A New Lease of Life for Fishermen
€6.9 million in funding from the French State and the Regional Council marks the long-awaited return of public aid to renew the professional fishing fleet in Réunion.
On April 1, 2026, the European Commission approved the scheme, ending seventeen years of negotiations and waiting for fishermen. Since 2009, the last subsidies granted for vessel construction had left the industry operating without a clear plan. Boats were aging, profit margins were shrinking, and safety remained a source of concern. Faced with this situation, professionals repeatedly approached European institutions to obtain support tailored to the specific needs of the French overseas territories.
The process was long but gradual. In 2018, the amendment to the State aid guidelines recognized the particularities of the overseas territories. In 2022, the approval of the fleet renewal aid scheme marked another milestone. The recent decision by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries makes the scheme fully operational, with tax relief mechanisms for larger vessels.
For Gérard Zitte, President of the Regional Fisheries Committee, this announcement goes beyond the technical aspects. This decision rewards seventeen years of collective mobilization with European institutions and public authorities, from local authorities to the President of the Republic.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. The oil crisis and rising fuel prices continue to weigh on operating costs and the profitability of fishing fleets. In this context, the sector must now focus on the practical implementation of the aid. This involves financial solutions, but also adapting port infrastructure and preparing the necessary berths for new vessels.
Working groups and meetings with shipyards are planned to help fishermen choose and acquire their boats. The objective is to modernize the fleet, improve safety, and strengthen a sector essential to Réunion’s maritime economy. For the CRPMEM, the main challenge is to transform this aid into concrete and sustainable results for the profession.
