The Make Fishing Fair Forum in Brussels has united Europe’s small-scale fishers, calling for urgent EU policy action to safeguard sustainable fisheries.
Over 40 small-scale fishers from 16 countries gathered at the event to deliver a unified demand to Commissioner Costas Kadis for an EU Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries by 2026.
“Small-scale fishers are the beating heart of Europe’s coastal communities,” said Gwen Pennarun, president of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe.
“We are not asking for special treatment - we are asking for fairness.”
Critical moment
The gathering comes at a critical moment for EU fisheries, following the European Commission’s release of a Vademecum acknowledging inequities in resource allocation and ahead of the Small-Scale Fisheries Implementation Dialogue.
Fishers argued that EU policy must better recognise their contributions to food security, climate resilience and ocean stewardship.
Their message underscores growing frustration with current EU fisheries management and highlights the sector’s pivotal role in achieving sustainable fisheries across European waters.
Participants presented the Make Fishing Fair Roadmap, backed by 38 organisations, urging the EU to restore fish stocks, expand preferential access in territorial waters, adopt adaptive co-management and ensure fair allocation of fishing opportunities.
They also stressed the need for generational renewal, gender equity, and stronger community resilience in the face of climate change.
Without decisive policy reform and effective implementation, they warned, the cultural, economic and environmental value provided by small-scale fishers will continue to erode, threatening the long-term sustainability of EU fisheries and the future of Europe’s coastal communities.
