The EU Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (LDAC) has adopted at its plenary meeting in Brussels new advice calling for stronger integration of impacts of climate change into EU external fisheries policy, including provisions embedded in SFPAs and RFMOs.
LDAC states that fish stocks are shifting due to warming oceans, fishing operations are becoming more unpredictable and costly, and coastal communities — especially small-scale fishers — are already suffering the consequences and facing growing risks to its traditional livelihoods and food security.
‘We highlight the need to avoid a loss–loss scenario for both EU distant water fleets and non EU partner countries,’ an LDAC representative stated.
‘At RFMO level, we stress that allocation decisions must remain science-based and fair, avoiding unilateral actions that could increase geopolitical tensions. A balanced, cooperative and evidence-based approach is essential to ensure sustainable fisheries, resilient coastal communities and stable international partnerships.’
LDAC’s analysis identifies a series of climate change-related threats outside EU waters, ranging from declining fish stocks (yield productivity) in tropical areas, ecosystem disruption and increased operational costs (including fuel) and safety concerns, to geopolitical tensions (fisheries management in the high seas vs EEZs) as climate change reshapes fisheries in contested or boundary zones (such as West Africa, the Southwest Atlantic or the North East Atlantic), and the potential for disputes over established fishing rights may increase, leading to political tensions and risks to fleet operations.
LDAC has issued a list of recommendations to the European Commission, including the need for climate-informed fisheries management and adaptive strategies, better data, science and forecasting tools, stronger support for climate adaptation in partner countries, and coherence across EU fisheries, climate, trade and development policies.
‘Adapting to climate change impacts and integrating climate resilience and flexibility into fisheries management in non-EU waters, through both SFPAs and RFMOs, is essential to preserve their economic balance, legitimacy, and long-term viability. Such an approach can help ensuring that climate impacts do not undermine either EU distant-water fleets or the food security and livelihoods of coastal small-scale fishing communities,’ LDAC states.
‘Supporting climate resilience in small-scale fisheries aligns with the EU’s long-term interests in sustainable fisheries, food security, and predictable external fishing relations. A balanced, cooperative and evidence-based EU approach included in the future EU Strategy on Fisheries External Action could serve to strengthen partnerships with coastal States while supporting adaptation to climate change in a manner acceptable to both industry and civil society. ‘
