Small-scale fishers are pillars of the culture, the economy and the social life in European coastal cities, and they are also a valuable source of ecological knowledge.
Their economic, social and environmental advantages compared to industrial fisheries are indisputable. Compared to industrial fisheries, for the same level of catch, small-scale fishers generate less CO2 emissions, creates two to three times more jobs and generates twice as much added value.
Strengthening the small-scale fisheries sector can help restore healthy and resilient marine habitats and build a fair and viable European blue economy.
While small-scale fisheries are key to protecting our oceans, ongoing environmental changes and the current system work against them.
Challenges small-scale fishers face
Depletion of fish stocks and competition
Climate change, the degradation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and destructive industrial fishing threaten the liveloods of small-scale fishers.
BlueMove helps fishers adapt to environmental and economic changes to be more competitive and low-impact.
Bycatch of vulnerable species and depredation
Due to their passive gear and limited access to technology, small-scale fishers are more likely to catch vulnerable species and to have their gear damaged by predatory species.
BlueMove helps fishers equip themselves with more selective gear and modernise their equipment.
Rising activity costs
Rising energy prices are having a significant impact on their gross margin. Most vessels are more than 30 years old some lack security and hygiene.
BlueMove helps fishers upgrade their equipment to improve energy efficiency, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance safety.
The sector’s lack of appeal
The sector is not as attractive as before to the youth. Wages are lower than in industrial fishing, where incomes are inflated by public subsidies.
BlueMove helps fishers generate added value from their catches.
The lack of access to financing
Small-scale fishers are clearly disadvantaged when it comes to investment capacity and access to funding compared with industrial fisheries.
BlueMove helps fishers access grants and pre-finances their sustainable projects.
Solutions exist, but...
Substantial public funding, such as the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF, formerly EMFF), are available to support the ecological transition of fisheries.
In 2020, European small-scale fishers represented 76% of operating vessels. Despite this…
Small-scale fisheries benefited from only 3% of the funding granted by Europe to vessels between 2015 and 2020.
Why such a lack of access to grants?
Small-scale fisheries
They lack upfront capital
to start a project, as the subsidy is paid by the EU upon completion.
Access to loans is difficult
due to unwillingness of banks to finance risky investments on equipment and small-scale projects.
Complex and time-consuming tasks
are required for fishers to submit a project to EMFAF, on top of their work.
VS
Industrial fisheries
The big winners of EMFF were industrial fishing actors, whose secretaries and lawyers know how to complete the paperwork to secure the maximum grant money available. […] Small-scale fishers must negotiate the grant application process by themselves.
Le Monde
June 2023
BlueMove provides...
Individual technical support
for fishers to prepare a robust and sustainable project for implementation or proposal for subvention.
Project pre-financing
thanks to partnerships with banks through guarantees for fishers to start their sustainable project.