EU must put in place effective measures to ban imports from fleets with evidence of labour abuses 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. News 11 Nov 2020
Fishing capacity ceilings have to be reviewed to bring the sector closer to social and environmental sustainability 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. News 10 Nov 2020
Joint letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius on entry/exit scheme and fishing capacity measurements resource 10 Nov 2020
Draft guidance on social responsibility in fish value chains delayed after pushback ETF, Europeche, and LDAC addressed a letter to FAO, urging the organisation to continue with the process of creating guidance on social responsibility in fish value chains. News 6 Nov 2020
Without fishers, there’s no fishing At a plenary meeting, the EU Social Partners in the Fisheries Sector – Europêche, Cogeca and ETF – welcomed the presentation of the parliamentary draft report “Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of labour to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities” of the MEP Manuel Pizarro. While acknowledging the report as an important step in the right direction, social partners call on the policy-makers to recognize the key social dimension of fishing, thus improving the health and safety of fishers and attracting youth to the sector. Press Release 5 Nov 2020
COVID-19: Social partners call for crew changes of fishers in West Africa 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. News 23 Jun 2020
Fuel de-taxation is fundamental for keeping jobs in fisheries In light of the WTO negotiations on fishery subsidies, ETF joined Europêche, Cogeca, EAPO and AIPCE-CEP in presenting their case against the fuel de-taxation schemes in fisheries. Statement 25 Mar 2020
Italian Government gives its greenlight for ratification of ILO Convention 188 The ETF welcomes the green light of the Italian Government for the ratification of the ILO Convention 188 “Work in fishing”. The ETF, together with ITF, will continue to ask as many countries as possible to ratify the Convention 188 and properly implement it. The Convention is a fundamental international instrument to protect fishers’ working conditions and rights. News 30 Jan 2020
Landing obligation has led to increased workload for fishers The EU Social Partners in Sea Fisheries ETF and Europêche adopted a joint resolution on the socio-economic impact of the EU landing obligation on the fishing industry. They agreed to call on the European Commission to revise the EU landing obligation so that it is consistent with other legal instruments adopted by the EU, in particular, Directive 2017/159 and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. News 6 Nov 2019