"Small-scale fishers are the backbone of our coastal communities. We must recognise their role and provide them with the necessary support,” said EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis.
Image: European Commission
The European Commission has released new guidance intended to steer EU countries towards more transparent and equitable methods for distributing fishing opportunities, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by small-scale coastal fleets.
According to the Commission, recent national approaches to allocating quotas and effort limits have not always kept pace with emerging pressures on the sector, such as high energy costs, fluctuating stock abundance, competition for marine space, climate change impacts, environmental degradation, invasive species and unfair competition from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The Commission argues that these impacts tend to take the heaviest toll on small-scale operators.
The guidelines encourage EU countries to examine the criteria they apply when sharing out national fishing opportunities, and draw attention to examples of what the Commission views as good practice for addressing the distinct needs of small-scale and coastal fishers.
Small-scale vessels account for almost 75% of the EU fleet and close to half of all employment in the fishing sector, according to Commission figures. The guidance also highlights their social and cultural role within coastal communities and stresses their connection to local environments.
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said the guidelines "invite EU countries to reflect on the allocation of fishing opportunities, bearing in mind that small-scale fishers are the most vulnerable to structural and unexpected challenges."
"Small-scale fishers are the backbone of our coastal communities. We must recognise their role and provide them with the necessary support,” he added.
A key element in all this is transparency, with the EU urging national authorities to improve communication around allocation decisions and ensure that information is accurate and easily accessible.
Under the EU system, fisheries ministers agree on total allowable catches and effort limits based on scientific advice, after which each country receives a national share to distribute among its fleet. Under the Common Fisheries Policy, EU member states are required to use transparent and objective criteria in doing so - a requirement the new guidance aims to reinforce.
The Commission says greater openness - for example on how environmental, social and economic criteria are applied - can support good governance, as well as creating incentives for fishing vessels to use more selective gear and adopt sustainable practices.
The release of the guidelines follows the Commission’s 2023 commitment to convene discussions on allocation practices, a pledge repeated in the European Ocean Pact adopted in June this year.
“The challenges affecting fisheries in the EU require systems that are able to adapt. Methods that worked decades ago may no longer be the most appropriate to address new challenges,” the Communication states, adding that governments should periodically review their allocation methods to ensure they remain relevant.
The new guidance follows a series of calls for fairer treatment earlier this year by groups representing small-scale fishing fleets.
In March, the structural disadvantages faced by low-impact, coastal fishing communities were debated at the European Paliament during an event organised by the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE). “Today, the species that sustain our diverse small-scale fisheries have significantly declined, and even when stocks are abundant, as in the case of bluefin tuna, quota distribution remains opaque and unfair,” said Gwen Pennarun, LIFE President, said at the time.
In April, European marine NGO Seas At Risk released its report on “Power structures shaping EU fisheries”, finding that although small-scale fishers make up 76% of fishing boats in the EU and represent 50% of the fishing workforce, they often struggle with low wages, part-time jobs, and limited input in decisions that affect their livelihoods.
