Fleet exit plan for amphihaline fishermen now open

A €10 million scheme is available for voluntary fishermen of eels, salmon, and other migratory species, until November 30, 2026.

Generic image of fishing nets with colorful fish, against a blue sea background.
AI

Generic image of fishing nets with colorful fish, against a blue sea background.

A voluntary fleet exit plan, with a budget of €10 million, is now open to professional fishermen of amphihaline species in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, particularly those targeting the European eel.

This initiative, a commitment made during UNOC-3, aims to support fishermen active in these fisheries and sustainably reduce fishing pressure to rebuild amphihaline stocks. It follows several commitments made by France at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, concerning the preservation of migratory amphihaline fish, including the eel, a critically endangered species according to the IUCN.
Eligibility criteria and compensation scales have been developed in consultation with professionals for over a year and are adapted to the specificities of these seasonal fisheries. Shipowners wishing to benefit from this scheme can submit their applications via the online platform of FranceAgriMer until November 30, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Applications will be processed as they are received, and eligible, complete applications will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis, extending into 2027. This plan is part of a national action plan for the conservation and protection of amphihaline species, whose biological status is currently degraded.
Based on information from the official source: DIRM Méditerranée (30/10/2026)