P9_TA(2021)0386

Fishers for the future

European Parliament resolution of 16 September 2021 on Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of workers to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities (2019/2161(INI))

(2022/C 117/07)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Article 3(2) and (3) of the Treaty on European Union, and to Article 4(2)(a), (d) and (k), and Articles 9, 153 and 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

— having regard to Article 349 TFEU,

— having regard to the Commission communication of 24 October 2017 entitled ‘A stronger and renewed strategic partnership with the EU’s outermost regions’ (COM(2017)0623),

— having regard to Council Directive (EU) 2017/159 of 19 December 2016 implementing the Agreement concerning the implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 of the International Labour Organisation, concluded on 21 May 2012 between the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the European Union (Cogeca), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the European Union (Europêche) (1),

— having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (2),

— having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 25 September 2019 on ‘Social dimension of fisheries’ (exploratory opinion) (3),

— having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),

— having regard to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),

— having regard to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO),

— having regard to the Convention establishing the International Labour Organization (ILO),

— having regard to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels of 1977,

— having regard to the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 and the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 updating and amending the Torremolinos Convention,

— having regard to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) of 1995,

— having regard to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) fisheries circular No. 966 of 2001 entitled ‘Safety at sea as an integral part of fisheries management’,

— having regard to the FAO report entitled ‘The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020’,

— having regard to ILO Convention 188 of 2007 on Work in Fishing,

— having regard to the IMO 2005 Voluntary Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Equipment of Small Fishing Vessels,

— having regard to the report by Europêche, Cogeca ‘fisheries’ and the ETF of December 2000 entitled ‘Mutual Recognition of Certificates in the Sea Fishing Sector in Europe’ (the Bénodet report),

— having regard to the 2019 Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA),

— having regard to the report of the Commission’s Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) of 26 September 2019 entitled ‘Social data in the EU fisheries sector’ (STECF 19-03),

— having regard to the STECF 2019 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF 19-06) and 2020 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF 20-06),

— having regard to the conclusions of the study by Parliament’s Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies entitled ‘Training of Fishers’, published in July 2018,

— having regard to the in-depth analysis by Parliament’s Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies entitled ‘The scope of EU labour law: Who is (not) covered by key directives?’, published in October 2020,

— having regard to its resolution of 27 February 2014 on specific actions in the Common Fisheries Policy for developing the role of women (4),

— having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A9-0230/2021),

A. whereas the common fisheries policy (CFP) must ensure that fishing and aquaculture are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable in the long term and that this objective must continue to be carried out in order to maintain the sector’s attractiveness for the labour force; whereas in order to achieve social sustainability, fisheries policies should integrate and improve labour conditions, health and safety, training, social inclusion and a fair standard of living; whereas in many fishing communities and regions of the EU, the social importance of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors outweighs its direct economic contribution;

B. whereas the public health crisis and trade and market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have hit fishers across Europe; whereas despite the safety risks and low prices of fish, fishers have continued fishing, supplying high-quality food; whereas during the COVID-19 crisis, fishers have been identified as fundamental workers that exercise critical occupations ensuring important food supply; whereas, as vital professionals, the EU institutions must pay special attention to them, not only for their role, but also for the importance for the Union’s food security;

C. whereas in the last few years, fisheries across Europe have undergone major structural changes and restructuring with heavy fleet reductions, leading to social consequences for both fishers and fishing communities; whereas there is an increasing need to raise awareness and whereas more attention should be paid to the social dimension of fisheries, for instance assessing social impacts in the framework of impact assessments of policy proposals related to the CFP;

D. whereas a holistic approach is needed for the different EU strategies, including the EU 2030 biodiversity strategy and the farm to fork strategy;

E. whereas demographic changes in Europe must also be taken into account;

F. whereas the current lack of systematic comprehensive data and regular scientific analysis on the social aspects of the CFP compromise fishery policymaking; whereas this data could promote fishing as a successful working career and as a way of contributing to the livelihood of coastal communities, and attract young people to the profession;

G. whereas fishing, including aquaculture, globally provides food to billions of people, and whereas this sector is an important source of employment and income for the livelihoods of 10-12 % of the world’s population, according to the FAO; whereas, in addition, an estimated 140 million further jobs are related to the rest of the fisheries value chain, in particular in the processing and sale of fisheries products;

H. whereas, according to STECF report 19-03, women made up 5,4 % of total employment in the small-scale coastal fleet across the EU, in comparison with 1,9 % in the large-scale fleet and 2,3 % in the distant water fishing fleet; whereas, however, women represent the majority of the workforce in certain extractive or semi-culture activities, such as shell fishing on foot, and whereas important work carried out by women to maintain other activities, such as canning and processing, packing, net-making and unloading and cleaning fish (neskatillas), goes unrecorded; whereas there is a data gap between Member States, ignoring women’s work and significant contribution to the sector, which is still not sufficiently recognised;

I. whereas, according to the latest Eurostat data (5), a total of around 180 000 people were employed in the EU fisheries industry in 2017, of whom around one third in the aquaculture sub-sector; whereas, of that total, 41 000 people were employed in the primary fisheries sector in Spain, and a further 29 000 in Italy, 21 000 in Greece, 20 000 in France and 14 700 in Portugal; whereas, although Italy, Greece and Portugal accounted for only 11 % of EU fishing production in 2017, these three Member States accounted for 35,9 % of employment; whereas, in this context, Spain, France and Portugal are Member States with outermost regions, which increases their maritime dimension, and whereas the fisheries sector plays a vital socio-economic role in these regions;

J. whereas statistical data published by Eurostat (6) in 2019 shows that, in 2018, in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector, a total of 14,4 % of workers were aged 65 or over, and whereas this is the sector which employs the largest number of persons in this age group; whereas, although the proportion of workers in this age group has been decreasing consistently since 2008, the actual number of employees in this age group has not decreased by the same proportion;

K. whereas the fishing sector plays a key role in supplying fish to the public and keeping food balances in equilibrium in the Member States and the EU, and whereas it plays a major role in the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities, to local development, to employment, to the maintenance and creation of upstream and downstream economic activities, and to the preservation of local cultural traditions;

L. whereas it is necessary to allow for the marked differences in fleets, fleet segments, target species, fishing gear, productivity, consumer preferences, and per capita fish consumption in the Member States, in addition to the specific features of the fishing industry owing to its social structure, the forms of marketing, and the structural and natural inequalities among fishing regions;

