In 2016, the EU fishing fleet numbered 83 360 vessels with a combined gross tonnage (GT) of 1.56 million tonnes and engine power of 6.3 million kilowatts (kW). Based on data submitted by Member States under the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF), there were 65 400 active vessels in 2016, of which 75% were classed as small-scale coastal vessels, 24.6% as large-scale and remaining 0.4%, distant-water vessels. The EU inactive fleet, amounting to 17 962 vessels, represented 21.5% of the total fleet in number, 8% of the gross tonnage and 13% of the engine power. Direct employment generated by the fleet amounted to 152 331 fishers, corresponding to 114 776 FTEs; on average earning EUR 26 398 in wages annually. The EU fleet* spent 4.85 million days at sea and consumed 2.25 billion litres of fuel to land 4.9 million tonnes of seafood with a reported value of EUR 7.7 billion. Costs incurred by the fleet amounted to EUR 6.39 billion, 11% of which consisted of capital costs and 89% of operating costs. The latter mainly consisted of labour and fuel costs (38% and 14% of total costs, respectively). The Gross Value Added (GVA) and gross profit (all excl. subsidies) generated by the fleet was EUR 4.5 billion and EUR 2.1 billion, respectively. GVA as a proportion of revenue was estimated at 58% and gross profit margin at 27%. With a total net profit of EUR 1.3 billion in 2016, 17% of the revenue was retained as profit, up from 11% in 2015. This publication includes: 1) An structural and economic overview of the EU fishing fleet in 2016, with projections for 2017-2018, and trend analyses for the years 2008-2017/18; 2) A regional analysis of the EU fishing fleet by major sea basin: Baltic Sea, North Sea & Eastern Arctic, North East Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black seas, as well as, fleets operating in Other Fishing Regions, covering the EU Outermost Regions and fishing areas outside EU waters and in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, covered by Regional Fisheries Bodies; 3) A detailed structural and economic overview of each EU Member State fishing fleet, including qualitative economic performance assessments for 2016 and projections for 2017 and 2018.

This report was originally published by the European Commission here.