Annexes to COM(2023)100 - Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture sector

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dossier COM(2023)100 - Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture sector.
document COM(2023)100 EN
date February 21, 2023
Annex to COM(2022) 404 final on the six proposals from the Conference on Climate Change and the Environment, where the Commission proposed the initiative for consideration as a new area of action.
(15) The call for evidence was open for feedback between 7 November 2022 and 5 December 2022 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13619-EU-fisheries-and-aquaculture-energy-transition_en .  
(16) In line with the European Green Deal, REPowerEU, the Fit for 55 package of climate legislation and the biodiversity and farm-to-fork strategies.
(17) Based on 2019 economic data collected under the EU Data Collection Framework (Regulation (EU) 2017/1004). Marine fuel prices rose by 48% from 2020 to 2021 and rose even further to record-high levels in 2022, with peaks well above EUR 1.00 per litre. In the first 9 months of 2022, the average marine fuel price was around EUR 1.00 per litre; more than double the average price in 2021. 
(18) Scientific evidence indicates that total CO2 emissions across fisheries and aquaculture products range from as low as 1.09 kg CO2e up to 20.31 kg CO2e per kilogram of edible product (Gephart et al., 2021).
(19) Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, The 2021 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF 21-08), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021, doi:10.2760/60996.
(20) The setting up of EU data collection on aquaculture under the EU Data Collection Framework (Regulation (EU) 2017/1004) is still under development. Current data coverage does not make it possible to discern EU-wide trends on energy consumption in aquaculture.
(21) Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, The 2020 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF 20-12), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2020, doi:10.2760/441510.
(22) State of the Union Address 2022 by President von der Leyen (europa.eu) .
(23) Following the objectives specified in Article 2 of the CFP Regulation (EU) 1380/2013.
(24) While preventing the adverse effects of pressure from biofuel demand on global food security due to indirect land-use change and competition between crops produced for food and biofuels, in line with the framework laid down under Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
(25) E.g. for hauling, navigation, fish-finding equipment, the galley, and cabin power.
(26) Designing systems, processes and operations upfront to identify interplays between the different Blue Economy sectors that are complementing and mutually reinforcing each other, ensuring a comprehensive energy transition path.
(27) Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF),   https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reports/economic  
(28) COM(2021) 236 final.
(29) COM(2022) 592 final.
(30) Including the adoption of ‘flying’ or lighter trawl doors that reduce drag; the demonstration of wind-assisted propulsion technology; hull modifications; and lighter and thinner netting that significantly reduces fuel consumption.
(31) COM(2023) 102.
(32) In line with AFIR: COM(2021) 559 final.
(33) European Maritime Safety Agency, Potential of Ammonia as Fuel in Shipping 2022, EMSA, Lisbon, 2022 https://emsa.europa.eu/publications/reports/download/7322/4833/23.html .
(34)

Algae biofuels are unlikely to become commercially viable – or available – for another decade. The Commission has identified the future needs in this area in its recent EU algae initiative (COM(2022)592 final), and included two specific actions related to the development of industry standards and dedicating further research efforts through Horizon Europe.

