In 2013, the EU fishing fleet numbered 83,734 vessels with a combined gross tonnage (GT) of 1.6 million tonnes and engine power of 6.5 million kilowatts (kW). EU fleet capacity has continued to decrease steadily, with an average annual decrease of 2% in terms of vessel numbers and kW and 3% in terms of GT. Based on DCF data, there were 65,363 vessels active and 18,371 inactive vessels. Of the active vessels, 74% were small-scale, 26% were large-scale and less than 1% were distant-water vessels. Direct employment generated by the fleet amounted to just over 149,000 fishers, corresponding to 110,000 FTEs (excl. Cyprus). The total income earned by the EU fishing fleet in 2013 (excl. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece and Malta) was estimated at €6.9 billion. As in previous years, the major cost items were labour and energy, representing 37% and 27% of total operating costs, respectively. The amount of Gross Value Added (GVA) and gross profit (all excl. subsidies) generated by the EU fishing fleet (excl. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece and Malta) in 2013 was €3.4 billion and €1.3 billion, respectively. GVA as a proportion of total revenue was estimated at 49% and gross profit margin at 20%. With a total net profit of €506 million for the EU fleet in 2013, 7.8% of the revenue was retained as net profit. This publication includes: 1) An structural and economic overview of the EU fishing fleet in 2013, with projections for 2014, and trend analyses for the years 2008-2013; 2) A regional analysis of the EU fishing fleet by major sea basin: Baltic Sea, North Sea, North East Atlantic, Mediterranean & Black Sea, as well as fleets operating in Other Fishing Regions, including the Northwest Atlantic, Eastern Arctic, 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 2013 and projections for 2014 and 2015; 4) Projections for 2014, 2015 and a situation with stocks at MSY for North Atlantic fleets and projections for 2014 and 205 for Mediterranean fleets using models for forecasting.

This report was originally published by the European Commission here.