The EU has proposed measures to improve the resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture sector

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Virginijus Sinkevicius, the EU commissioner responsible for environmental protection, said at the press conference in Brussels when presenting the measure, that the EU’s goal is to promote the use of cleaner energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, to create a climate-neutral fishing and aquaculture sector, and to reduce the sector’s impact on marine ecosystems. The proposals also focus on making the sector an attractive workplace for younger generations, he said.

Measures to support efforts to make fisheries and aquaculture a net-zero emissions sector by 2050

They help the sector accelerate the energy transition by improving fuel efficiency and switching to renewable, low-carbon energy sources, he said. According to the European Commission’s relevant announcement, the board also presented an action plan to reduce the harmful impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems in line with the EU’s environmental protection objectives. Its purpose is primarily to reduce the negative impact of fishing on the seabed, they wrote.

The EU commission has called on member states to take stock protection measures for the effective conservation and management of marine protected areas

Efforts should include protecting fish spawning and rearing areas, reducing fish kill rates, and restoring key areas of sensitive species and habitats. Member States must also ensure that demersal fishing is phased out in all marine protected areas by 2030 at the latest, and that it is not allowed in any newly created marine protected areas. The first measures must be taken by March 2024 for Natura 2000 areas according to the habitat protection directive, they added.

MTI