The European fisheries sector, grouped within the Europêche organisation of which the Spanish Confederation of Fisheries (CEPESCA) is a member, asked the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, on 16 March to adopt urgent and extraordinary measures to deal with the socio-economic impact caused by the coronavirus.
“The sector is already experiencing a significant reduction in demand for fish, as well as a significant drop in prices at some auctions, which will inevitably lead to the cessation of fishing activities in some areas”, says a CEPESCA press release.
For the time being, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) does not allow aid for temporary cessation due to a health crisis or epidemic.
Revision of the EMFF. EU shipowners are asking Virginijus Sinkevičius to urgently amend Article 33 of the EMFF (temporary cessation of fishing activities) to make it possible for EU fishers and operators to receive aid and compensation for the temporary cessation of their activities due to the pandemic. The Commissioner is also being asked to allow Member States the flexibility to reprogramme EMFF funds if necessary.
In addition, the fisheries sector advocates additional measures and extraordinary actions to “compensate for economic losses” in cases where these sources of financing are not sufficient in the long term or are not foreseen at national level.
Europêche informed the Commissioner of fishers’ concerns about their health and labour protection, and invited him to launch a campaign with recommendations on the protection of seafarers’ health.
The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) has also called for urgent measures for employees affected by the pandemic (see EUROPE 12448/11). (
Pierre Karleskind is inviting us to eat fish in these times of crisis. “In this particular period, it is important to continue to buy and consume fish. Fishers in our regions are organising to continue to supply us with fish”, said the Chair of Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, France), on Wednesday 18 March. He also sent a letter on Friday 13 March to the Commissioner asking him to amend the current regulation on the EMFF to allow support measures for fishing activity, such as temporary stoppages, in the face of the market crisis. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)