Socio-economic Review of Community Fisheries
MegaPesca Lda, Portugal

REGIONAL PROFILES
Austria
BELGIUM
DENMARK
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
IRELAND
ITALY
LUXEMBOURG
NETHERLANDS
PORTUGAL
SPAIN
SWEDEN
UNITED
KINGDOM
Austria
The Austrian fishery sector is small, comprising of fish farming and inland
fishing only. The production from aquaculture (which concentrates on carp and
trout) was 4,274 tonnes (value about ECU 12.7 million) in 1997 and the sector
provided employment for some 300 full-time employees, 500 part-time jobs and
around 1,500 seasonal jobs. There are a further 100 people employed in
processing and related activities. In 1998, inland capture fisheries produced
454 tonnes, with a value of ECU 2.7 million. Employment extended to about 150
part-time jobs.
Belgium
In 1998 the Belgian fleet consisted of 148 vessels with a gross tonnage of
23,082 GT and power of 64,896kW. The average size of vessel is relatively higher
than the rest of the EU fleet, with some 57 vessels longer than 30m. A
significant part of the Belgian fleet is under Dutch ownership. Since 1991 the
Belgian fleet numbers have dropped from 205 vessels to 148 vessels,
corresponding to a 25% decrease in vessel numbers. Vessel numbers in 1998 fell
by 4 compared to 1997 figures.
Belgian vessels caught about 30,325 tonnes of fish in 1998 (value ECU 103.4 million). Of this 72% was landed in Belgian harbours whilst the rest was sold at foreign auctions (mainly in Netherlands). The Belgian fishing sector provided employment for 745 people in 1997, of which 87 were estimated to work part time. Employment in fishing is largely concentrated around the Brugge region, where 410 fishers were located.
There
is no coastal aquaculture in Belgium although pilot projects for turbot and
oyster farming have started recently. The Belgian inland aquaculture (trout and
carp production) provided employment for 137 people.
About half (64) of these worked part time. Inland fisheries yielded 511
tonnes in 1998, but numbers employed in the sector are not significant.
Processing
output was ECU 236.6 million in 1997. The larger processing firms are generally
not dependent on local landings but rely on imports of frozen fish. In 1997
there were 1,261 people employed in the Belgian processing industry; this number
includes wholesale traders and importers due to the fact that small scale
processing and wholesaling are substantially integrated.
Employment is concentrated in the Oostende and Brugge region. It is
estimated that almost half (569) of the workers are female.
Denmark
In 1998 the Danish fleet consisted of 4,648 vessels with a gross tonnage of
97,932 GT and power of
Table
4: Employment in the Danish fishery sector, 1998
|
|
Full
time |
Total |
|
Fishing |
2710 |
6361 |
|
Smoking |
1250 |
1931 |
|
Processing |
4323 |
5220 |
|
Fishmeal |
433 |
499 |
|
Wholesale |
2282 |
3399 |
|
Retail |
335 |
901 |
|
TOTAL |
11333 |
18311 |
Table
5: Landings of fish in Denmark by source and destination, 1998
|
Destination |
Danish
vessels |
Other
EU vessels |
Foreign
vessels |
All
vessels |
||||
|
Tonnes |
ECU |
Tonnes |
ECU |
Tonnes |
ECU |
tonnes |
ECU |
|
|
Human
consumption |
355,965 |
295,017,935 |
79,670 |
41,724,694 |
122,259 |
65,709,066 |
557,894 |
402,451,695 |
|
Fishmeal |
1,106,682 |
152,389,690 |
145,165 |
17,051,992 |
95,844 |
11,684,424 |
1,347,691 |
181,126,105 |
|
Total |
1,462,647 |
447,407,625 |
224,835 |
58,776,686 |
218,103 |
77,393,490 |
1,905,585 |
583,577,801 |
|
Source: Directorate
of Fisheries, 1999. Yearbook of Fishery Statistics 1998. Danish Ministry
of Fisheries |
||||||||
Landings
in Denmark in 1998 are shown in Table 5. Total landings were 1.9 million tonnes
with a value of ECU 583 million. Of this total, 70% is destined for reduction to
fishmeal and oil. Landings by other EU and non-EU vessels in Danish ports are
also significant, and are principally made by Sweden (mainly of fish for
industrial purposes) and the United Kingdom.
In
1998 32,607 tonnes of fish was produced from freshwater aquaculture, and 7,089
tonnes of trout was produced in marine culture systems. Estimated employment in
marine aquaculture was 200-300 in 1997. This figure includes slaughter, gutting
filleting, cooling/freezing and packing and sales for further processing. It is
estimated that 613 people are employed in freshwater trout production. A further
85 people (FTEs) are estimated to be employed in eel farming. The inland fishery
is estimated to provide employment for 5 people or less (FTE).
