Training and Social Security Schemes for Fishers in the EU: State of Play and Perspectives

Training and social security
schemes for fishers
State of play and perspectives in the EU
Milena Arias Schreiber
University of Gothenburg (Sweden)
Arne Kinds
University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
1
Outline
1.
Brief introduction
2.
Mutual recognition of certificates of competency
of fishers across the EU
3.
Social security schemes for EU fishers
4.
Conclusions and recommendations
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
2
1. Introduction
Background
EU Commission Fisheries and Oceans
 
Pact and social pillar of the CFP
Objectives
Provide an up-to-date overview of the mutual recognition
of fishers’ certificates of competency by Member States.
Analyse the functioning of social security schemes for
fishers in Member States.
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
3
2. Mutual recognition of fishers’
certificates of competency
Specific objectives of Part 1 of the study
Describe the international legal framework 
governing the
training and certification of fishers, and the EU’s role in
implementing these provisions
Safety at sea international framework
EU Directive for the recognition of professional qualifications
Assess the current state of play of the recognition of
fishers’ certificates
 of competency across the EU
Examine the process of ratification 
of international standards
by EU MS, and identify the challenges that hinder it.
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
4
2. Mutual recognition of fishers
certificates of competency
International legal framework
‘Safety at sea’ 
is governed by 
three international conventions
IMO Torremolinos Intl. Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels (1977)
IMO International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel - STCW-F (1995)
ILO Work in Fishing Convention - C188 (2007)
Focus on STCW-F
, which stipulates 
minimum requirements
for the training and certification of fishers 
(skippers, engineer
officers, radio operators)
Ratification by EU MS is low 
(only 10 MS to date)
Most fatal accidents at sea are caused by 
human error 
(EMSA, 2018)
An EU-wide standard is crucial, but how to accomplish it?
DG MARE is working towards EU-wide ratification, but also considers
transposition (
social partners)
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
5
2. Mutual recognition of fishers
certificates of competency
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
6
EU framework for the recognition of professional
qualifications
Professional Qualifications Directive
’ (Directive 2005/36/EC)
Generic framework 
(non-fisheries specific)
Case by case
: the recognition procedure is initiated by the applicant and is
evaluated by the competent authority of the host Member State
Regulated Professions Database (DG GROW)
: 46 regulated
fishing professions giving rise to 78 actual professions in six
categories
Europêche et al. (2000)
Arias Schreiber et al. (2024)
2. Mutual Recognition of fishers
certificates of competency
Analysis of the current state of play
We identified 
46 regulated fishing professions 
in the EU,
across 10 MS
Underestimation
 as some professions fall under categories related to
seafaring
Required levels of 
qualification vary greatly 
between countries
Variation is the 
highest for skipper professions
Between 
1997-2022, 1740 applications 
for fishers’ mobility were
processed
41% in the category ‘seaman’, and 30% in the category ‘skipper’
82% of applications were assessed positively 
(seaman, skipper and
engineer)
Latvia and Poland 
rejected the most applications (together 55% of
negative decisions, all applications from Denmark)
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
7
2. Mutual Recognition of fishers
certificates of competency
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
8
Portugal, France, Spain, 
and
 Denmark 
accounted for 
97% of mobility
applications
These are
countries which
have already
ratified STCW-F,
suggesting
that STCW-F
ratification
enhances
fisher mobility
Spain, Portugal, 
and
 Poland 
were responsible 
for 89% of decisions
2. Mutual recognition of fishers
certificates of competency
Challenges hindering ratification and the way forward
Efforts to increase EU-wide ratification of STCW-F have had limited
success, and 
4 MS with a coastline do not consider ratification
necessary
 
