French fishing industry representatives met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Salon de l’agriculture on February 21st to advocate for their sector's interests. Key concerns raised included a proposed 60% reduction in the European Union's fishing budget for 2028-2034, which they deem unacceptable, and the urgent need to modernize their fleet, with French vessels averaging 28 years old and crews averaging 50 years old. The industry is seeking continued, or at least minimally renewed, EU funding and a single, unified budget managed at the European level, emphasizing that fleet renewal is crucial for food sovereignty and security. President Macron reportedly offered support for these demands to be presented in Brussels, alongside calls for simplified fishing control regulations and enhanced competitiveness through better identification of French product origin.