Europeche, the European Transport Workers Federation, and officials within the E.U. are pushing the bloc to adopt new policies to protect the future of fishers.
E.U. Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries Chair Cor Blonk, speaking at the “Fishers of the Future” conference, called for urgent action from policymakers to secure the future of the bloc’s fishing fleet to support Europe’s food self-sufficiency.
Blonk, who is also the chair of FISH Platform and the secretary of labor relations for the Pelagic Freezer-Trawler Association, said fishers need to be recognized as a key part of the sustainability of the industry.
“Sustainability is not only about the planet and profit but also about people,” he said during the conference. “Fishers should be recognized as key actors in securing healthy and nutritious food. They perform an essential role that benefits us all, and their work deserves to be appreciated and valued for the vital contribution they make to our society.”
According to a release issued by Europeche, Blonk said the fishing industry is in a vulnerable position due to environmental, economic, and regulatory challenges. Overregulation, he said, continues to make it difficult to operate in the industry, and as costs increase, cheap imports are driving down prices for goods, making it harder to be economically viable.
“While the industry has made strides in environmental sustainability, such as reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 52 percent, the focus must expand to include profitability and the welfare of fishers themselves,” Blonk said.
E.U. Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said that fisheries are integral to the fabric of coastal communities but also acknowledged the industry face a number of challenges – including an aging workforce. He also emphasized a need to focus on building a more adaptable sector that can meet future needs.
Despite the difficulties, Blonk said modernizing the bloc’s fleet is a path forward – but regulations on capacity definitions and other issues present a barrier to that modernization.
"We need to act at multiple levels,” he said. “From fishing capacity to social conditions, everything must align to create equal opportunities for our fishers in a competitive global market."
