Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

E1: Agriculture and fisheries

2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG

The data are on the total number, tonnage and power of vessels broken down by tonnage, length, age, and power classes, and by gear categories. For publishing purposes, only catching vessels are used.

Classification system for vessel size:

• By Tonnage class
• By Length class
• By Age class
• By Power class
• By Gear category

The coverage is the 100% of the European Union Fleet and EEA countries.

The data on fishing fleet are derived from the national registers of fishing vessels which are maintained according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218. Regulation contains information on the vessel characteristics to be recorded on the registers.

The definitions of the characteristics used in the administrative file are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/1130 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The published data are on the number, total tonnage (GT) and total power (Kilowatt) of fishing vessels by tonnage classes, length classes, power classes, age classes and fishing gears.

Tonnage

The gross tonnage of fishing vessels with a length overall equal to, or greater than, 15 metres is measured as specified in Annex I to the 1969 Convention (International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, signed in London on 23 June 1969 - see annex for more information).

The gross tonnage of fishing vessels with a length overall of less than 15 metres is measured in accordance with the formula set out in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2017/1130 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

When net tonnage is referred to in Union rules, it is defined as specified in Annex I to the 1969 Convention.

Length

The length is the length overall, defined as the distance in a straight line between the foremost point of the bow and aftermost point of the stern. For this purpose:

• The bow is taken to include the watertight hull structure, forecastle, stem and forward bulwark, if fitted, but excludes bowsprits and safety rails.
• The stern is taken to include the watertight hull structure, transom, poop, trawl ramp and bulwark, but excludes safety rails, bumkins, propulsion machinery, rudders and steering gear and divers' ladders and platforms.

Engine power

The engine power is the total of the maximum continuous power which can be obtained at the flywheel of each engine, and which can, by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or other means, be applied to vessel propulsion. However, where a gearbox is incorporated into the engine, the power is measured at gearbox output flange. No deduction is made in respect of auxiliary machines driven by the engine.

The unit in which engine power is expressed is the kilowatt (kW).

Fishing gears

EU Fleet Register maintained by DG MARE collects the information from Member States on vessels main and subsidiary fishing gear in accordance with the International Standard Statistical Classification of Fishing Gear (ISSCFG). For statistical purposes, published data on gear characteristics is grouped into one of the main gear categories.

The statistical unit is the registered fishing vessel.

All registered fishing vessels and their main characteristics of the EU Member States, Norway and Iceland.

EU countries, Iceland and Norway.

Data are available from 1990 onwards.

Not applicable.

Number of vessels, gross tonnage (GT) and Total Power (KW).

The data are annual and refer to the situation of the national fleets on 31 December of the reference year.

The Community Register was created by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 163/89 of 24 January 1989 concerning the fishing vessels of the Community.

Nowadays Eurostat data regarding the fishing fleet of EU countries are provided by the DG MARE's Community Fishing Fleet Register. This Register is obtained from the national registers of the MS, which are maintained according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218. This regulation determines the minimum information on vessel characteristics and activity requirements the National Registers. The quality of this information should be continuously monitored by the MS and checked by the Commission.

The definitions of the characteristics used in the administrative file are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/1130 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Under a Gentlemen's Agreement, the National Competent Authorities of Norway and Iceland send to Eurostat the data concerning the fishing fleet annually.

Not available.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Commission must ensure access to the MS in compliance with the provisions related to the protection of personal data set out in Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the statistical office of the European Communities establishes detailed rules and measures to ensure the statistical confidentiality in all the MS

Statistics are disseminated online on the Eurostat website twice a year (mid-April and mid-September).

Statistics are disseminated online on the Eurostat website twice a year (mid-April and mid-September).

In accordance with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity').

The European statistics are developed, produced and disseminated in line with the principles of independency, objectivity, professionalism and transparency. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users. 

Biannual.

News releases on-line.

Link to publications: Publications - Eurostat (europa.eu).

The following dimensions are published on Eurostat's website (Eurobase):

1.  GEO (Countries)

All EU MS (as appropriate), Norway and Iceland

2.  Units

Number of vessels

Engine Power (Kw)

Gross Tonage (GT)

3.  Tonnage Class

4.  Length Class

5.  Age Class

6.  Engine Power

7. Gear Types

Not available.

News item article regularly updated with latest available information: Publications - Eurostat (europa.eu).

Basic methodology on fishery statistics is available in the Handbook of fishery statistics standards

National reports.

Members States are obliged to ensure that the information recorded in their registries comply with the quality demanded by the Commission.

Not available.

The mains users are the Directorates of the European Commission (DG. MARE, DG.ENV). Other relevant users are International Organisations such as FAO, ICES, OECD, NAFO….

Research Institutes, national Administrations and other general users share the interest in this particular information.

No user satisfaction survey exists. Indirect information is gathered through direct contacts, meetings, etc.

The data collection consists in a census of the European Fleet.

For census data the accuracy is not relevant. The fleet data are European administrative data (recorded in the National Register).

Not applicable

Not applicable.

The National Competent Authorities are required to submit to the Commission (DG MARE) information on all registered fishing vessels in the national fleet four times a year.

Eurostat establishes the 31st of March of year N+1 as a suitable deadline for DG.Mare to have the final data for the year N.

According to the European Regulations concerning vessels the national registers establish the same variables and definitions throughout the EU. Consequently the comparability is high. The aggregated information for EU is based on this principle.

The Fleet register was created by Regulation (EEC) No 163/1989 of 24 January 1989 concerning the fishing vessel of the Community. Nowadays it ismaintained according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218. From 1990 onwards a high degree of comparability has been achieved for the data historical series.

Not available.

Not available.

Not assesed.

If errors are detected DG. MARE sends their comments to the MS. In turn, Member States shall provide comments on the revision data. If applicable, the MS shall make the necessary corrections in its national registry. Subsequently, the MS will send a new set of data to the Commission.

When Eurostat database on Fleet statistics is updated with the data from the DG MARE Fleet Register for the previous year (N-1), data for years (N-2) and (N-3) are also revised. The fleet database will be modified accordingly.

According to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218 the EU Member States are required to submit records from the national registers concerning the fishing vessels to the Commission (DG MARE).

Eurostat's database on Fleet statistics for the EU Member States is elaborated with the information obtained from DG MARE's Fleet Register of EU fishing vessels .

The National Competent Authorities of Norway and Iceland send by email an EXCEL file to the European Statistical Office with the corresponding records for their fishing vessels according to a Gentlemen's Agreement.

Annual.

The National Competent Authorities select an appropriate method for the maintenance and the monitoring of their fleet national registers. These records and subsequent revisions are transmitted to DG MARE for their incorporation into the Community Fleet Register file.

Data for Iceland and Norway come directly from their National Authorities to Eurostat.

The quality of the data is directly related to the quality of the DG MARE's Fishing Fleet Register. Two data validations levels are applied to the incoming data:

Level 1

The National submissions to the Community Fleet Register are subject to controls by DG.Mare. These validations rules are based on consistency checks in relation to the length of vessels, tonnage and power.

Level 2

Eurostat compares Member States' incoming data to historical data in order to detect possible outliers.

EU and EEA aggregates are compiled by summation of the data for the individual countries.

Not applicable.

The EU Fleet Register maintained by DG MARE may be consulted on DG MARE website.