Fishing is believed to be one of the oldest professions in the world, with evidence of this activity dating back to prehistoric times.

According to the European Commission, in 2018 more than 150,000 people worked in the fishing industry in the European Union, but this number is declining. 

An ageing workforce, lack of investment, safety concerns, and sustainability challenges are just some of the difficulties that this sector is facing. 

In this episode, Euronews science reporter, Jeremy Wilks, discusses the future of European fishing communities with Anna Carlson, Fishery Officer for Socio-economic Issues at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. 

Our second guest is Esben Sverdrup-Jensen, President of the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations.

And at the end of the episode, Captain Peter Hammarstedt, the Director of Campaigns for Sea Shepherd, shares a personal and moving story of saving a pilot whale. 

Thanks to Melvin van der Niet and Ton van Duijn from the STC scheepvaart en transport college, in Katwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands, and to Vicente Alfonso, from Gandia in Valencia, Spain, for talking to us about their experience as fishermen. 

Hosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wilks.

Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.

Sound design and mixing are by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and Matthieu Duchaine.  

The theme music is by Gabriel Dalmasso.

Our production coordinator is Carolyne Labbe and our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet. 

The Ocean Calls podcast is made possible by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

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