According to the European Commission's evaluation, the profitability of the EU fishing fleet has deteriorated.

Omissions

• The most recent data available before the session date (2024 actuals and 2025 projections) pointed to a recovery in fleet profitability: the Commission's news release of 28 November 2025 states the EU fishing fleet recovers with increased profits expected in 2025 (projected operating profits of €567 million), so presenting the deterioration as the current state omits the turnaround.
• The Commission evaluation covers the full 2014–2024 period, during which fleet profitability was generally positive in the early and mid years; the sharp deterioration is concentrated in 2023 (post-energy-crisis fuel costs), not uniform across the whole period.
• The claim characterises the Commission's evaluation as recognising the deterioration; the evaluation's headline finding (February 2026) is 'slow progress in fishing sustainability and ongoing challenges for EU fishers', which supports the direction of the claim.

Sources

• PrimaryJRC Publications Repository — The 2025 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF, JRC144396)With a total net profit of EUR 59 million in 2023, net profit margin was set at 0.91%. These results should be read in a context of high ...
• PrimaryEuropean Commission press release IP/26/938 — Commission evaluation shows slow progress in fishing sustainability and ongoing challenges for EU fishersCommission evaluation shows slow progress in fishing sustainability and ongoing challenges for EU fishers · Slow fish stock recovery, hindered ...
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — DG MARE news: EU fishing fleet recovers: increased profits expected in 20252025 annual economic report on the European Union fishing fleet, projecting operating profits of €567 million for the EU fleet in 2025.
• AcademicILVO Pure Portal — STECF 2025 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing FleetOverall economic performance indicators display a deterioration compared to 2022 while nowcast estimates suggest that the economic performance ...