M. whereas the collection of social indicators for the EU fishing fleet, aquaculture and fish processing industry was introduced by Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 on the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the CFP; whereas social variables are to be collected every three years from 2018 onwards, including: employment by gender, full-time employment (FTE) by gender, unpaid labour by gender, employment by age, employment by education level, employment by nationality, employment by employment status, total national FTE;

N. whereas according to STECF report 19-03 on social data in the EU fisheries sector, in 2017 there were around 150 000 people employed in the EU fishing fleet, equivalent to some 99 000 FTEs; whereas most workers in the EU fishing fleet (96 %) were male, and 4 % were female; whereas according to the age data reported, the 40-64 age group made up the largest proportion of people employed in the EU fishing fleet (58 %), followed by the 25-39 age group (26 %), while a further 7 % were aged over 65 years, 5 % were in the 15-24 age group and the ages of 4 % of fishers were unknown; whereas there was significant variation in age profiles across the Member States: in Estonia 31 % of fishers were aged over 65 while in many other Member States, the same category only makes up a very low proportion of the fishing population (1 % in Belgium and Germany and 2 % in Finland);

O. whereas in 2017 52 % of people employed in the EU fishing fleet had a low level of education, followed by 24 % with a medium level and 4 % with a high level; whereas the education level was unknown for a relatively high share of the fishing sector (20 % of workers), which may reflect the fact that this question can be seen as sensitive; whereas education levels varied considerably across Member States: only 1 % of Portuguese fishers had a high level of education while the corresponding figure in Sweden was 21 %;

P. whereas in 2017, most people employed in the EU fishing fleet were nationals of the country where they worked (86 %), followed by non-EU/EEA nationals (8 %), workers of unknown nationality (3 %), nationals of other EU countries (3 %), and EEA nationals (0,1 %); whereas the proportion of nationals working in different Member States’ fleets varied significantly: 27 % of people employed in the Irish fleet were non-Irish nationals and 36 % of people employed in the Belgian fleet were non-Belgian nationals; whereas in contrast, 94 % of workers in the Italian fleet were Italian born, 99 % of workers in the Portuguese fleet were Portuguese nationals and all of the people employed in the Bulgarian fleet were Bulgarian nationals;

Q. whereas 61 % of people employed in the EU fishing fleet in 2017 were employees and 36 % were vessel owners, with wide variation in employment status across Member States: employees represented 100 % of workers in the Belgian fleet and only 28 % in the Swedish fleet;

R. whereas, even so, the majority of Member States and the EU’s economic partners in the fishing industry refer often to the income insecurity of fishing activity in some sectors, which is a factor in young people’s lack of interest in fishing, a trend that has been increasing in recent years, and which creates additional difficulties in maintaining activities troubled by job losses in coastal communities;

S. whereas, even so, the majority of Member States and the EU’s economic partners in the fishing industry refer often to young people’s lack of interest in fishing, a fact which was first acknowledged at least two decades ago, and which creates additional difficulties in the industry as a whole and exacerbates social problems in coastal communities of the continent and overseas regions;

T. whereas the special characteristics and permanent structural constraints of the outermost regions need to be acknowledged and considered; stresses that the fisheries sector plays an important role in the socio-economic situation, in employment and in the promotion of economic and social cohesion of these regions, and that there is potential for employment growth in the sustainable blue economy; highlights that geographical location puts outermost regions in a privilege position in the monitoring and control of coastal and oceanic areas and should be used for the EU’s efforts to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;

U. whereas the EU IUU regulation (7) only takes in to account illegally-caught fish and does not ensure that fishing associated with serious labour infringements and violations of fundamental human rights on board fishing vessels is also banned;

V. whereas according to the FAO, fishers depend on their vessels for their survival and risks vary with each type of fishing, the fishing grounds and weather conditions, vessel size, equipment carried and the tasks of each fisher; whereas on larger vessels, the fishing gear and other heavy equipment pose a considerable risk of death or injury to the crew while on small vessels, the risk of capsizing while pulling in a large catch, being flooded in heavy seas or run down by a larger vessel can be considerable; whereas different safety hazards are therefore associated with each different fishing activity and vessel size;

W. whereas, where accidents and incidents at sea are concerned, of all maritime vessels, fishing vessels are the ones most often lost, although fishing is not the activity that generates the most accidents; whereas a 40 % increase was recorded in 2018 of the number of incidents involving fishing vessels;

X. whereas 32 000 lives are lost every year in the fisheries sector, not to mention the thousands of victims of more or less serious accidents; whereas furthermore, as has also been pointed out by professional organisations, occupational diseases among those engaged in this laborious activity have increased alarmingly in recent years;

Y. whereas, when all is said and done, fishing is a backbreaking occupation involving serious risks to the health and safety of those engaged in it; whereas the ILO recognised this problem in a convention dating back to 2007 and called on the countries that have ratified it to guarantee safe and healthy working conditions in this sector;

Z. whereas, despite the increase in the number of incidents, the number of fatalities arising from accidents and incidents on fishing vessels has shown a downward trend, with the vast majority of incidents being the result of human factors (62,4 %) and system/equipment failures being the second most common cause of incidents (23,2 %); whereas the three most reported factors contributing to accidents on fishing vessels related to human actions are a lack of safety awareness, a lack of knowledge and inadequate working methods among on-board personnel; whereas all these factors cannot be addressed separately from fishing income;

AA. whereas in 2019, 64,9 % of boats in the EU28 fishing fleet were at least 25 years old (8), and the average age of the fleet as a whole was 29,9 years (9), which means a very large portion of the fleet is old and cannot be relied on to provide the best operating and safety conditions, increasing risks and making operations more onerous;

AB. whereas safety issues — fishing activity is universally considered a risky profession — the arduous nature of work on fishing boats, with unpredictable incomes, and the lack of guarantees for stable and regular remuneration, are significant factors in younger people’s lack of interest in fishing, thereby jeopardising generational renewal in the fisheries sector and the future of the fishing industry as a whole;

AC. whereas the lack of standardisation in certification and basic training for fishers, as well as insufficient cooperation among Member States with regard to the mutual recognition of certification and basic training for fishers, was identified as a constraint two decades ago, and however still remains to be resolved;

