The 2024 annual economic report on the EU fishing fleet (STECF 24-07)

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4-10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. In 2022, the EU fishing fleet numbered 70 986 vessels with a combined gross tonnage of 1.32 million and engine power of 5.26 million kW. Based on data submitted by EU Member States under the EU multiannual programme (EU MAP) for data collection, there were 52 830 active vessels in 2022 offering direct employment to 119 702 fishers, corresponding to 75 816 FTEs; on average earning EUR 30 277 per FTE in wages, annually. The EU fleet spent 5.1 million days-at-sea and consumed 1.81 billion litres of fuel to land 3.49 million tonnes of seafood with a reported value of EUR 6.6 billion. The Gross Value Added (GVA) and gross profit (all excl. subsidies and fishing rights) were estimated at EUR 3.4 billion and EUR 1.1 billion, respectively. GVA as a proportion of revenue was estimated at 49.2% and gross profit margin at almost 15.9%. With a total net profit of almost EUR 148 million in 2022, 2.2% of the revenue was retained as profit. These results should be read in a context of an increase of fuel cost in 2022 compared to the whole time series. Overall economic performance indicators display a deterioration compared to 2021 while nowcast estimates suggest that the economic performance of the EU fishing fleet has improved in 2023 and in 2024, specially driven by the decrease in fuel prices. This publication includes: 1) a structural and economic overview of the EU fishing fleet in 2022, trend analyses for the years 2013-2022, and where possible nowcasts for 2023 and 2024; a regional analysis of the EU fishing fleet by major sea basin, as well as, fleets operating in the EU Outermost Regions and in Other Fishing Regions; 3) a detailed structural and economic overview of each Member State's fishing fleet, including qualitative economic performance assessments for 2022 and nowcasts for 2023 and 2024.