Report on the evaluation of data collection related to the fish processing sector (SGECA 09 03) : 19-23 October, Ispra

This report constitutes the first attempt to compile national statistics and give an overview on the performance of the fish processing industry in the EU. Since 2006, Member States have to collect data on the fish processing industry under the Data Collection Regulation. This has allowed working in this report with 2006 and 2007 data. The report first presents the data at the national level and later at the EU level, showing the importance of this sector, with a turnover around 25 billion Euros, Gross Value Added of around 4 billion Euros and more than 120 thousand employees. The report also deals with the trends and drivers for change in the fish processing industry and the future possible issues following the data analysis. Hence this report helps to quantify the importance of this industry, necessary since the fish processing industry is an important driver to accomplish the basic aims of the Common Fisheries Policy: the sustainable use of marine resources.