AD. whereas the results of the economic performance of the EU fleet generally indicate improvements in income and an annual increase in profits and average earnings for fishers since 2013, when the fleet as a whole is considered; whereas when analysed in detail by Member State, sea basin and fishing fleet, depending on the types of fleet and quotas available, these trends are not absolutely universal and, in particular, are not reflected in trends among the EU’s small-scale coastal fleet;

AE. whereas while the state of fish stocks in the EU is generally improving, the number of fishing vessels, the fishing capacity and direct employment generated by the sector are constantly decreasing year after year, according to the STECF annual economic report 2019;

AF. whereas a significant proportion of fishers in some Member States have low and irregular incomes, which put them in an unstable position and do not provide them with enough social protection; whereas these facts are a further factor that lessens fishing’s attractiveness among young people;

AG. whereas the question raised in the Bénodet report published in 2000 and entitled ‘Fish comes from the sea, but where will future fishermen come from?’, can be reformulated more elaborately two decades later as follows: ‘Fish comes from the sea, and fishers are guardians of fish and the sea, but how will we be able to replenish them and where will future fishers come from?’;

AH. whereas the opportunities for improving living standards that maritime fisheries activity has provided and can continue to provide should also be highlighted;

AI. whereas young people who want to start their own business as fishers face significant barriers, especially related to the system of allocation of fishing opportunities and the impact it has on the price of fishing vessels;

AJ. whereas the Commission must submit a report to Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the CFP by 31 December 2022;

Better information and profiling of the active population in the fisheries sector

1. Stresses the need to improve how information on the active population in the fisheries and aquaculture production sector, and in the whole value chain, is collected and made available on a regular and systematic basis at EU level and broken down by Member State;

2. Points out that aggregation of statistical data within the broad agriculture, forestry and fishing sector can hide or camouflage situations and variations, with a negative effect for each of these sectors; stresses that, although they are all primary production sectors, their activities are not interconnected and, in the case of fisheries, they do not even take place in the same environment or geographical area;

3. Reiterates that, as with stock and habitat management, the best scientific knowledge, based on reliable, up-to-date data with extended time series in a harmonised manner across all Member States, is key to managing and monitoring social developments in the sector, particularly employment developments, without which it will not be possible to follow up and fully implement one of the three sustainability pillars advocated under the CFP — the social pillar;

4. Points out that the information made available by different bodies seems to demonstrate an ageing of EU fishing crews, but that, as with fisheries management and adaptation of measures taken, the management, monitoring and implementation of actions should be differentiated on the basis of geographical area, fishing fleets and fishing gear used;

5. Urges the Commission, particularly Eurostat, and the Member States, to take account of employment trends, not only in relation to the total number of jobs, but also with regard to the level of training, gender and age structure of the working population in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and, if possible, also in the fisheries and aquaculture value chain, producing data in this respect in similar detail to that which exists for monitoring economic activity and the performance of the sector in a specific way;

6. Welcomes the first STECF report on social data on the EU fisheries sector, which provides a comprehensive overview of the social data collected under the EU data collection framework; stresses the need to address the conclusions of this first report and calls, therefore, for future STECF reports on social data to refine the existing social indicators, requiring a proper definition of whom to consider part of the fisheries work force, include new elements for analysis with the integration of indicators linked to overarching social objectives within the CFP, in particular on worker protection, education and training, earnings and safety, and adequate geographic scale, lower than country level, considering the need to know the regional and even local realities;

7. Welcomes the establishment by the EU’s statistics service, Eurostat, in cooperation with the statistics services of Portugal, Spain and France and their respective outermost regions, of a webpage providing data on the outermost regions ( 10 ) ; deplores, however, the fact that it still does not provide data on the fisheries sector, given the activity’s importance to these regions’ economies; urges the Commission, and Eurostat in particular, to gather sound and up-to-date data on the blue economy and on changes in the job market in the fisheries sector, changes to fishers’ average earnings, their training levels, participation by gender and age group, along with data on the extent and performance of these activities in the outermost regions;

Better working and living conditions on board to improve safety

8. Points out that, although safety conditions on board have improved, particularly on larger vessels, the number of incidents and accidents recorded by EMSA in 2018 increased by 40 % compared with the previous year, despite the fact that the number of fatalities has been falling steadily in recent years;

9. Points out that EMSA alone is responsible for intervening and collecting data related to marine casualties and incidents involving fishing vessels more than 15 metres long, or in situations where vessels less than 15 metres long are involved in accidents involving vessels that fall within the scope of Directive 2009/18/EC ( 11 ) and, therefore, that accidents and incidents involving fishing vessels will definitely be more numerous than shown by the records available in EMSA’s annual reports;

10. Notes that IUU fishing in the maritime zones of the EU poses unfair competition to European fishers;

11. Calls on the Commission to support national authorities in acquiring systems in order to be able to identify and report IUU fishing activities;

12. Points out that professional maritime activities in general are considered high risk and dangerous, particularly fishing, and that this situation is made worse by the fact that 85 % of EU vessels are small-scale coastal vessels (less than 12 metres in total length) and are, therefore, exposed to greater risks caused by adverse weather conditions and by operating close to shore;

13. Stresses that small-scale coastal vessels have more difficulties providing protective spaces and improving working conditions with risks also associated to the advanced age of a significant proportion of this fleet; underlines that these vessels are particularly vulnerable to serious meteorological events associated with climate change; emphasises the need for sustained and coordinated action at all levels and policies aimed towards mitigation and increasing adaptation capacity to the consequences of climate change, bolstering resilience, and, at the same time, guaranteeing fishers’ safety conditions;

14. Recalls that coastal regions and in particular outermost regions are historically dependent on fisheries, that they are already impacted by the consequences of climate change and should benefit from financial support in order to mitigate, adapt to and fight those consequences, consolidate jobs in the fisheries sector and develop a sustainable blue economy with the creation of new ones;

15. Stresses that, despite international and EU efforts to improve safety conditions on board vessels, particularly fishing vessels, the international conventions setting out the rules and systems for the protection of ships and persons on board apply above all to larger vessels, although many Member States have national rules on measures concerning protection and living conditions for smaller vessels;

16. Is concerned about the derogations granted by international conventions to small-scale vessels in terms of non-binding labour and safety standards which may result in overall living and working conditions being less favourable to fishers working in certain fleet segments and between Member States; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to take swift and concerted action in order to apply similar standard conditions and support all fishing vessels to follow them, as fundamental pillars of the economy and the identity of small coastal communities;

