Limits on weight and power of fishing vessels, established under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), should provide ‘no obstacle’ to the bloc’s fishing fleet from switching to more energy-efficient technologies, a new report from ClientEarth has suggested.
The report, Capacity Ceilings in EU Fisheries: Obstacle or Opportunity for the Decarbonisation Process? prepared by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden on behalf of ClientEarth, seeks to both assess and debunk claims made by the fishing industry, over the role that capacity ceilings will play in hampering the industry’s transition away from fossil fuels.
Instead, they align with goals to mitigate overfishing, which complements sustainable practices and decarbonisation.
Long-term resilience
“This report proves that the EU’s capacity ceilings for fishing vessels in no way impedes decarbonisation of the sector – contrary to fishing lobby claims. The energy transition of the fishing sector is not just an environmental necessity, it is a critical step for ensuring the long-term resilience of the industry”, commented Laurène Provost, lead lawyer at ClientEarth.
“By adopting energy-efficient technologies and transitioning to cleaner fuels, the EU fishing sector can safeguard its future against climate change impacts while maintaining the health of marine resources.”
By using energy-efficient technology, fleets can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30% without increasing their fishing efforts, thereby supporting both environmental and economic sustainability, the report claims.
To further reduce emissions, the report recommends installing energy-monitoring devices, which would cost around €4,500 per vessel and offer quick returns through fuel savings.
Moreover, combining energy efficiencies with hybrid solutions has the potential to reduce emissions by up to 79% compared to current levels, especially if tailored strategies are applied to different fleet types.
‘Decarbonisation opportunities’
“Actions identified as necessary to meet the purpose behind the capacity ceiling, such as reduction of overcapacity, are in fact aligned with decarbonisation opportunities”, said Sara Hornborg, Sustainable Seafood Researcher at RISE, one of the report’s authors.
“Promoting energy efficiencies through decreasing overcapacity, sustainable exploitation of stocks and shift in gears are important first steps towards decarbonisation, and depending of fishing fleet, the extra space needed for use of alternative fuels may not be that large.” Read more here.
