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Europe’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are facing growing strain from geopolitical tensions and rising costs, EU fisheries chief Costas Kadis has warned.
Speaking on Europe Today, Kadis said urgent support is needed to keep the industry competitive. “The challenges are mounting,” he said, pointing to the impact of Middle East conflict on seafood markets, supply chains and coastal communities.
The more pressing concern, he said, is economic pressure on the sector. Some operators have already shut down due to thin margins and soaring fuel prices.
“They were barely profitable before. Now they simply can’t absorb the extra costs,” he said.
The European Commission is considering short-term support via the bloc’s maritime funding tools, similar to measures introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kadis warned of growing anxiety among EU governments as costs rise and markets remain volatile. “There’s real nervousness across the sector,” he said.
He urged a coordinated EU response and faster progress on energy transition to reduce exposure to future shocks.
“We need a united European approach to support the sector—and we must speed up the shift away from energy dependence,” he said, adding that long-term resilience depends on cutting vulnerability to external crises.
Cyprus ‘back to normal’ after Iran drone hit
Addressing recent security concerns in Cyprus linked to the Iran conflict, Kadis said the situation had stabilised.
“Things are improving. There have been no further incidents since the initial attack, and life is returning to normal,” he said.
Some EU Council presidency events were postponed during the unrest, but Kadis expects business to resume as usual from April.
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