Italy I3 Socio-economic Profile


1 Italy : I3
1.1 Overview

The area defined as Italy I3 covers the 2 administrative region of  Sicily and Sardinia.  Together they have 3,300 km of coastline with 244 landing places.  In 1997 there were 4,954 active fishing vessels with a total GRT of 88,734  (which is 36% of the national total). As in the rest of Italy there are a large number of small scale vessels, 3,304.  In terms of vessel numbers, the province of Trapani, in Sicily is one of the most important fishing areas with 844 vessels.  The Sicilian fleet has larger vessels than the Sardinian fleet with 88% of the GRT.  The Sardinian fleet largely consists mainly of smaller vessels with traditional artisanal gear.

In 1997, the Sicilian and Sardinian fleet landed  about 122,083 tonnes of fish (28% of the total Italian Production) and valued at 571,709,946 ECU.  Species caught are varied and categorised into 'other fish' (62% of catch), pelagics (13%) and molluscs  (11% of catch).  25% of the total catches are landed by bottom trawlers.  The smaller vessels land approximately 12% of the I3 production.  The small vessel catch is mainly for human consumption and is often sold direct to local fish markets of to restaurants without processing or going through wholesalers.

There are 127 processing plants in I3 which accounts for 32% of the national total.  These plants process locally landed anchovies and sardines as well tuna

1.2 Coastal Fishing Employment

The fishing sector provides employment for  16,350 people in Sicily and Sardinia.  In terms of numbers  the port of Trapani dominates with 4,033 fishers.  Again the level of education of these fishers is low and they are all recorded as being male and full time.

1.3 Processing Employment

The total number employed in the processing sector is 1,173 compared to the national total of 6,447.  Many are part time workers (87% are women, 13% are men).

1.4 Vessel Construction And Repair

There are 379 people employed in the construction and maintenance sector of which the majority are  men (96%).  These workers are mainly concentrated in the province of Sassari in Sardinia and in the provinces of Messina and Palermo in Sicily.

1.5 Marine Aquaculture Employment

The marine aquaculture sector provides employment for 1,292.  The majority of these (714) were based in Sassari.  Aquaculture production in I3 comprises of both mussel production and euryhaline species.  The percentage of women employed is low , only 10%.

1.6 Inland Aquaculture

Inland aquaculture largely consists of family run trout farms and provides employment for  a total of 10 persons.