European artisanal fishing is at a turning point. Beyond its economic importance—modest on a macroeconomic scale, but vital for many coastal communities—it represents identity, culture, and a way of life passed down through generations. A recent study published in Fish & Fisheries, one of the world’s most influential journals in fisheries science (ranked among the top international journals), provides new insights into a problem that is quietly advancing: the lack of generational renewal in European fisheries. 

This work also has added value: it has been led mainly by two young researchers in training, Andrea Márquez and Meritxell Maimí, accompanied by two professors also linked to the Gandia Campus of the UPV and the Research Institute for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IGIC). This is an example of the research momentum that is being generated in Gandia around marine sustainability and the socio-economics of fishing. 

A surprising gap in the scientific literature 

Although the aging of the fleet and the lack of young people is a recurring theme in institutional discourse and fishing forums, the research reveals something striking: of more than 2,400 studies reviewed, only five address generational renewal as a central issue. 

Most scientific research on fishing in Europe has focused on economic, ecological, or regulatory aspects, leaving the social and labor dimensions in the background. But without a new generation of fishermen, sustainability—in any sense—is impossible. 

Why are there hardly any young people who want to be fishermen anymore? 

The study identifies more than 20 obstacles that hinder the entry of new professionals. Among the most relevant are: 

1. A regulatory maze and little support for small-scale fishermen 

Obtaining licenses, quotas, or boats has become such a complex and costly process that it discourages anyone who wants to get started. 

Current regulations, often designed for large fleets, do not reflect the reality of artisanal fishing. 

2. Low profitability and extremely high entry costs 

Buying a boat, equipping it, obtaining permits… The initial investment is enormous, and income is uncertain. 

In many countries, entering the sector is as difficult as starting a technology company… but without the potential rewards. 

3. Harsh working conditions and poor safety 

Long hours, bad weather, dependence on the weather, and one of the highest accident rates among professions. 

Fishing remains—objectively—a hard and risky job. 

4. New aspirations among young people 

The search for stability, work-life balance, and promising careers makes fishing seem like an unattractive option. 

5. A traditionally closed sector 

For decades, fishing was passed down within families. This model, now weakened, has become a barrier to entry for people with no prior connection to the industry. 

6. The scarce presence of women 

Despite their essential role in the value chain, women continue to face enormous difficulties in accessing the sea. This further reduces the potential for generational renewal. 

More than economics: culture, identity, and social cohesion 

In communities such as Galicia, the Spanish Mediterranean, and the French Atlantic coast, fishing is part of the landscape and collective memory. Its decline affects not only the sector, but also: 

• the local economic fabric, 

• tourism and gastronomy, 

• the preservation of traditions, 

• and the transmission of knowledge that cannot be found in books. 

Losing fishermen means losing maritime culture. 

What solutions does the study propose? 

The Gandia Campus team proposes an integrative approach that goes far beyond training young people: 

1. Reforming governance 

Simpler regulations, adapted to small-scale fishing and with greater participation by the fishermen themselves in decision-making. 

2. Improving local profitability 

Reduce intermediaries, promote local markets, youth cooperatives, and co-management models that share risks. 

3. Early education and training 

School programs, real-world internships with fishing guilds, and modernization of vocational training related to the sea. 

4. Economic diversification 

Marine tourism, recreational activities, environmental services, or community projects that supplement income. 

5. Change the narrative 

Raise the profile of fishing as an innovative, sustainable profession that is compatible with the challenges of the blue economy. 

Conclusion: act now or lose a legacy 

The study is clear: without coordinated intervention, the generational shift will continue to weaken. And the impact will not only be productive, but also cultural and social. 

Europe needs fishermen to manage its seas, ensure sustainability, and keep alive a heritage that is part of its identity. 

Thanks to the work led by Andrea Márquez and Meritxell Maimí at the UPV—and published in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals in fisheries science—we now know that science is beginning to look where it did not look before. 

And that we still have time to transform the future of European fishing.