The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) is a pan-European trade union organisation representing more than 3.5 million transport workers from more than 230 transport unions in Europe, in the following sectors: railways, road transport and logistics, maritime transport, inland waterways, civil aviation, ports & docks, tourism and fisheries.
The European Federation of food, agriculture and tourism trade unions, EFFAT, is a single umbrella organisation serving trade unions throughout the food processing chain in Europe, “from field to fork”. EFFAT’s 120 national member organisations bring together over 2.6 million union affiliates and represent workers in all branches of agriculture, in food processing and its allied industries, and in the hotel, restaurant, catering and tourism sector.
One of the key issues for member organisations of both the ETF and EFFAT in the fish sector, through the lens of both challenges and opportunities, is the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which most recent update took effect on 1 January 2014. While fisheries and aquaculture remain important sources of food, nutrition, income and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people around the world, the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) aims to ensure that fishing and aquaculture in Europe are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable and that they provide a source of healthy food for EU citizens. Its goal is to foster a dynamic fishing industry and ensure a fair standard of living for fishing communities.
Moreover, recent reports highlight that the the fishing industry – sea and inland fishing, aquaculture and processing of fisheries products- has a tremendous potential to contribute significantly to food security and adequate nutrition for a global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 20501.
