What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Added:29. Draws attention to the need to boost the sector’s competitiveness and support its sustainable transition, providing a sustainable future for businesses and coastal communities, by establishing a new strategic pact between the EU and the fisheries and aquaculture sectors;

Added:30. Stresses the need to provide incentives for applied research and technological innovation in the area of the circular economy within the fisheries sector, including on fishing gear, by promoting pilot initiatives and territorial projects that foster synergies between undertakings in the fisheries sector, fisheries local action groups, waste treatment operators, recycling companies and other economic actors, with the aim of increasing resource efficiency, improving the sector’s competitiveness and generating new local employment opportunities;

Added:31. Stresses that the geographical remoteness, insularity and small size of the outermost regions require a differentiated approach to the decarbonisation of their fishing sectors, considering the difficulty their fleets have in complying with the decarbonisation and modernisation process that the technological and sustainable transition entails; underlines that previous funding instruments such as the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity for fisheries took into account the specific characteristics of these regions, recognised in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; highlights, going forward, that this must be fully considered when designing and implementing funding instruments, regulatory frameworks and innovation strategies;

Added:32. Notes that the fishing fleets of the outermost regions are predominantly small-scale and ageing, and face increasing safety risks and deteriorating working and living conditions; notes, furthermore, that their structural conditions and additional costs due to remoteness are being further aggravated by the increasing impact of extreme weather conditions; underlines that this situation restricts access to resources and threatens food security and the local economies of these territories;

Added:33. Calls for the adaption of eligibility criteria and investment priorities under the EMFAF and other EU instruments to reflect the structural constraints and environmental vulnerabilities of the outermost regions, ensuring that the energy transition does not exacerbate inequalities or hinder the socio-economic sustainability of these territories;

Added:34. Stresses that small-scale coastal fishing, particularly in island and outermost regions, is a cornerstone for food security, and for the economic, social and cultural fabric of many local communities where access to fresh and healthy protein sources is closely linked to the viability of local fishing activity; calls on the Commission to ensure that environmental objectives are fully aligned with the economic sustainability of small-scale coastal fisheries;

Added:35. Calls for enhanced cooperation with non-EU countries operating in the same maritime regions and sea basins, notably within the framework of regional fisheries management organisations, where appropriate and already established, to exchange best practice, coordinate investment, and establish common objectives for the decarbonisation, energy transition and environmental sustainability of fisheries to ensure that common rules are applied, while complying with the principle of reciprocity and fair conditions for all operators;

Added:36. Notes that long-distance fleets operating in developing countries and on the high seas face the insurmountable obstacle that infrastructures such as ports, shipyards and storage centres for new fuels and propulsion systems in those countries are not prepared or suitable to meet the needs of decarbonised vessels;

Added:37. Suggests that the Commission review the carbon and environmental impacts of all fisheries and aquaculture imports in order to prevent an unlevel playing field with global competitors that are not subject to similarly stringent regulatory frameworks or equivalent environmental, health and social standards;

Added:Modernisation

Added:38. Stresses that the modernisation of the EU fishing fleet is a key component of the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient sector and should address both technological and human challenges, ensuring that energy efficiency, digital capacity and operational safety are pursued hand in hand with the improvement of working conditions on board;

Added:39. Reiterates that increased gross tonnage or reconfigured vessel design to accommodate alternative propulsion systems or safety improvements should not be seen as contributing to an increased fishing capacity, and therefore, not contributing to the risk of overfishing; stresses that the decoupling of fishing capacity and gross tonnage for decarbonisation, the energy transition or safety improvements is necessary for a fair and evidence-based policy framework;

Added:40. Calls for public support to prioritise vessel upgrades that deliver both environmental gains and social progress and enhanced capacity for proper on-board conservation of catches, including cold storage and preservation systems, within national capacity ceilings;

Added:41. Calls on the Member States to use EU and national financial support to prioritise modernisation strategies that strengthen the long-term sustainability of fishing enterprises, promote local value chains and ensure that fishers can continue to operate under fair, predictable and economically viable conditions;

Added:42. Underlines its view that generational renewal can go hand in hand with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the need to ensure a digital transition within the blue economy; notes that this requires not only attracting young people to the fishing sector but also ensuring the improvement in working and living conditions on board, providing better accommodation and facilities to contribute to crew wellbeing, ensuring proper training and information, and offering attractive career prospects and the opportunity to improve their personal situation – particularly by providing fair and stable income opportunities and ensuring sustainability;