17. Reiterates that working and living conditions on board cannot be seen separately from safety conditions; takes the view that good working and living conditions on vessels and the suitable modernisation thereof improve the safety conditions in which fishing operations are carried out, as does time to rest for fishers, with direct implications for their safety, as a large percentage of accidents and incidents on fishing vessels continue to be linked to human error, whether caused by lack of knowledge or training or by fatigue;

18. Considers that guaranteeing an accessible and adapted working environment, including within the fisheries and aquaculture sector, with a view to reintegrating into the labour market both active and former fishers and other workers in the fishing industry who suffer disabilities, would lead to more social inclusion and help to create more incentives for income generation in the sector and fishing communities;

19. Points out that maritime workers, including fishers, are often excluded from the scope of EU and Member States’ national legal frameworks on labour, taking into account that many rules do not apply to the reality of these workers’ activities; points out that — as it is not possible to apply general labour schemes since fishers’ income depends on what they catch under the available quotas allocated to them — it is necessary to ensure that a number of basic premises related to employment regulations are provided, in a tailored manner and with due account for the above-mentioned circumstances and the specific characteristics of the inshore and small-scale sector, for seafarers and, in particular, fishers, who are often also owners of their vessels;

20. Recalls the right for fishers to unionise and use collective bargaining as a way to improve their working conditions;

21. Points out that, depending on the fishing gear used, the size of the vessel, the area of operation and the weather conditions, fishing presents different risk factors with regard to the working and living conditions that need to be provided on board;

22. Recalls the steps taken internationally, particularly under the Torremolinos Protocol (1993) and the Cape Town Agreement (2012), to amend and improve the Torremolinos Convention (1977), which was established as a means to address fishing vessel safety, and points out that, even with the 2012 reduction in requirements, this Convention is still not in force and urges all Member States that have yet to ratify the Torremolinos Convention to do so; recalls that the Protocol has been transposed into EU legislation through Council Directive 97/70/EC setting up a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over ( 12 )

23. Welcomes the establishment of the IMO 2005 Voluntary Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Equipment of Small Fishing Vessels, points out, however, that as voluntary guidelines, they can serve only as guidance, and no legal obligation or standardisation of basic norms is applicable to small-scale coastal fishing vessels; stresses that some Member States have adopted provisions on the construction and safety of, and living conditions aboard, small fishing vessels and recommends that these rules be harmonised at EU level;

24. Recalls that the ultimate goal of the CFP is to make fishing activity socially, environmentally and economically sustainable; stresses that improving fishers’ living standards, with better working and safety conditions, is one of the elements to promote employment and development of coastal communities, attract young people and achieve the generational renewal that is essential for the survival of this activity, which also provides healthy food;

25. Highlights that successfully addressing current developments such as the expansion of off-shore energy production, the effective implementation of marine protected areas and the full enforcement of the landing obligation can influence the attraction of young generations to the sector; urges the Member States to allocate EU funding to support jobs, promote sustainable fishing and advance gender equality in the industry;

26. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the best safety, work and living standards are in place on fishing vessels, regardless of their size;

27. Reminds Member States that the deadline set for transposition Directive (EU) 2017/159, which incorporates ILO Convention 188 (ILO C 188) into the Union’s legal framework, was 15 November 2019; recalls that given the large number of self-employed fishers in the EU, and the fact that the directive does not cover the majority of them, it is necessary for the Member States to ratify ILO C 188 to ensure fair competition among all fishers;

28. Calls on Member States to urgently ratify ILO C188 to ensure a level playing field among fishing companies across the world, especially considering the strong international dimension of the fishing sector; urges Member States to provide the necessary resources for it to be transposed into national legislation and applied effectively and, where appropriate, to delegate inspection and document issuance functions to classification companies, given the current problems in coordinating these functions in some countries;

29. Urges the Commission to present, as quickly as possible, a proposal for an accompanying directive on control and enforcement provisions, as was done for the maritime transport sector, in order to establish a harmonised inspections system;

30. Stresses the need to take into account the arduousness of the work of fishers when designing welfare mechanisms, for example by guaranteeing the right to retire earlier than the average worker without being penalised for it;

31. Welcomes the fact that the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) will make a significant contribution to improving the working, living and safety conditions on EU vessels, and to improving those conditions without increasing their fishing capacity, with particular attention paid to in-shore and small-scale coastal fishing vessels; stresses that EMFAF contributes to the sustainability of fisheries and the blue economy, contributing to the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14;

32. Calls for the inclusion in the Common Fisheries Policy of overarching social objectives in parallel with environmental objectives, acknowledging that the wellbeing of workers on board fishing vessels is essential for the future of the industry;

33. Underlines the clear contradiction between the CFP and the requirements set out in social legislation such as ILO C 188, transposed into EU law by Directive (EU) 2017/159; stresses that according to these legal texts, there is a requirement for more space on board, on a mandatory basis for vessels of 24 metres in length or over, while the fishing industry is prevented from increasing space on board; highlights the contradiction between the need for Member States to respect the standards set out in ILO C 188 and the rules of the CFP, which make the obligation impossible to fulfil; urges the Commission to identify alternative formulas for measuring fishing capacity, in the context of the EMFAF, and reaffirms that an increase in the gross tonnage of vessels should be permitted when the additional volumes are a response to the need to improve the safety and comfort of crews (also known as social or safety tonnage) and that these operations should be eligible for funding; emphasises that the space on board dedicated to the kitchen, cabins, toilets or recreational areas has nothing to do with the ability of the vessel to find, catch or store fish, and therefore, the fishing capacity;

34. Recalls that the average age of ships in the European fleet is 23 years, and that for small-scale vessels the age can even go beyond 40 years; highlights that the future EMFAF should include a strategy for fleet modernisation without increasing fishing capacity;

35. Insists, further, on the need for regular monitoring and systematic statistical information harmonised at EU level on incidents and accidents involving vessels not covered by Directive 2009/18/EC, as it is only by monitoring and assessing changes in these figures, by geographical areas, fleets and fishing gear used, that it will be possible to find solutions that make improvement possible and that reduce and prevent the occurrence of such accidents, particularly in local and coastal fishing vessels;

36. Suggests that the Commission look, in this context, into expanding EMSA’s mission, giving it the additional capacity to carry out this monitoring and to regularly present information on it;

