The European Social Partners in Fisheries express their deep concern and strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposal for Mediterranean fishing opportunities for 2026. The measures, representing some of the most severe cuts ever imposed, risk dismantling an entire sector already pushed to its limits, putting at stake thousands of jobs, family livelihoods and the socio-economic fabric of coastal communities across the region.

The European Commission’s proposal to further reduce fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean has sparked alarm among fisheries stakeholders, namely the ETF. The latest proposed cuts would limit certain fleet segments to a maximum of just 27 fishing days per year. This follows years of significant sacrifices from Mediterranean fisheries, which have already faced a decline in the number of companies, vessels, and jobs.