The Energy Transition Partnership (ETP), launched in June 2023, invites stakeholders committed to accelerating the energy transition to work together on a voluntary basis to drive progress across key sectors. As a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, the ETP focuses on innovation, technologies, skills, and finance to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. By creating spaces for open communication and facilitating processes for learning from one another at a practical level, the Support Group aims to contribute to an actionable plan to be delivered by the end of 2025, with measurable milestones aimed at supporting the transition to a sustainable future.
The ETP Support Group is a cooperative, bottom-up advisory body that supports the Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) and promotes the energy transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture. This group represents all key stakeholders and segments across the sector, ensuring diverse perspectives are included in shaping the transition.
The group’s primary role is to:
- Encourage stakeholder engagement.
- Start a dialogue within the sector about the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition.
- Facilitate collaboration and the exchange of best practices.
- Contribute to a roadmap with concrete and feasible actions to accelerate the transition in the sector.
- Discuss and develop common strategic approaches for furthering the energy transition in the sector.
The work of the Support Group focuses on 5 thematic areas:
- Foresight and ambition goals: Setting and striving towards ambitious goals for energy transition, such as reducing GHG emissions, optimising expenditure, and defining clear pathways.
- Research, innovation & knowledge gaps: Identifying and addressing gaps in current knowledge and technological advances that support and impact the energy transition process.
- Skills & social aspects: Enhancing skills and addressing social implications related to the energy transition in all areas of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
- Finance and business environment: Exploring and mapping financial instruments and funding opportunities, to ensure an adequate business environment for the energy transition.
- Regulatory framework: Discussing regulatory adjustments and existing frameworks that support the energy transition.
Support Group Coordinators and Segments
The Support Group is composed of 10 working groups and their coordinators from the different segments identified bellow:
Inland aquaculture is vital for sustainable food production but faces significant energy challenges due to the high demands of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), which rely on energy-intensive water treatment and circulation processes. The energy transition is crucial to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint, enhance energy efficiency, and lower costs by integrating renewable energy sources like solar and biomass.
Challenges:
- High Energy Consumption: Energy-intensive RAS systems drive up operational costs.
- Limited Renewable Infrastructure: Isolated areas often lack access to reliable renewable energy systems.
- Energy Storage: Ensuring a stable energy supply through storage solutions remains complex and costly.
Opportunities:
- Energy Efficiency: Adopting advanced technologies in RAS can cut costs and emissions.
- Renewable Integration: Localised renewable energy sources like solar or biomass can support operations.
- Support Programmes: Government incentives and funding provide resources for green energy projects.
Offshore aquaculture is a growing industry with immense potential but faces unique energy challenges due to its remote locations and harsh marine environments. The energy transition is essential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve sustainability through renewable energy innovations like offshore wind, wave energy, and floating solar systems.
Challenges:
- Complex Infrastructure: Installing and maintaining renewable energy systems offshore is expensive and demanding.
- Harsh Conditions: Marine environments impact the reliability and durability of energy equipment.
- Energy Security: Consistent and robust energy supply remains a key operational challenge.
Opportunities:
- Marine Renewable Energy: Harnessing wind, wave, and solar resources offers sustainable power solutions.
- Technological Innovation: Tailored energy systems can enhance resilience and efficiency.
- EU Support: Funding mechanisms like EMFAF and Horizon Europe enable clean energy adoption.
Small-scale fisheries, often rooted in local communities, operate on narrow profit margins and face limited access to funding. The energy transition is particularly challenging for SSCF, which must adopt low-cost, energy-efficient technologies to remain viable while reducing environmental impacts.
Challenges:
- Financial Constraints: Limited capacity to invest in modern energy-efficient equipment.
- Technology Access: Difficulty adapting to advanced low-emission technologies suited to small vessels.
- Market Competition: Pressures from large-scale operators and volatile fish prices.
Opportunities:
- EU Funding: Targeted initiatives like EMFAF provide financial support for energy upgrades.
