Overseas
The Coast Guard Global Summit held yesterday in Rome strongly placed the issue of sustainable European fisheries at the center of the debate, highlighting the delicate balance between environmental protection, economic competitiveness, and the social perspectives of coastal communities.
Costas Kadis
The European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, reminded that without healthy seas there is no future for fisheries, stressing that EU policies must be based on solid scientific data. He recalled the example of the December Council, where more selective measures and closure areas were introduced to regenerate fish stocks, while also allowing an increase in available fishing days. This, he explained, signals that it is possible to reconcile environmental rigor with economic growth.
Special attention was given to small-scale fishers, who represent more than three-quarters of the European fleet and about half of the sector’s workforce. For them, a dedicated dialogue on EU policies is on the way. Kadis also emphasized how climate change and the arrival of invasive species are reshaping the Mediterranean, making an urgent holistic approach necessary, supported by the upcoming European Ocean Pact and the Mediterranean Pact expected in October.
Francesco Lollobrigida
Italy also presented a clear stance. The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Francesco Lollobrigida, reiterated the need to increase resources allocated to fisheries in the new EU programming and to establish common rules with non-EU Mediterranean countries to ensure fair market conditions. He also underlined that environmental sustainability must not outweigh social and economic needs, but rather move forward together with them.
Another crucial point raised by the Minister concerns generational renewal: without concrete support for young people wishing to enter the sector, the future of fishing communities risks being compromised.
The Rome Summit therefore revealed convergence between Brussels and Rome: sustainable European fisheries must rest on scientific foundations, ensure economic fairness, and safeguard the social role of coastal communities. A complex challenge, but essential to preserve the Mediterranean as the beating heart of the blue economy.
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