Added:43. Underlines that young generations of fishers contribute to the cohesion of their local communities, especially in the most isolated coastal regions and those with fewer job opportunities, enabling them to contribute to economic, social and environmental improvements within the sector; highlights, also, the need to enhance the role of women in this sector through increased mobility and employment opportunities throughout the EU, without difficulties or restrictions regarding recognition of their skills and training; notes that this would help improve the industry’s image and make it more attractive;

Added:44. Considers that generational renewal must not lead to a clash between generations, and should include fishers of all ages to ensure a balanced approach to the ecological and digital transition in order to ensure that the legacy of experience is not lost;

Added:45. Highlights the strategic role of digitalisation in the modernisation, decarbonisation and energy transition of the fishing fleet, which will also improve operational efficiency, safety at sea and the working conditions of fishers; underlines that support of digital tools and systems that enhance navigation, weather forecasting, communication and traceability, particularly in small-scale fleets, will also support the reduction of fuel costs and contribute to a more economically viable decarbonisation process; stresses that the digital transition must go hand in hand with adequate training, capacity-building and the design of inclusive technologies, taking into account the diversity of users and ensuring that digital solutions contribute to better working environments and equitably distribute technological benefits across the sector;

Added:46. Emphasises the need to carry out energy audits on fishing vessels via the EMFAF; insists that optimisation and retrofitting operations must be encouraged wherever possible in order to improve the energy efficiency of vessels and promote the use of technologies, in particular AI, to optimise fishing routes, so as to decarbonise fishing in a more affordable way;

Added:47. Stresses the importance of improving the collection, accessibility and use of environmental, socio-economic and operational data in the fisheries sector, including through digital tools and participatory monitoring approaches; underlines that effective and timely data are essential for science-based decision-making and for adapting policies to changing ecological and economic conditions; calls for closer integration between knowledge systems, including scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge and real-time operational data, in order to support more responsive, equitable and sustainable fisheries governance;

Added:48. Calls for the allocation of dedicated funding, in addition to decarbonisation and energy transition efforts, to support vessel adaptations that meet minimum standards for worker welfare – in line with occupational health and safety requirements and international maritime labour conventions such as the International Labour Organization Convention of 2007 on work in fishing – including access to potable water, safe accommodation, adequate nutrition, protection against fatigue and medical care; considers that these improvements are essential to ensure dignity at work, prevent accidents and promote the social sustainability of the sector;

Added:49. Emphasises that modernisation, decarbonisation and the energy transition should also contribute to the economic viability, employment opportunities and competitiveness of the EU fisheries sector and must not compromise the profitability of the sector or the EU’s strategic food autonomy;

Added:50. Underlines that investments in vessel adaptation, digital tools and on-board fishing products preservation capabilities can help reduce operational costs and emissions, improve product quality and enhance the market value of catches, provided that efforts to meet established targets are supported by science-based and coordinated governance across regions, and by public and private funding and well-enforced market instruments;

Added:51. Reiterates that the modernisation, decarbonisation and energy transition of fisheries must be seen as part of a broader strategy for coastal and maritime development, including marine spatial planning, biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation, and the deployment of renewable energy; stresses that a balanced and coordinated approach is needed to avoid marginalising fishing communities; highlights the potential for positive synergies between sustainable fisheries, ocean conservation, clean energy and local development when managed through holistic, inclusive, science-based and territorially adapted frameworks;

Added:52. Points out that a recent Parliament workshop report suggests that future support instruments for fisheries should consider less restrictive conditions for support for the first acquisition of a fishing vessel, for engine renewal or replacement and for vessel improvements requiring additional tonnage, while at the same time applying restrictions to avoid overcapacity or overfishing at the level of individual fleet segments or the entire national fleet; stresses that, at the same time, individual fishing vessels should be enabled to adapt to economic, environmental and social needs;

Added:53. Calls, therefore, for a revision of the eligibility provisions currently set out in Articles 13, 17, 18 and 19 of the EMFAF in order to allow public support for vessel upgrades or replacements strictly aimed at improving safety, working and living conditions, energy efficiency and the adoption of sustainable fishing techniques; underlines that such support should not result in increased fishing capacity or effort, and should be contingent on compliance with high environmental and social standards, while ensuring economic viability and generational renewal, in particular in outermost regions and coastal areas where fleet assessments show that the fishing effort is in balance with the available resources;

Added:54. Insists on the need for a mid-term review of the EMFAF and for a targeted review of the CFP rules and relevant guidelines, with a view to accommodating for the space and design requirements of alternative fuel storage, energy and propulsion systems and to making the framework for State aid more flexible when it comes to the construction and modernisation of vessels; calls for a dedicated emergency fund to be established to accelerate fleet renewal, thus enabling a realistic transition to clean energy technologies;

