CE-UNOC-small-scale-fisheries-print.pdf

The document highlights a significant disparity in EU fisheries funding, noting that while small-scale fishers make up 70% of the European fleet, they receive only 20% of EU funds. It identifies administrative complexity, bank guarantee requirements, and a lack of tailored support as primary barriers that favor industrial operators over sustainable, artisanal fishing. The brief recommends streamlining application procedures, removing banking barriers, creating dedicated budgets for small-scale fishers, and increasing the representation of these fishers in EU decision-making processes.

• There is a stark imbalance between the representation of small-scale fishers in the European fleet and their share of EU funding; they constitute 70% of the fleet and 53% of the crew, yet only 20% of EU funds beneficiaries.
• Administrative and financial barriers prevent small-scale fishers from accessing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), as calls for proposals are often too technical, require unattainable bank guarantees, or demand up-front investments that are only reimbursed later.
• The current funding system disproportionately benefits large-scale industrial projects and includes biodiversity-harming subsidies, with 5% to 12% of EMFAF funding directed toward such subsidies.
• Social and demographic barriers exist within the sector, where young people avoid the industry due to instability and women face societal pressure and barriers to being taken on board.

APA

ClientEarth (n.d.). CE-UNOC-small-scale-fisheries-print.pdf. https://www.clientearth.org/media/dommpodg/small-scale-fishers-emfaf.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. CE-UNOC-small-scale-fisheries-print.pdf. n.d. https://www.clientearth.org/media/dommpodg/small-scale-fishers-emfaf.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=CE-UNOC-small-scale-fisheries-print.pdf |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/dommpodg/small-scale-fishers-emfaf.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearthndceunocsmallscalefisheriesprintpdf, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{CE-UNOC-small-scale-fisheries-print.pdf}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/dommpodg/small-scale-fishers-emfaf.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }