Europe’s fishers seek urgent fuel support

Europêche and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) are calling on Brussels to urgently extend existing fuel support measures as exceptionally high prices continue to put pressure on fishing companies across the EU.

Fuel remains one of the largest operating costs for fishing fleets, with rising prices forcing some vessels to reduce or postpone activity. The groups warn that declining margins are increasingly threatening otherwise viable businesses and the incomes of fishers whose remuneration is directly linked to the net revenue generated by each trip.

“The fishing sector cannot absorb indefinitely the exceptional increase in fuel costs,” said Javier Garat, president of Europêche.

“We urge the Commission to extend the temporary framework and ensure that support is not interrupted while the crisis continues.”

Europêche and ETF have written to the European Commission calling for support to continue beyond existing deadlines. The current Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework is due to expire on 31 December 2026, while some national schemes end earlier.

The organisations are seeking a rapid procedure allowing member states to extend existing schemes, alongside an upgraded legal basis providing a stronger foundation for future assistance. They also want support to compensate verified additional fuel costs without an overall cap, with simplified aid ceilings applied per vessel rather than per company.

ETF Fisheries Section chair Juan Manuel Trujillo said high fuel costs posed a direct threat to employment and coastal communities, warning that action was needed to protect fishers’ incomes and stable jobs.

The groups also called for additional EU funding and rapid reprogramming of available resources where national funds have already been committed or exhausted.

While Europêche and ETF support longer-term investment in energy efficiency, engine modernisation and lower-emission fuels, they said such measures cannot address the immediate financial pressure created by current fuel prices.

The organisations are therefore urging the Commission to maintain short-term support while longer-term measures are developed to improve the fleet’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions.