The European Commission launched in February 2023 an Action plan for the Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries sector. Our policy briefing highlights our recommendations for this crucial process of decarbonization which is part of the broader effort to achieve climate change objectives set in the European Green Deal and the European climate law.

The EU fishing fleet is exempted from paying fuel taxes; these fuel-tax exemptions are indirect capacity-enhancing subsidies. High fuel prices and taxation can incentivise faster decarbonisation of industries, hence such indirect subsidies stand in the way of a more environmentally friendly EU fishing fleet.

Aviation fuels have been exempt from taxation under the Energy Taxation Directive since it was introduced. The revision of the ETD would put an end to this unfair tax privilege that aviation has enjoyed and ensure taxation rates better integrate the environmental impact of fossil kerosene. This briefing from T&E highlights the good aspects and the problems of the revision of the ETD for aviation.

On the 14th of June 2022, we held a workshop during which experts presented the decarbonisation solutions available in the maritime sector, followed by a discussion with various stakeholders on what is needed to decarbonise the EU fishing sector. This paper is aimed at sharing recommendations and resources developed as a result of the June 2022 workshop, and to instigate action on the necessary path to decarbonisation.

While the journey to decarbonisation is in its primary stages, progress already made within the maritime sector has provided momentum and offers an incremental pathway for the decarbonisation of the fishing fleet. In order to align itself with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and other relevant international agreements, the global fishing industry will need to switch to new sources of energy. The purpose of this briefing paper is to present a feasibility analysis of batteries, synthetic fuels and wind propulsion for fishing vessels by examining examples from the shipping industry, while also considering the advantages and challenges presented by each source of energy.

This report examines the wide-reaching reasons – which are overwhelmingly supported by science – to remove EU fuel subsidies

EU tax exemptions for fuel are harmful subsidies that reduce the costs of fishing, therefore leading to an increase of fishing capacity, and thus contributing to overfishing in the European Union