The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain, Luis Planas, has expressed the need to adapt the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to ensure generational renewal in the fishing sector.
During his speech at the informal Council of Fisheries Ministers of the European Union, held in Cork, Ireland, Planas highlighted the urgency of creating a simpler regulatory framework and improving working conditions along with adequate financial support for the renewal of the fishing fleet.
Planas emphasized that employment in fishing in Europe has decreased by 15% and that the proportion of workers under 40 years old has fallen from 31% to 26%, according to data from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). This data, according to the minister, demonstrates the need to act promptly to revitalize the sector and attract new generations.
The minister also proposed reviewing the concept of fishing capacity, arguing that the current model, based on gross tonnage and engine power, is no longer adequate. Additionally, he advocated for the importance of multiannual decisions to establish fishing opportunities, which would contribute to the stability of the sector and facilitate generational renewal. The renewal of the fleet, which currently has an average age of between 35 and 40 years, is crucial to ensure safety, attract young people and women, and promote the sustainability of the fishing sector.