The European Parliament in Strasbourg placed great emphasis on Tuesday 4 July on the “as yet untapped” potential of fisheries-related tourism that can bring considerable benefits to communities living in coastal areas by diversifying sources of local income.
With fishermen often having to give up or suspend fishing because of falling fish stocks, fishing tourism at sea, and shore-based tourist services offered by fishermen, can complement commercial fishing and provide an additional income for fishing communities, Parliament argued in adopting the report by Renata Briano (S&D, Italy) on the role of fisheries-related tourism.
MEPs consider it essential that fishing vessels be redesigned and adapted for tourist activities, bearing in mind that boats need to be renovated in order to guarantee tourists’ safety (though alterations must not entail any restriction for commercial fisheries or increase in fishing capacity).
Parliament calls on the Commission to promote fishing tour activities, shore-based tourist services offered by fishermen, and sport fishing-related tourism, and to enable these to be developed to the full, throughout the EU, with the aid of a shared network and framework set up for this purpose. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)