37. Believes, further, that other conditions must be obtained to maintain fishing activity and secure the succession of new generations in the sector, including by investing in the modernisation of port infrastructure;

Better training and ensuring that training is recognised at EU level

38. Stresses that the Bénodet report, which identified the problems concerning young people’s lack of interest in fishing, and shone a spotlight on the diversity and complexity of training and certification systems for fishers among Member States, seems to have been forgotten and that, two decades later, no significant developments have been made; stresses the need for harmonisation and type approval of nautical and fisheries training requirements and procedures at EU level, as well as embarkation procedures and requirements;

39. Points out that the movement of labour between Member States, and even from third countries to the EU, is increasing and that any generational renewal of labour in fisheries that this movement could lead to continues to be hampered by the absence of standardisation in training and certification systems for fishers; stresses the need for type approval of these systems at EU level and to align them with the requirements of the STCW and STCW-F Conventions;

40. Stresses that this situation clearly undermines the free movement of persons, which is a founding principle of the EU, as reflected in many treaty provisions;

41. Points out that even if a fisher from a non-EU country has labour certifications recognised in the fishing area, it is difficult for a Member State to make it possible for that person to access the same work in another Member State;

42. Stresses that in other areas of maritime activity, both recreational and professional, major developments have been made towards international recognition of training, irrespective of the country in which it is obtained, and all that is needed is for cooperation to be stepped up with a view to the recognition of basic training provided by schools or educational institutions which are part of the internationally recognised national education systems of each Member State or third country;

43. Notes that, under the 1995 STCW-F Convention, the IMO establishes a number of fundamental standards regarding training and safety conditions, including minimum safety training requirements for all types and sizes of fishing vessel; points out that, while this convention has been in force since September 2012, it applies only in those countries that have ratified it; urges all Member States that have yet to ratify this convention to do so;

44. Recalls that mutual recognition of qualifications and maritime safety certificates within the EU will increase staff mobility and make the maritime professions more attractive to young generations; is of the opinion that recognition of certificates should not require excessive financial and bureaucratic burdens;

45. Notes that although the European Union implemented the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol into its acquis through Directive 97/70/EC and the 2007 Work in Fishing Convention through Directive (EU) 2017/159, it has not so far acted as swiftly or energetically with regard to safety training; recalls that Decision (EU) 2015/799 ( 13 ) authorising Member States to become party to or to accede to STCW-F has proven ineffective, given that ratification and accession rates among Member States remain low; recalls that Directive (EU) 2017/159 obliges Member States to adopt legislation on training and certification of fishers; stresses therefore that Union legislation on safety training for fishers should go further than what is laid down in the STCW-F by also introducing standards for all fishing vessels of less than 24 metres, which form the majority of the Union’s fishing fleet; calls on the Commission to present a proposal for a directive transposing the STCW-F into the Union’s acquis in order to complete the implementation in EU law of the internationally agreed minimum standards for ensuring safety at sea in fishing;

46. Points out that, while the acquisition of practical knowledge and hands-on work experience provides a solid basis that remains valid for the training of fishers in a number of Member States, formal certification that also values practical experience is the only way to ensure proper recognition of the necessary knowledge; notes that formal certification not only enhances the personal status of fishers but also provides a form of social recognition for this profession;

47. Underlines the importance of providing workers in the fisheries sector, in particular young people and people interested in such work, fair and inclusive access to counselling, to quality internships and to vocational education and training, thereby enabling them to adapt to new market trends such as organic food, short supply chains, specialised tourism, and the sale and promotion of local products by using new technologies; affirms that appropriate and specific education and training are essential to encourage young people to perpetuate coastal fishing activities and traditions;

48. Encourages the creation of an association of young European fishers to promote the generational renewal of the fisheries sector and to represent and bring together young fishers and their organisations throughout the Union; calls on the Commission to support the mobilisation of budgetary resources for the implementation of projects to achieve that end;

49. Notes that, while European funding has been invested in teaching establishments and schools providing advanced vocational training and certification in the blue economy, its oldest sector of activity, fisheries, still has difficulty in gaining acceptance in such establishments, except under regional or national education or training programmes, without a European recognition of the education obtained; stresses the need to move towards standardisation and type approval for fisheries training in the EU and cooperation between Member States; to that end, advocates that full use be made of EMFAF and European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) resources;

50. Welcomes the fact that the European Social Fund (ESF) has been widely used to revitalise coastal and rural areas; recalls that fishers should be supported in continuing their career ashore if, due to health reasons, changes in the labour market or other factors, they cannot continue working at sea; believes that EU funds, especially the ESF, should support their smooth professional transition, including through lifelong learning;

51. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to establish common bases for a standard training and certification system for the various categories of fishers, allowing rapid recognition at European level of the certification obtained in a given Member State; considers that this should include a procedure for the recognition of certificates obtained outside the Union that is compatible with the European training recognition system, facilitating the movement of fishers within the EU;

52. Notes that Directive 2005/36/EC ( 14 ) on the recognition of professional qualifications does not establish a standardised level of training and certification for all fishers and hinders the movement of fishers between Member States; recalls that while the Union has introduced specific, different rules for recognition of seafarers’ certificates of competency based on STCW Convention, so far the Commission has not proposed specific rules as provided for in the STCW-F Convention for recognition of fishers’ certificates of competency; calls, therefore on the Commission to propose specific measures for recognition of fishers’ certificates of competency in line with the provisions of the STCW-F Convention, not only for European fishers but also for citizens of non-EU countries having ratified or acceded to the STCW-F;

53. Points out that, while the aim of the EMFAF is to contribute to the full implementation of the CFP, in order to achieve this objective, fishers must be properly trained and certified, requiring a portion of the funding to be earmarked for the training and certification of existing and incoming fishers; emphasises that the administrative burden required by the EMFF led to constraints in the use of funds for training, in particular for small-scale fishers, and that the new EMFAF will have to overcome these difficulties in order to make an effective contribution to crew training;

54. Highlights the need to ensure that EMFAF and ESF+ execution data specify the exact budget used by each Member State to address regional needs in terms of education, training, employment and inclusion;

55. Points out that while ever more requirements must be fulfilled to work on board a ship, training is in short supply, which sometimes causes vessels to be grounded since crew must attend compulsory training onshore; calls on the EU to help streamline training courses and make it easier to carry out training days on-board by promoting distance learning courses using new technologies;

