Brussels: Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, is engaging stakeholders in a critical implementation dialogue focused on small-scale and coastal fisheries (SSCF).
According to Cyprus News Agency, this gathering in Brussels aims to address the numerous challenges faced by SSCF, which are integral to the sustenance of Europe’s coastal communities and economies. These fisheries are currently grappling with issues such as competition for maritime space, climate change, and increased operational costs, which are threatening their viability.
The European Commission recently published guidelines to aid Member States in supporting small-scale fishers, reflecting a commitment to bolster the sustainability and resilience of SSCF. Commissioner Kadis is meeting with fishers, Fisheries Local Actions Groups (FLAGs), Advisory Councils, NGOs, and various industry representatives to discuss the implementation of key EU fishing policies. The dialogue will focus on enhancing the long-term viability of SSCF across European sea basins and exploring the potential of new technologies to strengthen sustainability and competitiveness.
Commissioner Kadis emphasized the importance of small-scale fishers to coastal communities, highlighting the dialogue as an opportunity to develop practical solutions for their sustainability. Implementation Dialogues are part of the Commission’s broader commitment to policy feedback and simplification, as mandated for the 2024-2029 period. The conclusions from this dialogue will be made available online.