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European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • News article
  • 22 January 2025
  • European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • 1 min read

EU-funded HY2FISH project sets sail for greener fishing

Retrofitting fishing vessels
Source: Adobe Stock - All right reserved

Today the European Commission (DG MARE) and CINEA kicked off the HY2FISH project, a pioneering initiative aimed at increasing the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of fishing vessels. 

The project has been awarded EU funding of €2.2 million under the Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions scheme, and has started in December 2024.

HY2FISH aims to develop and demonstrate innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions by retrofitting a demonstrator fishing vessel off the Spanish coast. The project targets 40% reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Coordinated by ARVI, a Vigo-based Cooperative of fishing vessel owners, the project brings together a further 11 partner organisations from 8 European countries, including Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Greece, Lithuania, and Germany.

Over the next three years, the HY2FISH consortium will work together to design, test, and validate new technologies and practices in the demonstrator fishing vessel, paving the way for a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly fishing industry.

Key activities include designing recyclable hull appendages to enhance hydrodynamics and reduce noise, implementing hybrid propulsion systems with hydrogen rotary generators, fuel cells, and marine batteries, as well as installing lightweight flexible photovoltaic panels.

By promoting sustainable fishing vessels, the project aligns with the aims set out in the Commission Communication on the Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture sector.

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