56. Stresses that knowledge and innovation are essential to ensuring that the fisheries sector grows in a smart, resilient and sustainable manner;

57. Points out that given the new jobs that may be created by the blue economy, circular economy and fishing and gastronomic tourism, it would be wise to develop predictive vocational training concerning these new professions and these sectors’ training needs, as has been proposed in the naval sector;

Ensuring gender equality in access and employment in this sector

58. Points out that, although the statistical data available indicates that women account for only 12 % of those employed in productive fisheries activity, many vessels, in particular small-scale coastal fishing vessels, are in many cases operated as small family enterprises in which all necessary logistical and administrative support is provided on an informal basis by women not officially engaged in any other form of employment;

59. Stresses the need to guarantee that fishers have access to training and certification, particularly for seasonal and part-time employment;

60. Points out that there are Member States in which such informal ancillary activity does not generate any pay, welfare, pension or workplace illness entitlements for the women involved and that, should the operation of the vessels be suspended, temporarily halted or terminated, only the officially recognised workforce is entitled to welfare benefits, thus increasing existing worker inequalities; stresses the need for Member States to fully professionalise these women’s work by recognising their role and integrating them into national social protection systems;

61. Underlines that actions to attract young people to fishing activity must ensure gender balance and consider the role of women in the entire fishing industry, from the catching of fish to the management of vessels to aquaculture, marketing and the processing of fisheries products, as well as their role in science and administration;

62. Calls on the Commission to launch initiatives to acknowledge the work of women in fisheries and to secure equal pay between genders; recalls that the gender equality strategy for 2020-2025 requires that the relevant EU funds support actions to promote women’s participation in the labour market and work-life balance, promote investments in care facilities, support female entrepreneurship, and fight gender segregation;

63. Believes that there is no reason to exclude women or hamper their access to this profession, as demonstrated by the increasing number of female crew members and skippers on working fishing vessels; observes that there are fortunately a number of particularly active associations representing women employed in the fisheries sector, especially in the EU fisheries advisory councils and in sectoral associations;

64. Welcomes the establishment in some EU countries of women’s associations in the fisheries sector; calls on the EU and the Member States to support the promotion and establishment of new associations to provide women with greater visibility and assistance;

65. Believes that, while the role of women in the fisheries sector is frequently informal, they must be given economic and social recognition and be properly paid; points out that better information regarding their activities and measures to improve their status and heighten their profile will help to not only enhance their personal and social advancement, but also demystify their role in the fisheries sector;

66. Considers that the current capacity measurements rules jeopardise women’s access to the sector since separate cabins, toilets and showers are needed to guarantee their privacy and well-being;

67. Urges the Commission and the Member States to implement measures to improve the qualifications of women involved in the blue economy, particularly the fisheries, shellfish, aquaculture and canning industries and to promote official recognition of their contribution to the sea-industry supply chain; considers it necessary, furthermore, to ensure that EMFAF funding within the 2021-2027 framework and beyond makes a significant contribution to equal treatment for women in the maritime fisheries sector, being earmarked in particular for measures to improve their living, working and safety conditions on board fishing vessels and ensuring that the necessary changes are made to this end;

Promoting professional fishing activity and generational renewal in the sector

68. Recalls that the EU, the largest single market in fisheries products, accounts for only 6 % of total world catches, being highly dependent on fishery and aquaculture imports from non-EU countries; points out that European-owned companies and vessels generate a proportion of these imports;

69. Points out that CFP standards are among the most stringent and make an important contribution to environmental, economic and social sustainability and that, although there is still much room for improvement, progress made in recent decades shows what can be done in this direction, contributing, on the one hand, to the sustainability of fish stocks and habitats and, on the other, to increasing the earnings of fishers and ship owners;

70. Highlights that promoting high standards in terms of the environmental and social sustainability of the fisheries sector is, among other factors, key to attracting a new generation of fishers and providing long-term economic stability for the sector;

71. Calls for the EU to examine the value of measures such as laying artificial reefs, in its exclusive economic zones, for the protection of marine life;

72. Stresses that the continuous fall in EU support for the sector under successive multiannual financial frameworks, and in particular the cut in funding supporting the fisheries sector and the Common Market Organisation, is one of the factors which has been serving to worsen the situation in the sector; reiterates, therefore, that the EU’s financial support for the fisheries sector needs to be stepped up considerably;

73. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the action needed to maintain and boost systems and means of support, including funding, in order to promote concentration of supply, including by providing real support for the establishment and operation of producer organisations (POs), particularly for small-scale coastal and artisanal fishing;

74. Stresses that operational programmes must encourage POs — by providing the requisite financial support — to market their products directly, working within the value chain, as a means to enhance the value of their production and boost the added value of fishery products;

75. Calls on the Commission, working in close cooperation with the Member States, to establish and implement support mechanisms for small-scale, artisanal and coastal fisheries that make it possible to tackle the specific problems in this part of the sector;

76. Stresses the importance of setting up home markets for traditional products of particular quality, to be backed up by fairs, small businesses, and the catering industry, as this would enhance the added value of local products and promote local development;

77. Calls on the Commission to consider better ways to promote the marketing of processed fishery products with higher added value, including canned products, following the example of certain agricultural products, and programmes for the external promotion of EU fishery products, including their presentation at international exhibitions and fairs;

78. Points out that the fisheries sector is central to the socio-economic situation, employment, and the promotion of economic and social cohesion in the outermost regions, whose economies are affected by permanent structural constraints and which have few possibilities for economic diversification; considers it essential, therefore, to maintain and step up EU support for the fisheries sector in those regions, with a view, in particular, to offsetting the additional costs of remoteness when it comes to selling certain fishery products from some outermost regions; points to the specific features of fisheries sector value chains in the outermost regions and maintains that special support is needed in order to strengthen them and facilitate access to markets, an aim that could be achieved by not only re-establishing a programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) for fisheries but also by establishing a POSEI scheme for transport geared towards setting up and operating particular trade routes;

79. Stresses the need to ensure the continuity of fishing activity, generational renewal and greater social recognition for this sector and its importance for the sustainable supply of healthy food for Europeans that come from environmentally sound habitats;

80. Stresses the significant contribution of fishers to the advancement of scientific knowledge, through both their direct involvement in the collection of fishing data and their collaboration with science in the provision of additional information regarding the state of the marine environment, species and habitats and the conservation thereof for scientific purposes;

