Nunez-Sanchez et al (2026) Are there sufficient incentives to decarbonize the trawl fleet in the EU ScienceDirect
This study assesses whether the EU trawl fleet can decarbonize while remaining economically viable. It finds that profit margins are generally low and highly dependent on fuel costs, meaning many vessels would struggle to absorb additional costs such as fuel taxes or environmental costs under current conditions. As a result, the fleet cannot internalize these costs without significant improvements in energy efficiency. The authors estimate that around €969 million would be needed to upgrade about 2,960 trawlers to improve efficiency and support a transition to low- or zero-emission fuels. However, the study also highlights that current EU fleet capacity ceiling rules limit the possibility of adopting alternative fuels, as new fuel systems require additional onboard space and tonnage. The authors therefore argue that regulatory flexibility, together with public support and targeted subsidies, would be necessary to enable the transition.
