As the EU considers the future of its Common Fisheries Policy and the long-term direction of the fisheries sector, questions are being raised about whether existing fleet-capacity rules could constrain vessel modernisation and the transition to low-carbon technologies. In this context, this study, commissioned by Seas At Risk and conducted by Profundo, examines whether the EU fishing fleet can transition to low-carbon propulsion within existing capacity ceilings. The findings show that, even under an ambitious decarbonisation pathway, there is sufficient unused capacity within national ceilings to accommodate the additional space required by alternative fuels and propulsion systems, without increasing fishing capacity.
Read the press release.
Posted on: 7 September 2026
