In a written answer on 22 July 2026, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis defended the continued use of gross tonnage (GT) and engine power (kW) as the primary indicators for monitoring EU fishing fleet capacity under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), while acknowledging that a recent study has examined possible alternative approaches. The response came to a parliamentary question from Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left), who had raised concerns that technological advances and inconsistent national practices undermine the effectiveness of these metrics.
Kadis pointed to a recent Commission-funded study on the EU fishing fleet that assesses evolution and challenges, including alternative ways to measure fishing capacity. The study, he said, fed into the broader evaluation of the CFP Regulation. However, he stressed that GT and kW measurement methodologies are already well established by Regulation (EU) 2017/1130 and based on accepted technical standards, adding that there is no evidence of a clear need for updating them, nor viable alternative standards.
On uniform application, Kadis noted that Member States must comply with capacity ceilings and ensure checks on GT and kW, and that the Commission has issued technical guidance to support harmonised monitoring and control of engine power. He also highlighted that the amended Fisheries Control Regulation (EU 2023/2842) empowers the Commission to adopt implementing acts on certification and verification of engine power, including continuous monitoring systems, with rules applicable from 10 January 2028. This, he argued, will contribute to improving uniform application across the EU.
The answer signals that the Commission sees no immediate need to replace or supplement GT and kW with alternative fishing effort indicators, despite the study's exploration of options. The response is largely declarative, reaffirming existing frameworks and pointing to future implementing acts rather than proposing new legislative changes. Institutional follow-up is expected through the ongoing implementation of the Fisheries Control Regulation amendments and the annual STECF assessments of Member States' fleet balance reports.