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Fisheries and aquaculture
THE European Commission has now presented a package of measures to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The sector’s current dependency on fossil fuels is not only environmentally unsustainable but also makes it vulnerable to energy price increases.
When fuel prices increased in 2021 and 2022, many vessels stayed in port and the sector required financial support as a large part of the EU fishing fleet was unable to cover operational costs.
Aquaculture was similarly exposed to higher prices of both fuel and feed. The sector benefited from EU financial support.
The Commission now proposes to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and aim towards climateneutral fisheries and aquaculture sector, in line with one of the ambitions of the European Green Deal to reach climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.
It is proposing measures to support the sector in accelerating its energy transition, by improving fuel efficiency and switching to renewable, low carbon power sources.
One of the key actions is an Energy Transition Partnership for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Danger of drought
METEOROLOGISTS in France issued a warning about drought on Wednesday, February 22, after the country recorded its driest winter in more than 60 years.
France is currently facing one of its driest spells of winter weather with 32 consecutive days without rain, in what has been one of the country’s driest winters on record, since 1959.
The dry winter follows the hottest summer on record which was registered last year by the national weather agency, Météo France.
Meteorologists and ecological experts called a meeting in response to the news to discuss policy region by region in an attempt to avert drought later in the year when the country sees the effect of the reduced rainfall on the water supply.
Hot temperatures were suffered by several countries in Europe last summer including Spain and Italy, where drought conditions were also reported. Countries have grappled with resolving their drought issues over the winter which in many cases, has been drier than expected.
