Joint comment by BirdLife International, the Fisheries Secretariat, Seas At Risk, the North Sea Foundation, Oceana and WWF on the adoption of the regulation on “de minimis” aid for the fishing sector by the European Commission.
With today’s adoption of a regulation on “de minimis” aid, the European Commission has opened the door to fuel subsidies in the fisheries sector.
In a striking contradiction with its promise to remove environmentally damaging subsidies, the Commission is allowing fishing enterprises to receive up to 30.000 euros of state aid every three years.
Supposedly introduced to support the cost of fishing operations, such cash grants can be used to finance fuel expenses.
Allowing fuel subsidies in the fishing sector is a complete waste of money and a counter-productive measure. The “de minimis” aid will generate further overfishing, by making fuel cheaper, which will encourage fishermen to fish more and longer. It will also back fishermen to continue using energy-thirsty and environmentally damaging fishing gear, such as trawling, posing a serious threat to the marine environment.