Report | February 1, 2023

A pathway to decarbonise the EU fisheries sector by 2050

This report investigates technical and strategic solutions to reduce fuel use in the EU fleet sector and aims to support the energy transition of the EU fleet. There are existing solutions to reduce fuel use in fisheries, from technical solutions to more extensive changes such as phasing out the more energy hungry fishing techniques and practices. The study identifies emissions reduction potential from fuel savings when fisheries implement existing technical solutions, switch toward the least fuel-intensive fishing techniques, use green energy, and reduce or avoid indirect emissions by changing fishing grounds and displacing the more detrimental practices pressuring the seabed from carbon-rich habitats. Such actions should ultimately reduce CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere to help achieve the 2030 and 2050 environmental targets for the EU fishing sector.