(Estonia, Finland, Slovenia, and Bulgaria)
Reasons remain anecdotal
, but according to experts they need to be
sought in the 
high administrative and financial burden
, especially for
MS with large fleets and/or with fleets which are only fishing within EU
waters.
The ratification pathway acts as a 
de facto 
EU standard 
if all MS
ratify STCW-F…
Arguably a 
more robust standard 
would be achieved through the
transposition
 of the STCW-F Convention into EU law (through a Directive)
Codification of such Directive into the Qualifications Directive, 
would allow
mutual recognition 
of certificates of competency between MS
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
9
3. Social security of EU fishers
Specific objectives
Describe the 
international legal framework
concerning the social protection of fishers
Analyse the social security systems 
for marine
fisheries across Member States, in particular for 
small-
scale fishers
Identify 
best practices 
that could be replicated in other
Member States
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
10
3. Social security of EU fishers
Legal framework
Social security is a fundamental human right; a 
national
responsibility 
of each Member State
Articles 45, 48 TFEU on free movement of workers as well
as Regulation 883/2004 on the 
coordination of social
security
 systems
Council Directive (EU) 2017/159 on the implementation of
the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 2007, excludes
almost half of the small-scale EU fishers and 
one third
of all EU fishers
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
11
11
3. Social security of EU fishers
State of play
Data on social security is missing under the EU 
Data
Collection
 Framework on fisheries
Eight Member States have 
special laws or regimes 
for
the social security of fishers
EU fishers in LSF (40% of total) mostly 
work under SER
and are covered by national social security schemes
EU small-scale fishers (almost 62 000) under a 
non-
standard employment relationship and/or self-
employed
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
12
3. Social security of EU fishers
Analysis
Spain and France lead while Cyprus fishers (98% small-
scale fishers) are not considered paid workers and 
lack
social security 
coverage
Lack of data 
and capacity to adapt to current
 
challenges (i.e. climate change, ageing fisher
 
population)
Small-scale fishers as 
economically
 
dependent self-employees
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
13
4. Conclusions and recommendations
Mutual recognition of certificates of competency
An 
EU standard 
for training of fishers rooted in the
STCW-F Convention would create a much-needed level
playing field for the training of fishers and the delivery of
certificates of competency. This promotes 
fishers
mobility 
through the mutual recognition of 
certificates
of competency
, and contributes to the 
overall
attractiveness 
of the fishing sector
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
14
4. Recommendations
Social security of EU fishers
Data collection:
Clarification: unpaid work, FTEs, self-employed
Include: full-time and part-time fishers working under formal
contracts, fishers without contracts, fishers with fixed salaries
or share-paid or both, self-employed fishers
Informal work in the small-sale fleet
Collaboration with 
national agencies 
in charge with
social security
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
15
Social security of EU fishers
Best practices 
identified in Member States that could
stimulate generational renewal and 
attractiveness
 of
the fishing occupation:
integrate social security under SER and self-employment in a
single specific legislation
provide fishers with a 
minimum monthly wage
recognize fishing as an arduous and hazardous occupation and
allow 
early retirement 
possibilities and special 
allowances for
accidents at sea
Offer social security during the 
periods of training of
newcomers
, and
Prepare for cessation due to higher frequency of extreme
climatic events
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
16
23
/
01
/20
24
Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries
17
Many thanks for your attention.
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This presentation discusses the mutual recognition of certificates of competency for fishers across the EU and the social security schemes in place. The focus is on the international legal framework, challenges, and recommendations for improving training and certification standards to enhance safety at sea. Emphasizing the importance of EU-wide ratification and transposition to address human error-related accidents at sea.


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  1. Training and social security schemes for fishers State of play and perspectives in the EU Milena Arias Schreiber University of Gothenburg (Sweden) Arne Kinds University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 1

  2. Outline 1. Brief introduction 2. Mutual recognition of certificates of competency of fishers across the EU 3. Social security schemes for EU fishers 4. Conclusions and recommendations 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 2

  3. 1. Introduction Background EU Commission Fisheries and Oceans Pact and social pillar of the CFP Objectives Provide an up-to-date overview of the mutual recognition of fishers certificates of competency by Member States. Analyse the functioning of social security schemes for fishers in Member States. 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 3

  4. 2. Mutual recognition of fishers certificates of competency Specific objectives of Part 1 of the study Describe the international legal framework governing the training and certification of fishers, and the EU s role in implementing these provisions Safety at sea international framework EU Directive for the recognition of professional qualifications Assess the current state of play of the recognition of fishers certificates of competency across the EU Examine the process of ratification of international standards by EU MS, and identify the challenges that hinder it. 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 4

  5. 2. Mutual recognition of fishers certificates of competency International legal framework Safety at sea is governed by three international conventions IMO Torremolinos Intl. Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels (1977) IMO International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel - STCW-F (1995) ILO Work in Fishing Convention - C188 (2007) Focus on STCW-F, which stipulates minimum requirements for the training and certification of fishers (skippers, engineer officers, radio operators) Ratification by EU MS is low (only 10 MS to date) Most fatal accidents at sea are caused by human error (EMSA, 2018) An EU-wide standard is crucial, but how to accomplish it? DG MARE is working towards EU-wide ratification, but also considers transposition ( social partners) 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 5