Added:55. Underlines the urgent need to address the lack of covered working areas, sanitary facilities, adequate resting spaces and safety equipment that currently affects many small-scale and artisanal vessels; notes that current EU definitions of fishing capacity do not differentiate between operational areas of the vessel and those dedicated to improving social and safety conditions on board; stresses that this creates a disincentive to invest in essential upgrades such as sheltered working spaces, resting areas and sanitation facilities, which are key to ensuring decent working and living conditions; calls on the Commission to find a solution that would balance the needs of fishing workers with the need to ensure that the EU fleet’s fishing capacity is not increased, in particular by excluding ‘social and safety’ related tonnage from the calculation of fishing capacity;

Added:56. Calls on the Commission, for this purpose, and while maintaining a framework and limits that prevent overfishing, to carry out an in-depth review of the indicators that measure fishing capacity and the impact of fishing;

Added:57. Stresses that the fisheries sector’s energy transition requires significant investment, which is not always feasible for small businesses relying solely on ordinary resources; calls on the Commission to make decarbonisation a means of supporting the viability of coastal fishing in the EU and to consider raising, on a temporary and tailored basis, the ceiling for de minimis aid in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, with a view to supporting the adoption of low-emission technologies, sustainable fleet renewal and/or adaptation and energy efficiency throughout the supply chain, to be carried out in conjunction with professionals in this area of the fleet, with a view to stimulating investment;

Development and deployment of fishing gear

Change 2

Removed:The role of innovation

Added:58. Highlights that innovation in fishing gear and techniques should be based on the best available scientific evidence and guided by clear environmental objectives, contributing to improved selectivity, reduced bycatch or incidental catches, minimised risks of lost and abandoned fishing gear, optimised vessel routes, economic benefits and lower impact on marine habitats; underlines the need for targeted public and private investment and regulatory support to promote the development, testing and scaling up of fishing gear that enhances both ecological outcomes and the operational viability of sustainable fleets;

Removed:13. Stresses that innovation in fishing gear is a key driver of sustainability and can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the fisheries sector; underlines that modern gear technologies can minimise bycatch, enhance operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, thereby making fishing activities both more sustainable and more profitable;

Added:59. Calls on the Commission to support innovation through investments in increasing the selectivity of fishing gear, enhancements to port infrastructure, and upgrades to fishing vessels aimed at improving health, safety and working conditions, increasing energy efficiency, lowering emissions and enhancing the quality of catches;

Removed:14. Emphasises that despite clear benefits, the EU approval process for new fishing gear takes considerable time, significantly delaying environmental, innovative and economic benefits;

Added:60. Recalls the need to follow the precautionary principle when developing and deploying innovative fishing gear and techniques; emphasises that it is essential to promote an ecosystem-based approach when developing and deploying innovative fishing gear and technologies in order to reduce bycatch, minimise incidental catches, lower seabed impact and improve fuel efficiency; highlights that pilot projects and experimental fisheries should remain limited in duration and number of vessels, to test new gear and propulsion technologies and to ensure that no large-scale deployment occurs until their environmental, social and economic impacts have been scientifically, independently and fully assessed, and they have been demonstrated to be safe and sustainable;

Removed:Policy recommendations

Added:61. Underlines the urgent need to invest in and deploy fishing technologies that reduce unwanted catches, improve selectivity and minimise ecosystem disturbance; stresses that technological transitions in the sector need to be further facilitated in a more time efficient way and guided by technology neutrality and robust scientific evidence, including all aspects of sustainability; calls for the decision-making processes on gear approval, funding eligibility and regulatory flexibility to be based on the best available science, aligned with all relevant policies and regulations and to contribute to all three pillars of sustainability;

Removed:15. Is of the opinion that establishing a clear definition of ‘innovative and sustainable’ fishing gear is essential, and that such a definition should include measurable criteria, such as reduced bycatch, lower seabed impact and improved fuel efficiency;

Added:62. Calls on the Commission to take account of the specific characteristics of each sea basin and regional differences, to step up the regionalisation and adaptation of multiannual management plans in line with these selectivity objectives and to prioritise the use of gear that has less impact on ecosystems, in close collaboration with advisory committees and engaging with local fleets, taking into account socio-economic effects and climate change;