- Niche Markets: Adoption of sustainable practices can improve marketability and price premiums for products.
- Community Growth: Investments in green technologies can revitalise coastal economies and create jobs.
Large-scale fisheries, responsible for significant catches and emissions, face the challenge of adopting capital-intensive technologies like alternative fuels and advanced engines. The energy transition offers them the chance to lead innovation and efficiency in the sector.
Challenges:
- High Upfront Costs: Investments in retrofitting fleets and alternative fuels require significant financial outlays.
- Logistical Complexities: Establishing consistent fuel supply chains for large fleets remains a challenge.
- Regulatory Pressure: Compliance with evolving emissions standards increases operational demands.
Opportunities:
- Economies of Scale: Large fleets can absorb costs more effectively and set industry benchmarks.
- Innovation Leadership: Investments in renewable energy systems can position LSF as pioneers in decarbonisation.
- Access to EU Initiatives: Programmes such as Horizon Europe and Fit for 55 provide critical funding and resources.
DWF operates across international waters and over extended distances, making the energy transition particularly complex. Transitioning to renewable and low-carbon fuels while maintaining operational efficiency in remote regions is crucial for sustainability.
Challenges:
- Fuel Availability: Securing alternative fuels for long-distance voyages is logistically difficult.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Adapting vessels to carry and utilise new energy systems is costly and time-intensive.
- Regulatory Divergence: Complying with multiple international standards complicates the adoption of unified solutions.
Opportunities:
- Advanced Technologies: Innovations in fuel efficiency and propulsion systems can transform operations.
- Global Competitiveness: Leadership in sustainable practices enhances reputation and market access.
- Collaborative Research: Partnerships with research institutions can unlock scalable, low-carbon technologies.
Ports are critical to the energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, acting as hubs for logistics, innovation, and sustainability. As high-energy consumers and key contributors to emissions, ports are uniquely positioned to drive decarbonisation efforts through renewable energy adoption, pollution reduction, and digital transformation. Their strategic location near fisheries and aquaculture activities further enhances their ability to support sustainable practices and facilitate the energy transition across maritime and coastal sectors.
By adopting marine renewable energy solutions, ports can lead the way in transforming maritime-port clusters, aligning with the EU’s environmental goals outlined in the “Communication on the Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector.” Initiatives such as the Atlantic Action Plan (AAP 2.0), the WestMED Initiative and the Fit for 55 package emphasise the role of ports in achieving broader sustainability objectives.
Challenges:
- Energy Consumption and Emissions: Ports are significant energy users, contributing to air and marine pollution. Decarbonising these operations requires substantial investment and innovation.
- Infrastructure Limitations: Retrofitting ports to accommodate renewable energy systems, such as solar or wind power, demands comprehensive upgrades.
- Coordination Across Stakeholders: Ports operate within complex maritime clusters, requiring alignment among diverse actors, including fisheries, aquaculture, and transport sectors.
Opportunities:
- Green Ports Initiative: Transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency enhances sustainability. This transformation is supported by EU funding mechanisms such as the EMFAF, CEF, Interreg and Horizon Europe.
- Digitalisation: Smart port technologies, including digitalised logistics and data-driven resource management, reduce inefficiencies and improve connectivity.
- Innovation and R&D: Ports can serve as innovation hubs, testing and scaling new renewable energy technologies. The Blue Growth strategy, as exemplified by the Port of Vigo, provides a framework for fostering sustainability and economic development.
The energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors significantly impacts the processing industry, which is intricately connected to fishing and harvesting activities. Often beginning onboard vessels, initial processing such as gutting, evisceration, and refrigeration depends heavily on energy-efficient systems and sustainable practices. Ports serve as critical hubs for integrating these activities, aligning with EU objectives for reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and advancing circular economy principles.
Tackling the energy transition in the processing industry, will therefore encourage the aggregation of fishers in cooperatives and consortia, enlarging their role in the supply chain to more added-value phases and keeping a larger share of the relevant profit for themselves.
