Brussels to explore the future of fishing

The ‘Fishers of the Future’ project will delve into the hopes, fears, expectations and needs of fishers to understand how the profession is likely to evolve in the coming decades.

It will also explore the expansion of fishers’ role in society beyond providing high-quality seafood.

The EC says the research will focus on three strands:

• Factors and trends influencing the long-term sustainability and profitability of the sector including the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, digital transformation, skills development, an aging workforce, market dynamics and trade developments.
• Fishers’ roles beyond their core business, particularly in protection of the marine environment, the promotion of environmental tourism and the development of coastal areas.
• Challenges and opportunities of interactions between fishers and other stakeholders, such as those in the renewable energy sector, the organisation of the seafood supply chain and the diversification of the blue economy.

The project will kick off with a meeting next spring and run until December 2024. Contributions are being invited and those interested can find out more information by contacting Macarena Davies from Tetra Tech, the contractor undertaking the project for the EC.