DG-MARE has responded to the NWWAC advice on energy transition in fisheries and aquaculture sectors
In a recent development, the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) has issued a comprehensive response to the advice provided by the North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) regarding the decarbonisation of the EU fishing fleet.
Charlina Vitcheva, the Director-General of DG MARE, reaffirmed the importance of collaborative efforts in shaping the energy transition strategy for the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The response highlights the significance of NWWAC’s contributions to the ongoing discussions surrounding the Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) for the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture. Vitcheva acknowledged NWWAC’s interest in participating in the ETP and underscores the role of thematic workshops in addressing key challenges faced by the sector, including financing, innovation, research, and skills development. Notably, workshops held on finance and innovation have already taken place, with upcoming sessions focusing on skills scheduled for 19 April 2024.
Furthermore, Vitcheva emphasises the establishment of a website dedicated to the ETP, providing stakeholders with access to workshop agendas, reports, and updates. The website also hosts a compendium of best practices, regularly updated to monitor progress and facilitate knowledge sharing. Additionally, plans to include projects carried out in Member States in future updates of the compendium are highlighted, encouraging NWWAC to contribute relevant information.
Addressing concerns regarding technology and knowledge gaps, Vitcheva announces the imminent publication of a study on available technologies for the energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This study aims to provide insight into the efficiency of different solutions and guide investment decisions towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Vitcheva writes: “I would like to inform you that we have established a website containing all information on the ETP, where you can access details concerning the agenda of the next workshop, its location, and reports of past workshops. As a member of the partnership, NWWAC will also receive email updates regarding the partnership. Additionally, this website hosts our compendium on best practices, which will be updated at least twice a year, enabling stakeholders to monitor progress and learn from successful examples. We have taken note of your suggestion to include work carried out in Member States in future updates of the compendium and invite the NWWAC to inform us about any existing projects that could be included in the scope of this document.
In terms of funding, Vitcheva outlines opportunities provided by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to support the sector’s transition towards energy-efficient and climate-neutral solutions. She said:
“As regards the use of funding and financial instruments in place to support the implementation of the energy transition, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) provides funding opportunities to support the sector to transition towards more energy efficient and climate-neutral solutions through innovation and fleet modernisation. I would also like to highlight that the Commission published a guide as well as an interactive tool on existing EU funding opportunities to support stakeholders in navigating the different types of funding that can be used for the energy transition in the sector, which we aim at updating over time.”
She informed the NWWAC the Commission has also released a guide and interactive tool on existing EU funding opportunities, with plans for updates and awareness-raising initiatives, such as webinars with BlueInvest.
Regarding regulatory frameworks, Vitcheva assures adherence to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rules, which allow for fleet modernisation while maintaining capacity ceilings and promoting social sustainability. Moreover, efforts to assess the feasibility of implementing harmonised training for fishers across EU Member States are underway. She writes:
“Concretely, any new fishing capacity (quantified in volume and power of vessels) entering the fleet must be compensated by at least the same amount of capacity being withdrawn. Member States have the flexibility to allocate the margin between capacity ceilings and actual active capacity to fishing vessels requiring energy-efficient propulsion systems. Furthermore, the energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sector encompasses more than only replacing engines and transitioning to alternative and low-carbon fuels, with significant potential for improving energy efficiency in the short term.”
Despite having many numerous flaws, Vitcheva continues to promote the CFP and believes that it is fit for purpose to promote social sustainability. She says:
“The current CFP Regulation does not hinder Member States from allowing increases in capacity of fishing vessels to improve living conditions and safety on board, as long as they respect the overall capacity ceilings and the entry/exit scheme. The existing margin between the capacity of the Member States’ fishing fleets and the capacity ceilings can be used to this effect. Some Member States have already a practice of allocating gross tonnage from the national reserve for reasons of improving safety of fishing vessels.”
She continued by saying there was a link between the social dimension and the energy transition is also reflected in the EMFAF, which seeks to improve safety and working conditions on board fishing vessels while supporting decarbonisation and fleet modernisation, saying that adequate training is key to ensure that fishers are skilled and ready for the energy transition, but also for safety on board fishing vessels.
She noted that the Commission has therefore started preparations to assess the feasibility of implementing the STCW-F into EU law with the view of establishing harmonised training for fishers across all EU Member States.
On the NWWAC request regarding the European Parliament resolution on “Fishers of the future,”, Vitcheva replied that the Commission has launched a foresight study, contracted by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, in the context of the ‘Pact for Fisheries and Oceans’ announced in February 2023. The project, which started in November 2023 and will run until the end of 2024, investigates the role of fishers up to 2050 beyond the provision of high-quality food, and also examines how they envisage the future in light of the multitude of (new) challenges they are and will be facing. She says:
“The project offers various opportunities for stakeholders to engage, including a survey on the key drivers of change and an event in Brussels on 19 March to present and validate initial findings and gather feedback.”
In conclusion, Vitcheva extends an invitation for continued engagement and collaboration, stressing the importance of stakeholder involvement in shaping a resilient and sustainable future for the fisheries and aquaculture sector.