Overseas
In Brussels, a crucial meeting took place for the future of European fisheries. A Coldiretti delegation led by President Ettore Prandini, joined by Daniela Borriello, National Head of Coldiretti Pesca, presented EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis with a ten-point action plan to address the mounting challenges facing the sector.
Mediterranean fisheries under pressure
Mediterranean fisheries must balance three interconnected pillars: environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, and the social resilience of coastal communities. These challenges are further compounded by the proposed cuts in the EU’s new Multiannual Financial Framework, which would slash funding from over €6 billion to just around €2 billion.
Coldiretti’s proposals in Brussels
Among the key measures put forward: supporting generational renewal, creating “blue corridors” to simplify access to maritime professions, renewing and decarbonizing the fleet, revising the West Med plan with realistic scientific and economic data, and developing Made in Italy bluefin tuna farms to bring back to Italy a strategic phase of the supply chain currently outsourced abroad.
Borriello on priorities for the sector
Borriello stressed that dialogue with Kadis was constructive, with the Commissioner expressing openness to further meetings and appreciating the fact that Coldiretti paired critical issues with concrete proposals. Both sides agreed to continue working on shared solutions for the most urgent challenges in fisheries and aquaculture.
Generational renewal and workforce
To attract young Europeans to the sector, bureaucracy must be reduced and new training pathways introduced at school level. At the same time, opening regulated entry corridors for already trained workers from North Africa could provide immediate relief for vessels struggling to complete their crews.
A new approach to the West Med plan
Uniform rules for the entire Mediterranean are considered unrealistic. Coldiretti advocates a regional approach, moving away from “per segment” calculations of fishing days, and counting workdays from the actual start of fishing rather than departure from port—an adjustment that would give Italian fleets valuable working time back.
Made in Italy bluefin tuna farms
Developing advanced, low-impact tuna farms in the Mediterranean would create jobs, enhance traceability, and produce a tuna tailored to Italian and European tastes—diversifying markets beyond Japan and strengthening the bond between sustainability, production, and employment.
EU budget cuts: a looming threat
Cutting the fisheries budget from €6 billion to €2 billion would be devastating. While cohesion funds may partially cover gaps, these are also allocated to other strategic sectors. Coldiretti is mobilizing at all institutional levels to secure at least the current FEAMPA funding, essential for competitiveness and growth.
A pragmatic and forward-looking vision
Borriello’s words reveal a pragmatic vision: Mediterranean fisheries require EU policies tailored to their specificities, effective tools to drive generational renewal, and adequate resources to guide fleets towards sustainability. This is not only a battle for fishers, but for the survival of entire coastal economies and cultures.