Challenges:
- High Energy Demand: Processing activities like refrigeration, freezing, and waste management are energy-intensive, requiring sustainable energy solutions.
- Fragmentation of Operations: The lack of coordinated efforts among small-scale processing units limits the adoption of energy-efficient practices.
- Logistical Emissions: Transporting fish to distant processing facilities increases carbon footprints and operational costs.
- Resource Utilisation Gaps: Inefficient use of byproducts and waste materials represents lost opportunities for energy recovery and value creation.
Opportunities:
- Centralised Processing at Ports:
- Energy Efficiency: Concentrating processing at ports reduces transport-related emissions and enhances operational efficiency.
- Shared Resources: Ports can provide common refrigeration, freezing, and waste management facilities, optimising energy use.
- Circular Economy Initiatives:
- Byproduct Valorisation: Utilising fish waste, algae, and other non-edible materials for nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and animal feed.
- Sustainable Packaging: Promoting eco-friendly solutions aligned with EU circular economy goals.
- Economic Diversification:
- Value Addition: Expanding local processing capabilities to serve both large-scale retail and local traditional food markets.
- Job Creation: Encouraging cooperatives and consortia to generate employment and improve resource management.
- Skill Development and Training:
- Modern Workforce: Training programmes for new and existing workers to adopt innovative, energy-efficient processing techniques.
- Community Involvement: Engaging youths, women, and retired fishers in sustainable processing activities.
- Energy Communities in Ports:
- Collaborative renewable energy systems in fishery ports can reduce costs and enhance sustainability.
- Access to EU funding opportunities supports energy-efficient infrastructure and innovative practices.
NGOs play a critical role in driving the energy transition within the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and the implementation of pilot projects, they can promote the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce environmental impacts and foster long-term sustainability. By engaging with stakeholders, securing financing, and influencing policy, NGOs contribute to setting industry standards and ensuring the transition is inclusive and resilient.
Challenges:
- High Initial Costs: The upfront investment required for renewable energy technologies can be a barrier for stakeholders, especially small-scale operations in fisheries and aquaculture.
- Resistance to Change: Traditional industry stakeholders may resist adopting new energy-efficient technologies and practices, hindering progress.
- Complex Regulatory Frameworks: Navigating the evolving EU directives and national regulations, such as RED II, the Energy Efficiency Directive, and the MSP Directive, requires significant expertise.
- Funding Consistency: Securing long-term funding for projects, particularly in the face of competing priorities, presents a challenge for NGOs aiming to drive sustainable change.
Opportunities:
- Leveraging EU Financing Initiatives:
- EMFAF & LIFE Programme: NGOs can access funds like EMFAF and LIFE to support renewable energy projects, improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions.
- Just Transition Mechanism & EGD: NGOs can help ensure the transition is inclusive and climate-neutral, promoting social equity in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
- Capacity Building & Training:
- Upskilling the Workforce: NGOs can drive training programmes to equip workers with the skills needed for new technologies, such as solar-powered aquaculture systems and energy-efficient fishing practices.
- European Skills Agenda: Partnerships with EU initiatives offer opportunities to align training with sector-specific sustainability goals.
- Advocating for Policy Change:
- Regulatory Alignment: NGOs can influence policy development to align with EU-wide directives, ensuring the integration of renewable energy into marine spatial plans and sector-specific regulations.
- Setting Industry Standards: By spearheading pilot projects and advocating for best practices, NGOs can help establish sustainable industry standards that prioritise energy efficiency.
- Driving Innovation and Resilience:
- Renewable Energy Integration: Promoting the use of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources within the sector can lead to reduced operational costs and enhanced environmental resilience.
- Sustainable Practices: NGOs can help shape a resilient fisheries and aquaculture sector that contributes to broader climate goals while ensuring the social and economic welfare of communities involved in these industries.
The fishing shipbuilding industry is increasingly focused on integrating energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources, such as hybrid and electric propulsion systems, into new vessel designs. This transition aims to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and support broader EU climate goals of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Challenges:
- High Costs of Development and Retrofitting: Developing energy-efficient, low-emission vessels and retrofitting existing ones requires substantial investment, posing a financial challenge for shipbuilders.
