On Friday 28 November, the European Commission published its 2025 annual economic report on the EU fishing fleet, which forecasts operating profits for this year of €567 million. This projection confirms a positive dynamic, higher than the results recorded in 2023 and 2024.
In 2023, the fleet numbered 53,300 active vessels, employing more than 155,000 people, and landed 3.39 million tonnes of fish, with an estimated value of €6.13 billion, according to the report.
For European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis, this performance reflects movement “in the right direction with sustainable fisheries”, based on scientifically established quotas.
The report identifies several factors driving this improvement: the rebuilding of fish stocks, a better adjustment of fishing capacity, and a fall in fuel prices and consumption, down by 11% per kilo of fish caught between 2013 and 2023. Despite this progress, the report points out that challenges remain (structural problems, ageing vessels, regional disparities in economic performance) and recommends that efforts be continued to ensure the sector’s resilience.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/jr4 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)