Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) - The 2017 annual economic report on the EU fishing fleet (STECF 17-12)

In 2015, the EU fishing fleet numbered 84 420 vessels with a combined gross tonnage (GT) of 1.62 million tonnes and engine power of 6.44 million kilowatts (kW). EU fleet capacity continues to decrease steadily at an average annual rate of 2.2% in terms of vessel numbers and engine power (kW) and 2.5% in terms of gross tonnage (GT). Based on data submitted by Member States under Data Collection Framework (DCF), there were 63 976 active vessels in 2015, of which 74% were classed as small-scale coastal vessels, 25% as large-scale and remaining 1%, distant-water vessels. The EU inactive fleet, amounting to 20 444 vessels, represented 24% of the total EU fleet in number, 9% of the gross tonnage and 14% of the engine power. Direct employment generated by the fleet amounted to 152 720 fishers, corresponding to 114 863 FTEs; on average earning €24.8 in wages annually. The EU fleet spent 4.8 million days at sea and consumed 2.3 billion litres of fuel to land over 5 million tonnes of seafood with a reported value of €7 billion. Revenue (income from landings plus other income) earned by the EU fishing fleet in 2015 (excl. Greece) was estimated at €7.27 billion. The amount of Gross Value Added (GVA) and gross profit (all excl. subsidies) generated by the EU fishing fleet (excl. Greece) was €3.9 billion and €1.6 billion, respectively. GVA as a proportion of revenue was estimated at 54% and gross profit margin at 23%. With a total net profit of €798 million in 2015, 11% of the revenue was retained as profit, up from 7.4% in 2013 and remaining stable compared to 2014 This publication includes: 1) An structural and economic overview of the EU fishing fleet in 2015, with projections for 2016-2017, and trend analyses for the years 2008-2015; 2) A regional analysis of the EU fishing fleet by major sea basin: Baltic Sea, North Sea & Eastern Arctic, North East Atlantic, Mediterranean & Black Sea, as well as fleets operating in Other Fishing Regions, including the Northwest Atlantic, Outermost regions and Other regions; 3) A detailed structural and economic overview of each EU Member State fishing fleet, including qualitative economic performance assessments for 2015 and projections for 2016 and 2017.