- Technological Development: While there is significant innovation in green technologies, the research and development of energy-efficient systems, such as hybrid and electric propulsion, can be complex and costly. In addition, the different features and needs of fishery and aquaculture activities must be considered across the space (SSCF, LSF, DWF, Aquaculture), sea basins (Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black Sea), and time perspectives (short-, mid-, long-term).
- Alternative Fuels Supply Chain: Strictly related to technological development is the logistics and commercial organisation required to make alternative fuels available at fishery ports and landing points.
- Regulatory Compliance: The fishing shipbuilding industry must comply with strict EU regulations, including the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, which require adherence to high environmental standards. The evolving nature of these regulations can be challenging to keep pace with.
Opportunities:
- Access to EU Funding:
- EMFAF & Horizon Europe: The fishing shipbuilding industry can benefit from EU financing programmes like the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and Horizon Europe, which support the development of energy-efficient, low-emission vessels and fund research and innovation in sustainable shipbuilding technologies.
- Technological Innovation:
- Hybrid and Electric Propulsion: The shift towards renewable energy sources and hybrid propulsion systems offers an opportunity for the fishing shipbuilding industry to innovate and develop vessels that are more energy-efficient, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
- Retrofitting Opportunities: Retrofitting existing vessels to meet higher environmental standards presents an opportunity for the industry to improve the sustainability of the current fleet and align with stricter environmental regulations.
- Skills Development and Upskilling:
- The growing demand for green technologies requires a skilled workforce adept in hybrid and electric propulsion systems and energy-efficient design practices. Training initiatives at both EU and national levels are addressing these needs, ensuring that workers are equipped for the transition to sustainable practices.
- Competitive Advantage:
- Global Leadership in Green Shipbuilding: By leading in the development of energy-efficient vessels, the fishing shipbuilding industry can enhance its global competitiveness and position itself as a key player in the growing market for environmentally friendly technologies.
The energy transition in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector is becoming increasingly important for research organisations and academia, as it is directly aligned with climate change mitigation efforts and the EU’s broader sustainability goals. Academic research is central to the development of new technologies and practices that can help the sector reduce its environmental impact while remaining economically viable.
Challenges:
- Translating Laboratory Findings to Real-World Applications: One of the primary challenges faced by research organisations is the difficulty of taking theoretical advancements or laboratory findings and applying them effectively in real-world maritime environments. This can slow the pace at which innovative solutions are adopted in the industry.
- Long-Term Research in Dynamic Ecosystems: Many aspects of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, such as marine ecosystems and aquaculture systems, are subject to rapid changes. This creates the challenge of conducting long-term studies that account for these dynamic shifts while ensuring that findings remain relevant.
- Balancing Environmental and Economic Goals: Research must strike a delicate balance between environmental goals—such as reducing carbon footprints—and the economic realities of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Innovations must be both environmentally sustainable and economically feasible for widespread implementation.
- Data and Information Sharing: Data sharing is the ability to make the same data available to one or many consumers. The ever-growing amount of data has become a strategic asset for any company. Sharing data is essential to modern businesses, but it can be challenging.
Opportunities:
- Innovative, Sustainable Solutions: The energy transition offers academia a unique opportunity to lead in the development of groundbreaking, sustainable technologies. These innovations could have global applicability and address some of the most pressing challenges in the sector. Areas of innovation include:
- Biomimetic Vessel Design: Research in this area could lead to the development of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vessel designs, inspired by nature.
- AI-Driven Fishing Practices: Artificial intelligence could revolutionise fishing practices, optimising energy use and reducing bycatch, while promoting sustainability.
- Closed-Loop Aquaculture Systems: These systems could drastically reduce environmental impacts by recycling water and nutrients, improving sustainability and reducing reliance on external inputs.
