The European Commission has launched ‘Fishers of the Future’, an EU-wide participatory project that will examine the future role of fishers in society up to 2050.
The project will delve into the hopes, fears, expectations, and needs of fishers to understand how the profession is likely to evolve by 2050.
‘Fishers of the Future’ will also explore the expansion of fishers’ role in society beyond providing high-quality seafood.
The research will focus on three specific strands:
The project will involve fishers and related actors at the local level to capture their opinions and perceptions. The aim is to develop a shared understanding of challenges and future possibilities together with fishers.
This will then inform potential transitions within the fisheries sector. ‘Fishers of the Future’ will provide European institutions with key decision-making tools. Simultaneously, the study will assess how to move towards a sustainable sector that can attract and retain future generations of fishers.
The project will run until December 2024. A participatory kick-off event involving a wide range of stakeholders will be held in spring of 2024.