The
Danish processing industry is highly capitalised. In 1998 there were a total of
193 fish processing and preservation factories with a total production output
value of ECU 1.19 billion. The processing industry (all sectors including
fishmeal) in Denmark employed a total of 7,650 people
in 1998.
Finland
In 1998 the Finnish fleet comprised of 3,979 vessels with a total capacity of
24,170 GRT and power
Key
features of the Finnish fisheries are shown in Table 6. In 1998, there were
2,950 registered fishers, of which about 1,000 are full-time. For Finland as a
whole 92% of the fishing workforce is male; however in some areas, such as
Varsinais–Suomi the percentage of female fishers is as high as 18%.
In
1998 the Finnish catch totalled 115,178 tonnes valued at ECU 20.3 million In
terms of volume and value the Baltic herring was the most important with total
landing of 85,545 tonnes valued at ECU 11.9 million. Other
important species were salmon, vendace, sprat and cod.
Table
6: Outputs and employment in Finnish fishery sector, 1998
|
Activity |
Production |
Employment |
|
|
Tonnes |
ECU
million |
||
|
Marine
fishing |
115,178 |
20.3 |
2950 |
|
Marine
aquaculture |
13,269 |
32.1 |
381 |
|
Inland
aquaculture |
2,755 |
6.7 |
270 |
|
Inland
fishing |
4,568 |
5.8 |
995 |
|
Processing |
38,7111 |
80.0 |
560 |
|
Source: Professional Marine Fishery 1998 and
Professional Inland Fishery 1998; Finnish Game and Fisheries Research
Institute 2000 |
|||
|
1
raw material usage |
|||
Coastal
aquaculture is concentrated in South-western Finland and produced 13,269 tonnes,
mainly rainbow trout, in 1998. Inland aquaculture produced a further 2,755
tonnes. The aquaculture industry employed 651 people. Freshwater fisheries in
Finland yielded 4,568 tonnes of fish (ECU 5.8 million) with the main species
fished being vendace. There are almost 995 registered commercial fishers in
inland waters, but for only 230 of these was fishing the principle source of
income.
In
1998 there were around 172 establishments engaged in fish processing. The
industry is highly concentrated with the 10 largest companies accounting for
over 50% of the production volume. The total amount of fish (mainly Baltic
herring and farmed rainbow trout) processed for human consumption was 38,711
tonnes, of which 85% tonnes was domestic production and the rest was imported
raw material.
France
In France there were 8,836 registered fishing vessels in 1998, with a
tonnage of 209,460 GRT and power of
1,141,528
kW. Around 75% of the vessels were less than 12m in length. Fishing employed an
estimated 19,136 (FTE) persons in 1998, including 3,687 professional fishers in
the Overseas Departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana and Réunion
(where there is also a large informal fishing sector for which there are no
statistics).
The
main production and employment data relating to the French fishery sector are
shown in Table 7.
Table
7: Outputs and employment in French fishery sector, 1998
|
Activity |
Production |
Employment |
|
|
Tonnes |
ECU
million |
||
|
Marine
fishing |
550,198 |
932.4 |
19,163 |
|
Marine
aquaculture |
208,065 |
359.1 |
14,055 |
|
Inland
aquaculture |
57,706 |
151.6 |
1,213 |
|
Inland
fishing |
4,540 |
14.4 |
2,501 |
|
Mareyage |
N/a |
1,367.0 |
4,007 |
|
Secondary
processing1 |
400,900 |
2,100.6 |
11,899 |
|
Auctions |
N/a |
652.9 |
819 |
|
IFREMER, Données économiques maritimes françaises |
|||
|
1
1997 |
|||
Marine
capture fisheries landed a total of 550,198 tonnes valued at ECU 932.4 million
in 1998. Around 18% of the value landed was in frozen form (processed at sea).
In addition the Overseas Departments recorded landings of 27,008 tonnes in 1998.
Processing
is split into primary processing and wholesaling (mareyage)
and secondary processing. The output value of mareyage in 1998 was recorded as ECU 1.4 billion. This activity
employed 4,007 people registered in over 300 enterprises, with the majority
(42%) being located in Brittany. Secondary processing in 1997 produced a further
ECU 2.1 billion of output value and employed 11,899 people in 173 enterprises.
Auction hall and fish market employment in 1998 totalled 819 FTE in 43
establishments and sales amounted to ECU 652.9 million.
Germany
In 1998 the German fleet consisted of 2,373 vessels with a gross tonnage of
75,103 GT and power of 171,457 kW. Of the total, 76 % of fishing vessels were
less than 10 metres in length and only 5% over 20m in length. The majority of
the vessels (approximately 1,800) were small coastal fishing boats under 12
metres in length, fishing for demersal species and herring in the Baltic and
North Seas. The deep-sea segment based in Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven and Rostock
consisted of 12 vessels, and fishes in EU and international waters. The cutter
segment accounted for another 477 vessels. A majority of the vessels within this
segment are beam trawlers, fishing for flatfish and shrimps in the North Sea.
