This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 3 2026.
The fisheries and aquaculture sectors are reeling from the effect of a disrupted global energy and commodity market. Following a drastic increase in the cost of fuel, fisheries operations have quickly become unprofitable. And for the aquaculture sector, energy currently make up almost 30% of costs. To address this, the European Commission has activated the crisis mechanism of the EMFAF, providing financial assistance to fishers, aquaculture producers, processors and retailers. This measure applies retroactively from 28 February 2026 and allocates around €760 million of the initial €1.3 billion for immediate use by the Member States. The current hostilities in the Middle East have further exposed the sector’s high dependence on fossil fuels and the structural vulnerabilities caused by disruptions to the energy supply chain. The crisis exacerbates an existing challenge emphasising the need for a sustainable and stable energy supply.