- International Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer: The increasing focus on the energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors presents new opportunities for international collaboration. By working across borders, academic institutions can contribute to global research efforts and share knowledge between academia and industry to drive innovation in the sector.
- Funding and Support for High-Risk Research: EU programmes like Horizon Europe provide significant funding for research in blue economy projects, offering opportunities for high-risk, high-reward research. This can catalyse the development of cutting-edge technologies that could play a pivotal role in the energy transition.
- Interdisciplinary Research and Upskilling: As the energy transition progresses, there is an increasing demand for researchers with interdisciplinary expertise in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable fishing practices, and data modelling. Many academic institutions are responding by revising curricula and establishing interdisciplinary research centres to meet these emerging needs.
Meet the Support Group Coordinators
We are pleased to introduce our ten Support Group Coordinators, whose role is essential in fostering the exchange of inputs, recommendations, and best practices within the sector. As a bottom-up advisory and consultative body, these Coordinators will play a pivotal role in assisting the European Commission by providing insights and guiding the development of the Energy Transition roadmap—an actionable plan to be delivered by the end of 2025, with measurable milestones aimed at supporting the transition to a sustainable future.
Vincent Guerre – SG Coordinator for Fishing shipbuilding industry
Vincent Guerre has 15 years of experience in the area of fisheries and maritime policies. He is currently the Director for Trade and Competitiveness at the Shipyards’ and Maritime Equipment Association of Europe (SEA Europe).
In this role, he oversees SEA Europe’s initiatives on trade and competitiveness policies, financing instruments, and market analysis. He advocates for the interests of European shipyards and maritime equipment industries to policymakers, international organisations, and business stakeholders. Additionally, he leads communication strategies to inform the media and public about the challenges facing the maritime industry.
Jules Danto – SG Coordinator for Large Scale Fisheries
Jules Danto is involved in the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) as a policy officer since October 2024. He has a scientific background as engineer in the field of fisheries and marine socio-ecosystem management. He has also obtained a second master’s degree in marine governance and maritime spatial planning through a second master's degree.
After gaining experience as a scientific researcher at IFREMER on sustainability indicators for fisheries, he progressively moved towards the institutional field, relying on acquired transversal skills related to research. He has been able to experience diplomacy and bilateral cooperation by working for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Azerbaijan and Denmark, while focusing on his core subjects: oceans, fisheries and aquaculture.
Alexandra Phillipe – SG Coordinator for NGOs
Alexandra Philippe has been a Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Advisor at the European Bureau for Conservation and Development since November 2021. She is also Vice-Chair of the North Western Waters Advisory Council Executive Committee and Chair of the Working Group Ecosystem of the North Sea Advisory Council. She has previously worked for eight years at the European Parliament mostly as parliamentary assistant to the Chair of the Committee on Fisheries. During this time, she contributed to the parliamentary work on fisheries and participated in the negotiations on initiative and legislative texts related to these topics. She acquired a knowledge and expertise in fisheries issues and in EU political affairs and processes.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Université Libre de Bruxelles as well as a Master’s degree in European Affairs from the College of Europe in Natolin.
Giulio Brizzi – Offshore aquaculture
Giulio Brizzi is a senior aquaculture expert that has been working in the marine aquaculture sector for over 30 years. Since obtaining his degree in Aquaculture and Marine Ecology in Trieste in 1989, he has been working as a consultant and expert for industry and public bodies, several aquaculture companies, EU Commission, FAO and State agencies. He has been involved in large EU projects on offshore energy production and aquaculture, studying the challenges connected to siting and environmental impact of offshore aquaculture. His expertise includes offshore aquaculture, farm siting and installation, farm impact and carrying out capacity assessments, education and training activities, all of which have been applied in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East and in South-East Asia. He has been a manager of several aquaculture farms throughout the Mediterranean Sea, either on land or offshore. His primary research areas are in offshore aquaculture and engineering, marine impact assessment and marine spatial planning.
