The European Union’s fishing sector is at a crossroads. Over time, European fisheries have been plagued by a series of crises, gradually eroding the sector’s resilience. Overfishing is rampant, leading to declining or even collapsing fish populations (Froese et al., 2018). A select group of large-scale industrial operators have increasingly consolidated ownership of capital, fishing capacity, and allocation of fishing rights (Pascual-Fernandez, Pita and Bavinck, 2020; Guyader et al., 2013). Small-scale coastal fisheries have suffered due to this concentration of resources and capital (Pascual-Fernandez, Pita and Bavinck, 2020), with these less-impactful, yet socially vital fisheries struggling to survive.
Alternative business models within the fishery sector gain little public visibility, yet there are inspiring examples that can provide inspiration for larger-scale change. They encompass all aspects of fishery, from the extraction process, product handling and transformation, service offerings, collective organisation, revenue models, market diversification, gear design and use, fishing techniques, and different forms of management, including co-management and participative management.
This report documents 12 diverse examples of alternative fisheries business models. These examples are not perfect, but they all demonstrate courageous and innovative approaches to the way seafood is produced and distributed in Europe. Adopting a comprehensive perspective on fisheries, inspired by the dedication and passion of those committed to their profession, can pave the way for the policy reforms needed for a sustainable and accountable future for Europe’s fisheries.
