European Parliament calls for EU and national funding to support more sustainable fishing

The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has called for a European plan supported by both EU and national funding to renew the fishing fleet and advance the green transition. Lawmakers criticized the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for failing to adequately promote the decarbonization of the sector.

In the Balearic Islands, the fishing fleet consists of around 266 vessels, most of which (230) are small-scale artisanal boats. Other fishing modalities coexist in the region, including 31 trawlers and five purse seiners, according to data from June 2025 provided by the Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds of the Balearic Islands (FBCP) to Europa Press.

The committee’s report, approved with 19 votes in favor, 3 against, and 3 abstentions, calls for the conversion toward a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable European fleet, emphasizing the need to both modernize and renew fishing vessels.

To achieve this, the Parliament proposes fleet renewal programs backed by national and EU funding, alongside private sector cooperation. MEPs lament that the current EU fisheries policy and existing financial frameworks limit public support for fleet decarbonization and discourage private investment.

The report therefore calls for revisions to current legislative frameworks, enabling EU-funded programs, in combination with state aid and private funds, to be used for investments in ports, energy infrastructure, and fishing vessels.

It also stresses the importance of improving working and living conditions on board, highlighting the need to enhance facilities for proper onboard catch preservation.

Regarding digitalization, MEPs underline that technological progress can improve operational efficiency, safety at sea, and working conditions, while also helping to reduce fuel costs. They suggest that vessels undergo energy audits and promote the use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to optimize fishing routes.

To safeguard the state of fisheries, the report advocates for preventive measures and the adoption of innovative fishing gear, applying the precautionary principle. It calls for public policies and financial mechanisms that support fishers and communities adopting sustainable equipment and practices.

The implementation of AI-based detection technologies, it adds, could contribute to more selective fishing practices, better catch data, and reduced bycatch.

Finally, on the issue of fishing effort, MEPs propose measuring it based on the actual time fishing gear is in use, rather than merely the number of days at sea, as currently defined under the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) framework.