Removed:16. Points out that innovation actors in the fisheries chain should be able to rely on a standardised framework, such as the innovation matrix of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, to ensure the objective and consistent evaluation of new fishing gear; calls on the Commission to streamline the approval process for gear innovation by introducing a fast-track procedure;

Added:63. Stresses the need to have specific budgetary lines to finance research into decarbonisation and the energy transition within the future multiannual financial framework, for example under the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe;

Removed:17. Calls for investment in the research and development of low-impact fishing gear and digital tools to support sustainable and efficient fishing practices; highlights the importance of targeted incentives to accelerate the uptake of proven sustainable technologies;

Added:64. Emphasises that the extent to which scientific innovations can be transferred to fishers can be hampered by the risk of loss of income for professionals during experimental phases; calls on the Commission to consider financial support to mitigate this risk and speed up the deployment of more selective, lower-impact fishing gear;

Removed:18. Welcomes pilot projects and experimental fisheries as practical tools to test new gear and propulsion technologies, allowing for innovation without prematurely imposing sector-wide changes;

Added:65. Recognises the growing contribution of fishers to climate action and environmental protection through activities such as the collection of marine litter, including lost or abandoned fishing gear; stresses that this role should be encouraged and supported through targeted incentives, adequate port infrastructure and the creation of complementary income streams linked to circular economy objectives; underlines that promoting the ecological contribution of fishers helps to strengthen the social acceptability of the profession, reinforces their role as guardians of the sea and contributes to broader sustainability and marine restoration goals;

Removed:Aquaculture as a complementary pillar

Added:66. Calls on the Commission to ensure the inclusive involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including small-scale fishers, producer organisations and coastal communities, in the design, development and assessment of innovative fishing gear, as opposed to adopting a one-size-fits-all approach; underlines that participatory governance strengthens the legitimacy, practicality and acceptance of rules, while allowing the incorporation of local ecological knowledge and lived experience;

Removed:19. Recognises that the development of aquaculture in the EU can complement traditional fisheries by contributing to the decarbonisation of the sector; stresses that aquaculture provides a sustainable, low-carbon source of protein, particularly in the case of shellfish and seaweed farming, which offer additional environmental benefits such as carbon capture and water purification;

Added:67. Calls for public policies and funding instruments to prioritise support for fishers and communities that adopt sustainable gear and practises that contribute to biodiversity preservation and long-term resource stability; underlines that recognising and supporting sustainable techniques and an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries is essential for ensuring the resilience of coastal communities, preserving traditional knowledge and promoting a fair and inclusive transition in the sector;

Removed:20. Stresses that further support for algae cultivation can complement traditional fisheries by providing sustainable protein sources and contributing to environmental benefits;

Added:68. Calls for the integration of AI-driven detection technology systems to support selective fishing practices, improve catch information and reduce unwanted catches; believes that combining smart technologies with innovative gear can enhance selectivity and environmental performance;

Removed:Barriers to growth

Added:69. Stresses that the management of fishing gear and techniques should be grounded in inclusive and adaptive governance frameworks that reflect the diversity of fleets, sea basins and fishing practises across the EU, and points out the importance of ensuring that this regulatory framework is clear, predictable and with long-term political objectives; highlights the need to strengthen cooperation between scientists, fishers and authorities in the development, testing and evaluation of new gear, fostering mutual trust and shared responsibility for sustainable outcomes; calls for time efficient decision-making processes that are transparent, participatory and capable of integrating evolving socio-ecological realities on the ground;

Removed:21. Underlines that excessive administrative burdens, lengthy permitting procedures and growing competition for maritime space from industrial projects could discourage investment in new aquaculture projects and hinder the sustainable development of the sector;

Added:70. Highlights the need to improve the measurement of fishing effort through management tools that are not solely based on days at sea, and to start considering the actual time during which the gear is used for catching – ‘immersion time’ or ‘active fishing’; calls, therefore, for a review, where appropriate, of the definitions of ‘fishing activities’ in EU legislation so that they better reflect the differing operational characteristics of fishing gear and help to make the management of fishing effort more equitable and effective;

Removed:22. Stresses that competition from imported seafood, often produced at lower costs and under less stringent environmental standards, poses a significant challenge for the aquaculture sector;

Added:71. Encourages pilot projects and emphasises their importance both as innovation demonstrators and as stepping stones towards the attainment of the level of technological maturity that is needed to obtain needed approvals and be ready for both commercialisation and deployment on a larger scale; calls for the most effective pilot projects to be monitored to avoid the duplication of projects submitted or prevent the failure of projects that are nevertheless effective;

Removed:Policy recommendations