  6. 2. Mutual recognition of fishers certificates of competency EU framework for the recognition of professional qualifications Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC) Generic framework (non-fisheries specific) Case by case: the recognition procedure is initiated by the applicant and is evaluated by the competent authority of the host Member State Regulated Professions Database (DG GROW): 46 regulated fishing professions giving rise to 78 actual professions in six categories Arias Schreiber et al. (2024) Europ che et al. (2000) 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 6

  7. 2. Mutual Recognition of fishers certificates of competency Analysis of the current state of play We identified 46 regulated fishing professions in the EU, across 10 MS Underestimation as some professions fall under categories related to seafaring Required levels of qualification vary greatly between countries Variation is the highest for skipper professions Between 1997-2022, 1740 applications for fishers mobility were processed 41% in the category seaman , and 30% in the category skipper 82% of applications were assessed positively (seaman, skipper and engineer) Latvia and Poland rejected the most applications (together 55% of negative decisions, all applications from Denmark) 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 7

  8. 2. Mutual Recognition of fishers certificates of competency Portugal, France, Spain, and Denmark accounted for 97% of mobility applications Spain, Portugal, and Poland were responsible for 89% of decisions These are countries which have already ratified STCW-F, suggesting that STCW-F ratification enhances fisher mobility 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 8

  9. 2. Mutual recognition of fishers certificates of competency Challenges hindering ratification and the way forward Efforts to increase EU-wide ratification of STCW-F have had limited success, and 4 MS with a coastline do not consider ratification necessary(Estonia, Finland, Slovenia, and Bulgaria) Reasons remain anecdotal, but according to experts they need to be sought in the high administrative and financial burden, especially for MS with large fleets and/or with fleets which are only fishing within EU waters. The ratification pathway acts as a de facto EU standard if all MS ratify STCW-F Arguably a more robust standard would be achieved through the transposition of the STCW-F Convention into EU law (through a Directive) Codification of such Directive into the Qualifications Directive, would allow mutual recognition of certificates of competency between MS 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 9

  10. 3. Social security of EU fishers Specific objectives Describe the international legal framework concerning the social protection of fishers Analyse the social security systems for marine fisheries across Member States, in particular for small- scale fishers Identify best practices that could be replicated in other Member States 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 10

  11. 3. Social security of EU fishers Legal framework Social security is a fundamental human right; a national responsibility of each Member State Articles 45, 48 TFEU on free movement of workers as well as Regulation 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems Council Directive (EU) 2017/159 on the implementation of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 2007, excludes almost half of the small-scale EU fishers and one third of all EU fishers 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 11

  12. 3. Social security of EU fishers State of play Data on social security is missing under the EU Data Collection Framework on fisheries Eight Member States have special laws or regimes for the social security of fishers EU fishers in LSF (40% of total) mostly work under SER and are covered by national social security schemes EU small-scale fishers (almost 62 000) under a non- standard employment relationship and/or self- employed 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 12

  13. 3. Social security of EU fishers Analysis Spain and France lead while Cyprus fishers (98% small- scale fishers) are not considered paid workers and lack social security coverage Lack of data and capacity to adapt to current challenges (i.e. climate change, ageing fisher population) Small-scale fishers as economically dependent self-employees 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 13

  14. 4. Conclusions and recommendations Mutual recognition of certificates of competency An EU standard for training of fishers rooted in the STCW-F Convention would create a much-needed level playing field for the training of fishers and the delivery of certificates of competency. This promotes fishers mobility through the mutual recognition of certificates of competency, and contributes to the overall attractiveness of the fishing sector 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 14

  15. 4. Recommendations Social security of EU fishers Data collection: Clarification: unpaid work, FTEs, self-employed Include: full-time and part-time fishers working under formal contracts, fishers without contracts, fishers with fixed salaries or share-paid or both, self-employed fishers Informal work in the small-sale fleet Collaboration with national agencies in charge with social security 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 15

  16. Social security of EU fishers Best practices identified in Member States that could stimulate generational renewal and attractiveness of the fishing occupation: integrate social security under SER and self-employment in a single specific legislation provide fishers with a minimum monthly wage recognize fishing as an arduous and hazardous occupation and allow early retirement possibilities and special allowances for accidents at sea Offer social security during the periods of training of newcomers, and Prepare for cessation due to higher frequency of extreme climatic events Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 16 23/01/2024

  17. Many thanks for your attention. 23/01/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Fisheries 17

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