EU should tax fishing industry to fund decarbonisation, urge campaigners

Fuel tax exemptions for the fishing industry save so much money that they could pay the salaries of 20,000 fishers every year — or pay for 6,000 new energy reduction and decarbonisation projects. Picture: Denis Minihane

The EU lavished up to €15.7bn in fossil fuel subsidies on its fishing industry over the last decade but campaigners want those funds to be redirected towards decarbonisation.

Fuel tax exemptions for the fishing industry save so much money that they could pay the salaries of 20,000 fishers every year — or pay for 6,000 new energy reduction and decarbonisation projects, according to an analysis commissioned by the Our Fish campaign.