Brussels, 28 May 2025 — In a compelling open letter addressed to the College of Commissioners, the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) has called on the European Commission to strengthen its proposed European Ocean Pact by placing small-scale, low-impact fishers at its core.
With the next UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) set to take place in Nice this June, LIFE sees a pivotal opportunity for the EU to lead globally by championing a more ambitious, fair, and inclusive ocean policy. The leaked draft of the Pact lacks the urgency, balance, and social equity needed to meet the scale of today’s coastal challenges.
The letter stresses that small-scale fisheries (SSF)—a sector critical to coastal livelihoods and marine stewardship—are at a tipping point due to increasing pressures and insufficient policy support. LIFE warns that without targeted action, this vital sector risks collapse.
Key demands include:
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A dedicated SSF Action Plan to safeguard the future of small-scale fisheries across Europe.
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Recognition of the often invisible role of women in the sector, which is notably absent from the current draft.
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Stronger safeguards for ocean ecosystems, especially as new blue economy industries are promoted.
“The Ocean Pact must be fair to fishers, fair to future generations, and fair to nature,” writes LIFE Executive Secretary, Marta Cavallé. Europe must demonstrate leadership through a robust and coherent Ocean Pact—one that truly charts a course toward a thriving ocean by 2030, while also prioritising fairness and the needs of our small-scale fishing coastal communities at its centre.
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