The European Social Partners in Fisheries have expressed deep concern and strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposal for Mediterranean fishing opportunities for 2026, saying the measures risk dismantling an entire sector already pushed to its limits, putting at stake thousands of jobs, family livelihoods and the socio-economic fabric of coastal communities across the region.
According to the social partners, comprising key organisations representing employers (Europêche, Copa-Cogeca) and workers (ETF) in the EU sea fisheries sector, the proposal foresees drastic reductions in fishing effort:
- Up to –65% fewer fishing days for trawlers in France and Spain
- –64% in Italy
- A baseline of 9.6 days per vessel per year, if no compensatory measures are applied
- Strong new restrictions on hake longliners
- Limits on deep-water shrimp catches
- Additional restrictive fishing calendars in key areas
They say these proposed cuts come despite the already significant sacrifices made by fishers to rebuild stocks – efforts have been acknowledged in the FAO–GFCM’s newly published State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2025 (SoMFi) report.
“Instead of consolidating this progress through balanced, predictable, and socially just measures, the Commission proposes a package that the sector widely considers economically unsustainable,” they said in a statement. “Even with the Commission’s proposed compensation scheme to recover fishing days through additional conservation measures, the impact in regions such as Catalonia, the Western Mediterranean, and the Strait of Sicily, would be severe and disproportionate.
According to the social partners, the proposed package is also not in line with the latest scientific advice.
“Despite constantly being referred to as the model to follow, the European Commission’s proposal lacks a genuinely holistic approach. Other relevant environmental stressors – such as such rising temperature of waters and water acidification – and human activities that impact fish stocks are disregarded, and the blame seems to fall exclusively on fishers,” they said.
The Social Partners are urging the Commission and EU Fisheries Ministers, who will negotiate the final package on 11–12 December, to adopt a balanced, realistic and socially sustainable approach.
They are calling for:
- Measures that protect both marine resources and the right of coastal communities to sustain their livelihoods
- A framework that ensures predictability, regional viability, and fair treatment for all fleets
- A sufficient allocation of fishing days to safeguard economic viability, with 180 days per year as baseline reference
- The removal of catch limits for deepwater red shrimp
- Meaningful dialogue with social partners and fishers on the ground, whose knowledge and sacrifices must be recognised and respected
“Fishers have done and are doing their part: modernising fleets, innovative and adaptive fishing methods and complying with strict closures and reductions. Now it is time for the EU to fulfil its responsibility: protecting the women and men who feed Europe and preserving the communities that depend on the sea. It is an SOS call for the Mediterranean fisheries sector,” concluded their statement.