Carlos Botana Lagaron – SG Coordinator for Ports
Carlos Botana has a Bachelor's degree in Marine Sciences, Master's degrees in Environmental Management and in Business Administration and Management, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Climate Change. He has over 20 years of experience in managing commercial, fishing, and port environments at the Port of Vigo, obtained while holding the position of Sustainability Department Head since 2015. He has been the driving force behind the Blue Growth strategy since 2016 and has worked on over twenty European projects focusing on the environment and development under various programmes such as Life+, H2020, Interreg Atlantic Area, Horizon, and Poptec.
He has recently been appointed as President of the Port Authority of Vigo and he also serves as the Coordinator of the Ports Pillar in the Atlantic Space of the European Commission, a member of the Sustainability and Development Committee, and the Energy Committee of ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation). He is also a member of the Climate and Energy Committee of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) and served as the President of the Blue Ports Network during the 2019-2022 period at ESPO.
Gorka Gabiña – SG Coordinator for Research organisations and Academia
He is an industrial Engineer and holds a PhD in alternative fuels directed by the Department of Machines and Thermal Engines of the School of Engineering of Bilbao. Since 2008 he has been working at AZTI Research Centre, in the Sustainable Fishing Technologies department. His main research lines are the decarbonisation, energy efficiency and digitalisation of fishing vessels, where he has developed projects on consumption patterns and energy audits, engine operation and fuel consumption monitoring systems, propulsion systems, alternative fuels, digital tools for improving fishing operations, smart grids in port systems and the monitoring of the freezing process on board fishing vessels. He has participated in the development of different prototypes and test benches.
Since 2021, he has been coordinating the Sustainable Fishing Technologies department, which deals with the reduction of the impact of fishing on biodiversity (selectivity of fishing gear, monitoring and reduction of accidental catches), digitalisation of fishing operations (digital systems, monitoring of fishing operations, use of artificial intelligence, on-board decision-making tools), reduction of the environmental impact of fishing (decarbonisation, marine waste and circular economy) and innovation of on-board processes (alternative fishing systems, on-board quality control, health and safety).
Marta Cavallé – SG Coordinator for Small Scale Coastal Fisheries
Marta Cavallé has a background in Marine Biology, Economics and fisheries management, NGO management, Conflict resolution, and has accumulated 20 years of experience working with small-scale fishers, Marta is the Executive Secretary of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE).
LIFE is an EU-wide platform of associations of small-scale fishers committed to fishing in a low impact manner with the mission to unite small-scale fishers to achieve fair fisheries, healthy seas and vibrant communities, by providing a dedicated voice at EU level and support on the ground to become actors of change in their own right.
Mati Sarevet - SG Coordinator for Distant Water Fleet
Mati has over 17 years of experience with the Estonian Long Distance fishing company Reyktal Ltd, where he serves as a Member of the Management Board. He has also held the same position for 12 years at Reval Seafood Ltd and Reyktal Services Ltd. Additionally, he is a Member of the Management Board of the Estonian Long Distance Fishing Association.
He is involved in operating three freezing trawlers ("Merike," "Steffano," and "Reval Viking") as part of the Distant Water Fleet (DWF). These vessels fish in NAFO-regulated areas in the Flemish Cap, NEAFC-regulated areas in the Barents Sea, and fishing grounds in East and West Greenland. His efforts contribute to an annual catch of approximately 15,000 metric tonnes, comprising Northern Prawn, cod, and Greenland halibut (GLH).
Eva Kovacs - SG Coordinator for Inland Aquaculture
Eva has over 20 years of professional experience in fish production. She currently holds the position of Senior Project Manager at Eurofish International Organisation, an entity dedicated to advancing the development of fisheries and aquaculture across Europe. Eurofish represents 13 member countries, 11 of which are EU nations, and plays a significant role in promoting sustainable growth and innovation within the sector.
After working as a scientific researcher at Szent István University, Hungary, focusing on freshwater aquaculture, she joined the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as an expert in fish production. Over a decade at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, she acquired extensive expertise in the status of the fishery and aquaculture sector, and conditions and challenges faced by countries of the Region.