It was a significant day for Europe’s small-scale fishing communities.
More than 40 small-scale fishers from 16 countries gathered at the Make Fishing Fair Forum to speak with a united voice in support of fairness, recognition, and the future of coastal communities across Europe.
Representatives from the Baltic, North, Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Seas came to present their Roadmap for Fair Fisheries to EU Commissioner Costas Kadis, Members of the European Parliament, and other key policymakers. Their message was clear and urgent:
- A dedicated Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries by 2026
- A meaningful role for small-scale, low-impact fishers in shaping the future of European fisheries
This appeal comes at a crucial moment — one week before the Small-Scale Fisheries Implementation Dialogue and shortly after the publication of the European Commission’s Vademecum, which acknowledges the need to address long-standing inequities in the allocation of fishing opportunities.
The Make Fishing Fair campaign is co-led by Blue Ventures and supported by 20 additional NGOs, all standing in solidarity with small-scale fishers.
Momentum is growing. The call for fair fishing in Europe is gaining strength.
