EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, has launched a new implementation dialogue focused on the future of small-scale and coastal fisheries (SSCF).
The meeting, held this week in Brussels, brought together fishers, Member States, NGOs, Advisory Councils, FLAGs, and industry partners to discuss how EU policies can better support these vulnerable coastal sectors.
Growing Pressure on Small-Scale Fleets
Small-scale fishers are key to many coastal communities across Europe. They help local economies and keep cultural traditions alive.
But they face rising challenges, including limited maritime space, restricted access to fishing grounds, climate change, high fuel and operational costs, invasive species, and unstable markets.
These issues have made SSCF one of the most exposed parts of the EU fleet, putting livelihoods at risk.
New EU Guidelines to Support Fishers
To help tackle these pressures, the European Commission has released new guidelines that advise Member States on how to support small-scale operators.
Today’s dialogue aims to translate these guidelines into explicit, practical action. Participants are sharing experiences and discussing steps to strengthen resilience and long-term viability across all European sea basins.
Technology, Skills, and Local Solutions
The meeting also explores how new technologies, best practices, and income diversification can help coastal fleets remain competitive.
Kadis stressed the need to listen directly to fishers, saying:
“Small-scale fishers are at the heart of our coastal communities. Today’s dialogue is an opportunity to listen to their realities and to work together on practical solutions that strengthen their resilience and ensure a sustainable future for this essential part of our maritime fabric.”
This is Kadis’s second implementation dialogue of the year, following a session on maritime spatial planning held in July. Conclusions from today’s meeting will be published online.