In 2014, the EU fishing fleet numbered 81 500 vessels with a combined gross tonnage (GT) of 1.6 million tonnes and engine power of 6.4 million kilowatts (kW). EU fleet capacity has continued to decrease steadily, at an average annual rate of 2% in terms of vessel numbers and engine power (kW) and 3% in terms of gross tonnage (GT). Based on data submitted by Member States under the Data Collection Framework (DCF), there were 63 642 active vessels and 17 860 inactive vessels in 2014. Of the active vessels, 74% were classed as small-scale, 26% large-scale and remaining less than 1%, distant-water vessels. Direct employment generated by the fleet amounted to just under 150 000 fishers, corresponding to 111 140 FTEs. The revenue (income from landings plus other income) earned by the EU fishing fleet in 2014 (excl. Greece) was estimated at €7.25 billion. As in previous years, the major cost items were labour and energy, representing 34% and 22% 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. Greece) in 2014 was €3.7 billion and €1.6 billion, respectively. GVA as a proportion of total revenue was estimated at 51.5% and gross profit margin at 21.9%. With a total net profit of €770 million for the EU fleet in 2014, 10.6% of the revenue was retained as net profit, up from 7.3% in 2013. This publication includes: 1) An structural and economic overview of the EU fishing fleet in 2014, with projections for 2015-2016, and trend analyses for the years 2008-2014; 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 2014 and projections for 2015 and 2016 for MS fleets operating in the NE Atlantic, based on the Bio-Economic Model of European Fleets (BEMEF).

This report was originally published by the European Commission here.