Representatives of the European blue economy value chain met yesterday with Commissioner Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, to discuss the forthcoming Roadmap for the Energy Transition of Fisheries. The meeting brought together SEA Europe, Europêche, Copa-Cogeca, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the European Association of Fish Producers’ Organisations (EAPO), representing fishers and aquaculture producers, producers’ organisations, cooperatives, workers, shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers. The organisations reaffirmed their full commitment to the decarbonisation and long-term sustainability of blue economy sectors, while stressing that progress is currently being held back by EU regulatory constraints, limited access to finance and insufficient investment certainty.

The EU fishing industry is deeply disappointed by the partial mackerel sharing arrangement agreed between the UK, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. With the four parties opting for a total catch limit of 299,010 tonnes for 2026, there is now a formal disruption of the level playing field, with the EU following the ICES headline advice. The EU industry calls on the EU to do everything in its power to repair the imbalance, to act against institutionalised overfishing, and help broker a fair comprehensive agreement between all Coastal States.

The European Social Partners in Fisheries express their deep concern and strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposal for Mediterranean fishing opportunities for 2026. The measures, representing some of the most severe cuts ever imposed, risk dismantling an entire sector already pushed to its limits, putting at stake thousands of jobs, family livelihoods and the socio-economic fabric of coastal communities across the region.