The EU fishing sector lost 15% of its workforce between 2017 and 2023.

Omissions

• The 15% figure refers specifically to employment in the fisheries (catching) subsector; the broader seafood sector also includes aquaculture and fish processing. The Commission report notes that the decline was not uniform, with exceptions such as Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus and Slovenia.
• The report also notes that full-time equivalent employment in fisheries declined even more sharply than total employment, and that the workforce is ageing, which is additional context not mentioned by the MEP.
• The source report was published only about two weeks before the session (22 June 2026), so the MEP could have known it, but it is very recent.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission - Oceans and Fisheries (DG MARE)The report highlights a decline in employment in fisheries across the EU, with a 15% decrease between 2017 and 2023, with the exceptions of [Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus and Slovenia].
• SecondaryThe Fishing DailyTotal fisheries employment has fallen by around 15% since 2017, with full-time equivalent jobs declining even more sharply.
• SecondaryWe Are AquacultureThe report found that employment in EU fisheries declined by 15% between 2017 and 2023, with Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus and Slovenia the only [countries to record increases].