The
main production and employment data relating to the German fishery sector are
shown in Table 8.
Table 8: Outputs and employment in German fishery
sector, 1998
|
Activity |
Production |
Employment1 |
|
|
Tonnes |
ECU million |
||
|
Marine
fishing |
94,272 |
84.4 |
2,932 |
|
Marine
aquaculture |
22,405 |
11.5 |
40 |
|
Inland
aquaculture1 |
36,664 |
88.0 |
2,825 |
|
Inland
fishing1 |
52,338 |
N/a |
329 |
|
Processing1 |
N/a |
1,273 |
11,280 |
|
Source:
Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten, 1999.
Annual Report on German Fisheries 1999, BMELF infomiert |
|||
|
1
indicates 1997 data |
|||
In
1998 the German fleet landed 94,272 tonnes of fish; the most important catches
were cod (10,398 tonnes) and brown shrimp (11,151 tonnes). Most fishers are
full-time. Employment in the
ancillary industries such as construction and repair of fishing vessels was
estimated to total 633 in 1997. Coastal
aquaculture consists of mussel production, and the number employed is
likely to be under-estimated in the above table. Inland aquaculture production
(mainly trout and carp) employed 2,825 persons in 1997, in the production of
nearly 37,000 tonnes of trout and carp. The total catch from inland fisheries in
1998 was 52,338 tonnes, mainly of vendace, pike and pike-perch.
Germany
has a large fish processing industry with a total production output value of
1,273 million ECU in 1997. The processing industry is relatively independent of
the German and EU landings, as it relies largely on imported raw materials from
third countries, and in particular, Norway. The North Sea centres of Bremerhaven,
Cuxhaven and Hamburg account for almost 70% of the 11,280 processing jobs
recorded in 1997.
Greece
In 1998 the Greek fleet consisted of 20,243 vessels with a gross tonnage of
111,933 GT and power of 654,199 kW. An estimated 94% of registered vessels are
less than 12m in length. Between 1991 and 1997 there was an 8% decrease in the
number of vessels. The decrease in the number of smaller boats was relatively
modest, less than 2%, but the trawler segment experienced a 23% decline, and
vessels fishing in the Atlantic a 55% decline.
The
main production and employment data relating to the fisheries sector are shown
in Table 9.
Table
9: Outputs and employment in the Greek fisheries sector, 1997.
|
Activity |
Production |
Employment |
|
|
Tonnes |
ECU
million |
||
|
Marine
fishing |
124,386 |
458.2 |
41,251 |
|
Marine
aquaculture |
52,263 |
169.4 |
2,910 |
|
Inland
aquaculture |
2,684 |
8.7 |
254 |
|
Inland
fishing |
16,0001 |
N/a |
2,701 |
|
Processing |
N/a |
89.8 |
2,409 |
|
Sources: http://www.statistics.gr/en/data/tables/table78.htm Regional Socio-economic Studies on Employment and
the Level of Dependency on Fishing, (Lot 11 - Greece), European
Commission, Directorate General for Fisheries, 1999 |
|||
|
1
Data for 1998 |
|||
Landings
totalled some 124,386 tonnes in 1997. Of the 41,251 employed in marine capture
fishing, an estimated 81% work in inshore fisheries, 17% in the offshore
fisheries and 2% overseas (Footnote
1).
An estimated 8% of the fishing sector workforce are female, engaged in net
repair and gear preparation. Marine farming of bass and bream is a significant
economic activity in Greece. About 65% of the production of 52,263 tonnes is
exported, mainly to Italy. Fish processing is relatively less important in
Greece than in other EU Member States. The majority of the fish processing takes
place in Thessaloniki, Attica and Kavala. Most processing facilities are old and
rely on both local production and imports from abroad. The processing sector in
Greece provided employment for 1,455 full time and 954 part time workers. Women
made up 32% of those employed in this sector.
Ireland
In Ireland there were 1,246 registered fishing vessels in 1998. Total tonnage in
the fleet in 1998 was
61,082
GRT with a power of 190,625 kW. Approximately 70% of all registered vessels are
classed as inshore vessels (less than 15m in length and operating within 12
miles of the coast).
Table 11: Outputs and employment in the Irish
fisheries sector, 1998.
|
Activity |
Production |
Employment |
|
|
Tonnes |
ECU million |
||
|
Marine
fishing |
324,8431 |
193.9 |
6,274 |
|
Marine
aquaculture |
39,980 |
77.3 |
2,1982 |
|
Inland
aquaculture |
1,7992 |
4.62 |
N/a |
|
Inland
fishing |
895 |
3.4 |
150 |
|
Processing |
145,000 |
285 |
|