(35) European Maritime Safety Agency, Update on Potential of Biofuels for Shipping 2022, EMSA, Lisbon 2022 https://emsa.europa.eu/publications/reports/download/7321/4834/23.html .
(36) For example, it is possible today to convert some diesel engines to operate also using hydrogen.
(37) COM(2020) 789 final.
(38) COM(2021) 550 final.
(39) COM(2021) 562 final.
(40) COM(2021) 559 final.
(41) COM(2021) 557 final.
(42) COM(2021) 563 final.
(43) COM(2021) 551 final
(44) COM(2020) 741 final.
(45) For example, through decommissioning an old vessel without public aid.
(46) https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13619-EU-fisheries-and-aquaculture-energy-transition_en  
(47) i.e. the difference between the capacity ceilings and the actual active capacity of the fleet.
(48) https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding/emfaf_en
(49) As specified in Article 18 of EMAF Regulation (EU) 2021/1139.
(50) Referred to in Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 establishing a common fisheries policy; under conditions to compensate the increase by the prior withdrawal of at least the same amount of fishing capacity without public aid from the same fleet segment or from a fleet segment for which the latest report on fishing capacity has shown that the fishing capacity is not in balance with the fishing opportunities available to that segment.
(51) As specified in Article 19 of EMFAF Regulation (EU) 2021/1139.
(52) Supporting advisory services, cooperation between scientists and fishers, professional training, lifelong learning, the promotion of social dialogue, knowledge sharing, and diversification of activities.
(53) https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding/local-partnerships_en  
(54) https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/agriculture/legislation_en  
(55) Regulation (EU) No 2022/2473 (OJ L 327, 21.12.2022, p. 82–139)
(56) Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 Articles 17, 18 and 19.
(57) Guidelines for State aid to the fishery and aquaculture sector C(2022) 8995.
(58) COM(2021) 563 final.
(59) European Commission, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, Bastardie, F., Feary, D., Kell, L., et al., Climate change and the common fisheries policy: adaptation and building resilience to the effects of climate change on fisheries and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from fishing: final report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2926/155626 .  
(60) https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/sustainable-transport/european-sustainable-shipping-forum_en  
(61) COM(2021) 240 final.
(62) COM(2020) 789 final.
(63) https://blue-economy-observatory.ec.europa.eu/index_en .
(64) This guidance document will include: (i) the identification of a reference method to determine the carbon footprint of aquaculture production; and (ii) the gathering and listing of good practices at governmental and industry level covering energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon footprints (Annex of COM(2021) 236 final).
(65) https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/new-aquaculture-assistance-mechanism-support-eu-sustainable-aquaculture-2022-07-29_en . 
(66) https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/horizon-europe_en .  
(67) https://waterborne.eu/partnership/partnership .  
(68) https://bepassociation.eu/  
(69) https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/index_en  
(70) For example, the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, the EU Battery Alliance, and the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance.
(71) https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age_en .  
(72) https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sustainable-blue-economy  
(73) https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/european-regional-development-fund-erdf_en; https://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/life/funding/life.htm . 
(74) https://ec.europa.eu/european-social-fund-plus/en  
(75) According to the European Network of Living Labs, living labs are open-innovation ecosystems in real-life environments using iterative feedback processes throughout a lifecycle approach of an innovation to create sustainable impact:  https://enoll.org/about-us/what-are-living-labs/ .  
(76) https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters_en .
(77) https://maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu/fundings/european-partnership-climate-neutral-sustainable-and-productive-blue-economy .  
(78) These are proposed under the 2020 European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience: https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/european-skills-agenda-sustainable-competitiveness-social-fairness-and-resilience_en .
(79) https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1517&langId=en .  
(80) COM(2022) COM(2022) 657 final.  
(81) https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/emfaf/wp-call/2023/call-fiche_emfaf-2023-bluecareers_en.pdf .
(82) https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/women-blue-economy-call-proposals-now-open-2022-05-17_en . In February 2023, EUR 2.5 million was awarded for two projects, https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/eur-25-million-awarded-two-emfaf-projects-women-blue-economy-2023-02-06_en  
(83) As proposed in the Communication ‘The common fisheries policy today and tomorrow’ (COM (2023) 103).
(84) https://blue-economy-observatory.ec.europa.eu/index_en .
(85) This possibility is more elaborately explained in Chapter 5 of this Communication.
(86) European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Study on engine power verification by Member States: final report, Publications Office, 2019,  https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2771/945320   
(87) https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters_en .
(88) https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/erdf/ .  
(89) https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/funding-climate-action/innovation-fund_en .  
(90) https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en .  
(91) As proposed in the State of the Union 2022 Letter of Intent of 14 September 2022.
(92) COM(2022) 473 final.
(93) https://maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu/projects/black-sea-assistance-mechanism ; https://atlantic-maritime-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/contact-us/assistance-mechanism-atlantic-action-plan ; https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/assistance-mechanism/ .  
(94) https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/new-aquaculture-assistance-mechanism-support-eu-sustainable-aquaculture-2022-07-29_en .  
(95) https://investeu.europa.eu/index_en .
(96) https://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/news/2022/commission-and-eif-agree-to-mobilize-500-million-with-new-equity-initiative-for-blue-economy.htm  
(97) https://investeu.europa.eu/index_en  
(98) Social Investment and Skills; Sustainable Infrastructure; SMEs; and Research, Innovation and Digitalisation.
(99) Under the Joint SME-RDI Equity Product of InvestEU.
(100)   https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/maritimeforum/en/frontpage/1451 .  
(101)   https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/maritimeforum/en/pipeline/projects/4361 .  
(102)  This features more than 330 innovative and high-potential blue-economy companies.
(103)  These figures will still be consolidated and will be included in the BlueInvest Investor Report to be launched at BlueInvest Day on 9 March 2023. The report, looking at 10 blue-economy sectors, will also include in-depth research on green shipping and ship retrofitting.
(104)  Fisheries, Aquaculture, Blue Biotech, Shipbuilding & Refit, Shipping & Ports, Blue Renewable Energy, Blue Tech & Ocean Observation, Coastal & Maritime Tourism, Ocean Pollution & Water Management, Coastal and Environmental Protection and Regeneration.
(105)   https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/technical-and-operational-measures.aspx  
(106) JOIN(2022) 28 final.
(107)   https://www.oecd.org/gov/pcsd/pcsd-framework.htm .  
(108) COM(2021) 400 final.
(109) COM(2022) 592 final.