Decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and the development and deployment of fishing gear

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 1
   Current text

   1. Stresses that achieving climate neutrality by 2050, in line with the European Green Deal objectives, EU legislation and the UN Paris Agreement, requires a structured, inclusive and just transition across all EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors;

   Amendment

   1. Stresses that, given the EU fishing fleet accounts for only 0.015 % of global carbon emissions and has already reduced its emissions by more than 52 % since 1990, any transition of the sector must be part of a structured, inclusive and just transition across all EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors;

   official amendment document ↗
2. Amendment 2Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 4 a (new)
   Amendment

   4a. Notes the estimate provided by the North Western Waters Advisory Council which found that renewing the EU fishing fleet for vessels over 12 metres in length to accommodate low-carbon technologies would require an investment of between EUR 22 and 36 billion, excluding the additional costs related to port infrastructure and onshore energy systems; underlines that any strategy must therefore be based on realistic assessments of the financial burden placed on the sector;

   official amendment document ↗
3. Amendment 3Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 8
   Current text

   8. Regrets that the current framework under the CFP and the EMFAF severely restricts the possibilities for public support, which is also deterring private investment in vessel renewal, preventing the necessary developments to decarbonise the EU fishing fleet; calls therefore for changes to be made to the current legislative framework; regrets the fact that current financial incentives are insufficient to meet the sector’s needs, and maintains that new mechanisms to provide financial leverage need to be developed and brought into play;

   Amendment

   8. Regrets that the current framework under the CFP and the EMFAF severely restricts the possibilities for public support, including through restrictive EMFAF eligibility criteria such as the 24 metre vessel-length threshold and the 40-year vessel age limit, which is also deterring private investment in vessel renewal, preventing the necessary developments to decarbonise the EU fishing fleet; calls therefore for changes to be made to the current legislative framework; regrets the fact that current financial incentives are insufficient to meet the sector’s needs, and maintains that new mechanisms to provide financial leverage need to be developed and brought into play;

   official amendment document ↗
4. Amendment 4Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 42
   Current text

   42. Underlines its view that generational renewal can go hand in hand with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the need to ensure a digital transition within the blue economy; notes that this requires not only attracting young people to the fishing sector but also ensuring the improvement in working and living conditions on board, providing better accommodation and facilities to contribute to crew wellbeing, ensuring proper training and information, and offering attractive career prospects and the opportunity to improve their personal situation – particularly by providing fair and stable income opportunities and ensuring sustainability;

   Amendment

   42. Underlines its view that excessive regulatory pressure and administrative burdens discourage generational renewal in the fisheries sector and must be reduced to make the profession more attractive; notes that this requires not only attracting young people to the fishing sector but also ensuring the improvement in working and living conditions on board, providing better accommodation and facilities to contribute to crew wellbeing, ensuring proper training and information, and offering attractive career prospects and the opportunity to improve their personal situation – particularly by providing fair and stable income opportunities and ensuring sustainability;

   official amendment document ↗
5. Amendment 5Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 46
   Current text

   46. Emphasises the need to carry out energy audits on fishing vessels via the EMFAF; insists that optimisation and retrofitting operations must be encouraged wherever possible in order to improve the energy efficiency of vessels and promote the use of technologies, in particular AI, to optimise fishing routes, so as to decarbonise fishing in a more affordable way;

   Amendment

   46. Emphasises the need to make voluntary energy-efficiency advice available to operators under the EMFAF; insists that optimisation and retrofitting operations must be encouraged wherever possible in order to improve the energy efficiency of vessels and promote the use of technologies, in particular AI;

   official amendment document ↗
6. Amendment 6Paragraph 61
   Current text

   61. Underlines the urgent need to invest in and deploy fishing technologies that reduce unwanted catches, improve selectivity and minimise ecosystem disturbance; stresses that technological transitions in the sector need to be further facilitated in a more time efficient way and guided by technology neutrality and robust scientific evidence, including all aspects of sustainability; calls for the decision-making processes on gear approval, funding eligibility and regulatory flexibility to be based on the best available science, aligned with all relevant policies and regulations and to contribute to all three pillars of sustainability;

   Amendment

   61. Underlines the urgent need to invest in and deploy fishing technologies that reduce unwanted catches, improve selectivity and minimise ecosystem disturbance; stresses that technological transitions in the sector need to be further facilitated in a more time efficient way, including through a fast-track procedure for the approval and deployment of innovative fishing gear and guided by technology neutrality and robust scientific evidence, including all aspects of sustainability; calls for the decision-making processes on gear approval, funding eligibility and regulatory flexibility to be based on the best available science and to contribute to all three pillars of sustainability;

   official amendment document ↗
7. Amendment 7Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 77 a (new)
   Amendment

   77a. Stresses that fisheries and aquaculture, as essential food-producing sectors, must be prioritised in maritime spatial planning; warns that the rapid expansion of offshore energy production and other industrial activities are already displacing fishing activities and restricting access to the most productive coastal waters; calls for maritime spatial planning frameworks that guarantee long-term and secure access to maritime space for fisheries and aquaculture;

   official amendment document ↗