81. Notes that training for fishers can play an important role in continuing the involvement in and contribution of fishing activities to the protection of nature supporting the implementation and use of more sustainable fishing techniques, in accordance with the CFP objectives of sustainable exploitation of resources;

82. Points out that developing marine research and innovation potential in the outermost regions is essential to driving the growth of the blue economy in those regions; adds, furthermore, that boosting their participation in international research networks that involve their universities, with knowledge of their unique characteristics, may help the outermost regions to improve their innovation systems and create jobs; urges the Commission to make an effort to equip these regions with the means to study and harness their biodiversity efficiently;

83. Underlines the common fisheries policy goal of promoting selective fishing and the EU target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050; highlights progress towards a low-emission cutter fleet and innovative fishing techniques that contribute to the achievement of both the 2050 target and the selectivity objective; calls on the Commission to encourage and prioritise these developments in order to hold out prospects for the sector through innovation;

84. Points to the joint development of shipbuilding and the scientific ‘triple zero’ approach: zero emissions, zero waste, zero accidents on board, encouraging a move towards the design of vessels in European fleets, including artisanal fishing fleets, along more circular, efficient and sustainable rather than mainly economic lines;

85. Observes that, given the right training and specific skills, fishers could contribute even more to the advancement of scientific knowledge through the in situ collection and registration of environmental data, providing verification of that obtained by remote observation using satellites and other instruments; stresses the important role played by universities and marine research centres, in cooperation with sea schools, with regard to training fishers to meet this need; emphasises that in 2019, the EU fleet, consisting of more than 81 000 fishing vessels of all sizes, provided an incomparable number of platforms constantly collecting fishing and other marine data on an almost daily basis; notes that this is a facility that can and should be used, with suitable incentives to that end, for the collection of even more data regarding the seas of Europe and the world; urges official scientific fisheries advisory bodies such as International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) or STECF to make greater use of the data gathered by the EU fleet;

86. Points out that the involvement of young people and generational renewal will not only ensure the continuity of the oldest activity of the blue economy, but also secure populations in coastal areas and surrounding rural areas, preserving the cultural heritage of many coastal communities; considers it to be of vital importance that younger generations are better informed and more aware of sustainability issues, with new knowledge, and of the need for all to contribute to tackling and combating climate change, which is having the hardest impact on sea and coastal areas around the planet;

87. Believes that the fisheries sector would be more attractive to more young people if it was affiliated and complemented with emerging sectors, for example tourism; urges, in this context, the Member States and their regions to cut the red tape in fishing tourism as a source of income; calls, further, on the Commission to promote back-up lines, within the framework of existing EU programmes, for the restoration of the tangible and intangible heritage associated with maritime activities, preserving the identity of coastal communities and optimising their use for tourism;

88. Notes that the protection of the environment is a growing concern for young people in Europe; stresses the importance of the sustainable management of fisheries to attract young fishers; calls for the promotion of low-impact fishing not only as a way to reduce the impact of fisheries on the marine environment but also to attract new generations of fishers;

89. Points out that there is substantial untapped potential in fishing tourism;

90. Stresses the importance of the inclusion of fishers in collaborative and community-based maritime spatial planning, for the sustainable development and protection of the marine environment;

91. Stresses the importance of ocean literacy, which must promote digital literacy and the digitisation of fishing activity; highlights that despite improved skills among older users, software applications are easier and more intuitive for younger generations when it comes to collecting and registering data under the new Fisheries Control Regulation, which is currently under review, or utilising new applications and equipment to improve the safety, working conditions and wellbeing of fishers at sea;

92. Welcomes the strategic changes in the EU, especially the green and digital transitions, that must contribute to protecting existing jobs and creating new and quality jobs in territories that strongly depend on fisheries and to further boost their economic development; underlines the importance of safeguarding traditional occupations in the fisheries sector, with a balanced transition to prevent losing the added value of the experience acquired by older fishers; urges the Commission and the Member States to establish life-long learning systems to keep skills up-to-date and create opportunities for all age cohorts;

93. Points out that improvements in the conservation status of fish stocks have boosted fishers’ productivity and average earnings, as well as achieving a reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; notes that fishers have been increasingly involved in the collection of all marine litter, including but not only lost or abandoned fishing gear, and that their ecological contribution in this respect should be recognised, encouraged and duly rewarded; stresses in this regard the possibility to consider supporting the creation of new activities and supplementary income streams related with marine litter collection and the implementation of the European strategy for plastics in a circular economy;

94. Stresses that the sustainable management of fish stocks and the setting of fishing quotas in line with the objective of restoring and maintaining fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield is key to creating an economic environment in which young people are confident enough to make the required investments to become fishers;

95. Stresses the need for the Member States to establish the economic incentives and port infrastructure needed to collect and recycle properly the waste and plastic picked up by young fishers that, in return, may deliver them financial gains on top of their main activity;

96. Calls on the Members States, in line with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the CFP, to also use criteria related to age when allocating the fishing opportunities available to them;

97. Welcomes the fact that the new 2021-2027 EMFAF will provide assistance and support for young fishers engaged in the first purchase of a vessel or fishing enterprise; stresses the need to attract young people not only to sea fishing activities, but also to fishing enterprise management and aquaculture, thereby ensuring generational renewal across the entire sector; calls on Member States to promote this renewal by removing obstacles and supporting people who want to start a career in the fisheries sector and to address issues such as the high cost of initially starting a business, the methods for allocating fishing opportunities, income instability, gender equality and uncertainty about career duration;

98. Reiterates the need, as a means to protect earnings from fishing, to provide the sector and its workers with proper economic and social compensation to offset the resource conservation measures being imposed or temporary cessation assistance for the purposes of resource management; proposes, to this end, that the EMFAF support the establishment of a wage compensation fund that makes up for all lost earnings and covers non-fishing periods and that such periods be treated as actual working time for the purposes of the retirement pension and other social security entitlements; supports, furthermore, the establishment of a guaranteed minimum wage;

99. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support efforts to promote social dialogue between the parties, concerning the following in particular: (a) training for young entrepreneurs in the fisheries sector; (b) professional updating and skills development for sustainable fisheries; (c) raising awareness of good fishing practices; (d) safety and protection of human life at sea; (e) on-board health and safety of workers;

100. Points out that investment in generational renewal should continue to be a priority for the EU, that one of the main successes of our common project is self-sufficiency in food and that the gradual ageing of those working in the fisheries sector constitutes a real risk;

