Training and certification standards of fishers on EU vessels

What the Commission proposes

The European Commission is preparing a legislative initiative to implement the International Maritime Organisation Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) into EU law through a directive. Currently, only ten Member States have ratified this convention, leading to significant discrepancies in training standards, safety risks, and workforce mobility across the EU. The proposed directive aims to establish harmonized minimum standards of training and certification for fishers on EU vessels, thereby improving occupational safety, environmental awareness, and the overall attractiveness of the sector. The Commission is seeking feedback from the public and stakeholders on its problem assessment, potential policy options, and their expected impacts.

• Only ten EU Member States have ratified the IMO STCW-F Convention so far, creating uneven skill levels and standards across the Union.
• Fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in Europe, with human error cited as the main cause of serious incidents.
• The initiative seeks to establish EU-wide minimum training and certification standards, similar to existing rules for merchant seafarers.
• Expected benefits include improved onboard safety, reduced accidents, enhanced worker mobility across Member States, and a better professional image for the sector.
• The policy options range from maintaining the status quo to introducing a binding directive implementing the STCW-F standards.
• Anticipated impacts involve administrative costs for setting up training modules and compliance monitoring, balanced by reduced mutual recognition costs and greater labor flexibility.

Affected, as named in the text: fishers; vessel owners; training institutes; national authorities.

What is asked: Respondents are asked to provide feedback on the Commission's understanding of the problems in the fishing sector, possible policy solutions, and any relevant information or data they may have regarding the potential impacts of the different options.

Summary written from 16 passages of the Commission document by gemini-3.5-flash-lite on 3 Oct 2026; cached and shared by every organisation.

Commission documents: Proposal for a Directive from the European Parliament and the Council on the... (EN, 4 pages).

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