one of the most dangerous sectors, which is why our priority is to secure safer working conditions and decent pay. With the industry facing long-term demographic challenges, improving job quality is essential to attract young people and women. This includes access to specialised training and mutual recognition of technical certifications across Europe.
The COVID-19 crisis worsened conditions, threatening jobs and accelerating abuse and rights violations—particularly for migrant workers. The ETF is pushing for stronger rules, better enforcement, and lasting improvements to protect fishers and make the sector fair, safe, and sustainable.
In a sector poorly governed by the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the ETF fights to put workers at the centre of future reforms. Our key demand is to embed strong social conditionality in the CFP, including for EU funding.
The Fisheries Section plays an active role in Advisory Councils that guide the European Commission on CFP implementation. We also push for stronger social dialogue, the ratification and enforcement of ILO C188 international standards, and an EU ban on fish imports from fleets or countries where labour abuses occur.
The ETF Fisheries Section and its affiliates monitor the growth of offshore wind farms and their impact on fisheries. We also track reforms to fuel taxation and their effects on jobs and pay, while addressing the challenge of marine litter, especially plastics.
In addition, we work to develop management tools that strengthen the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of fishing in the Mediterranean.
Social dialogue brings together workers and employers—known as social partners—for structured discussions supported by the EU. The ETF Fisheries Section is a recognised social partner in the sector.
Since 1999, the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries (SSDC) has united ETF, Europêche and Copa-Cogeca. Together, we have adopted joint statements, influenced EU legislation on the social aspects of fisheries, and carried out EU-funded projects to improve living and working conditions at sea and strengthen the social dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy.
The SSDC for Sea Fisheries meets three times a year in Brussels.
ETF Fisheries’ Section Steering Committee (2022-2027)