101. Considers that attention and support should be particularly focused on small-scale fisheries, which are potentially less predatory and more sustainable, not only in terms of biological resource management but also from a socio-economic point of view;

102. Points out that generational renewal, with an intake of fishers who are well trained and informed about the latest technologies, procedures and ways of ensuring the sustainability of resources, is also a way for the EU to contribute to the global movement to combat, reduce and eliminate IUU fishing;

103. Considers that generational renewal and diversification of activities remain a challenge, and that the EMFAF should take steps to promote vocational training and career development, and to increase incomes and job security;

104. Points out that the need to improve the image of the sector, including the role of women, and on-board working, living and safety conditions, for the attraction of new generations, as well as the need to improve procedures for the recognition of fishery certificates in view of the obstacles to the movement of fishers between Member States and the need for workers in this sector, are factors promoting the hiring of fishers from outside the EU who are, in certain cases, employed illegally;

105. Considers, in line with the European Economic and Social Committee opinion on the social dimension of fisheries, that it is essential to develop general principles and operational guidelines for fair labour market services in the fishing sector since non-EU fishers are important in order to maintain activity in the sector in several regions; stresses in this regard that the Commission and the Member States should promote the guidelines on the decent employment of migrant fishers developed in 2020 by the European social partners in the fisheries sector;

106. Calls on the Commission and the Council of the EU to use trade policy to ensure that similar environmental and social sustainability standards are applied to both European and foreign operators, opening up the internal market only to compliant products; notes that the EU would otherwise be sending the wrong message to the international community, rewarding those who have done the least for the sustainability of fish stocks and the fair treatment of fishers;

107. Expresses concern at the situation of fishers who are deprived in practice of their right to vote, including in elections to the European Parliament, because they are at sea; urges Member States to ensure that crew members who are EU citizens and are at sea are effectively able to exercise their right to vote in the various electoral processes;

108. Notes that small-scale coastal fisheries are likely to enable a better work-life balance for fishers, and therefore stresses the importance of promoting a regulatory framework that protects small-scale fisheries;

109. Calls for the deployment of new social cohesion programmes; welcomes basic income pilot projects in the EU’s coastal areas with the lowest GDP per capita, including in the outermost regions;

110. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to raise public awareness in Europe, particularly among younger generations, including schools and job search agencies, of the importance of fishing activities as a career opportunity; stressing also the contribution made by fishers to food supply in Europe, the protection and conservation of oceans and marine life, and the shaping of the culture and way of life of coastal communities, thereby debunking the preconception that fishers are predators interested only in exploiting resources with no thought for the future;

111. Recalls that European fleets meet among the highest standards in the world in terms of safety, working conditions, skilled jobs, the protection of the environment and biodiversity, and minimising their environmental footprint that they have demonstrated their commitment to this priority, supporting and helping the development of new control technologies by continuously adapting to new and demanding regulations, and that, while improvements to European policies are still ongoing, the CFP has for decades taken account of the necessity for scientifically guided species management;

112. Encourages the Commission to design, in cooperation with the Member States and their coastal regions, a proper strategy to promote European fish, accompanied by proper financial support, including for species for which there is less demand and which have less commercial value, with a view to increasing their value and, at the same time, preventing the concentration of effort on species that have a higher value and are, therefore, more likely to be overfished;

113. Stresses the importance of increased investment in the research, modernisation and innovation that would benefit young fishers and coastal communities;

114. Highlights the need to promote and support the decarbonisation of the fisheries fleet, which currently depends 100 % on fossil fuels, in order to enable the fisheries sector to make an effective contribution to the European Green Deal and support access for younger generations to the fisheries sector with innovative initiatives;

115. Recognises fishers as food suppliers and essential workers, who even during catastrophic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, continued to secure daily landings in challenging environments; highlights the considerable economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for the Member States to allocate sufficient EU funding to supporting the preservation and creation of jobs in the fisheries sector and the blue economy;

116. Draws attention to the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on the fisheries sector, in particular in the coastal regions of the affected fishing fleets; considers that this impact will affect not only fishing vessels and their fishers, but entire communities and employment in those areas;

117. Underlines its view that generational renewal must take into account the objectives of the European Green Deal and the need to ensure digital transition also in the blue economy; notes that this means not only attracting young people to fishing but also ensuring that they are informed and properly trained, offering them attractive career prospects and the opportunity to improve their personal situation — particularly by improving their income and ensuring its sustainability — and contribute to the cohesion of their local communities, especially in the most isolated coastal regions and those with fewer job opportunities, enabling them to work for economic, social and environmental change in these areas, while enhancing the role of women in this sector through enhanced mobility and employment opportunities throughout the EU, without difficulties or restrictions regarding recognition of their skills and training; considers that generational renewal must not lead to a clash between generations, and should include fishers of all ages ensuring balance in the ecological and digital transition in order to ensure that the legacy of experience is not lost;

118. Points out that the next generation of European fishers will not only make the EU’s sector more competitive in the future but also play a part in securing food supplies in Europe over the coming years;

119. Urges the Commission to address the aspects and demands set out in this resolution in its next report on the implementation of the CFP;

120. Concludes that this resolution provides us with a unique opportunity to highlight the value of the future face of the European fisheries sector, which is strategically important, and to show Europe which path to follow: more young fishers, better fishing and better practices;

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121. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

(1) OJ L 25, 31.1.2017, p. 12.

(2) OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22.

(3) OJ C 14, 15.1.2020, p. 67.

(4) OJ C 285, 29.8.2017, p. 150.

(5) https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Fishery_statistics#The_factors_of_production

(6) https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/10166544/KS-02-19%E2%80%91681-EN-N.pdf/c701972f-6b4e-b432-57d2-91898ca94893

(7) Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999 (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 1).

(8) On the basis of the ratio of vessels more than 25 years old versus the total number of vessels: https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do

(9) https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/facts_figures_en?qt-facts_and_figures=2

(10) https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/RCI/#?vis=outermost.population&lang=en

(11) OJ L 131, 28.5.2009, p. 114.

(12) OJ L 34, 9.2.1998, p. 1.

(13) Council Decision (EU) 2015/799 of 18 May 2015 authorising Member States to become party, in the interest of the European Union, to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, of the International Maritime Organization (OJ L 127, 22.5.2015, p. 20).

(14) Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 22).