Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E1: Agriculture and fisheries
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
5 rue Alphonse Weicker
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
29 October 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
29 October 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
29 October 2024
3.1. Data description
Catches of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic organisms by species and fishing area for EU and associated countries (in live weight equivalent of the landings).
European data on fish catches, in tonnes live weight (TLW) have been recorded since 1950. Historical data up to 1999 are displayed under [fish_ca_h] while data from 2000 onwards are released in the [fish_ca] tables. These exclude catches in inland waters and focus on marine fishing areas that are legally covered, namely:
21 - Atlantic, Northwest
27 - Atlantic, Northeast
34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central
37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea
41 - Atlantic, Southwest
47 - Atlantic, Southeast
51 - Indian Ocean, Western
3.2. Classification system
Species
Three types of codes are assigned to each species item:
ISSCAAP code
taxonomic code
3-alpha code
The ISSCAAP code is assigned according to the FAO 'International Standard Statistical Classification for Aquatic Animals and Plants' (ISSCAAP) which divides commercial species into 50 groups on the basis of their taxonomic, ecological and economic characteristics. The taxonomic code is used by FAO for a more detailed classification of the species items and for sorting them out within each ISSCAAP group. The 3-alpha identifier is a unique code made of three letters that is widely used for the exchange of data with national correspondents and among fishery agencies.
Aggregates of species groups have been developed within the database using the International Standard Statistical Classification of Aquatic Animals and Plants (ISSCAAP).
A full list of species codes (ISSCAAP) together with the English, French, Spanish and Scientific names may be found in the ASFIS List on the FAO web-site.
Fishing Areas: For statistical purposes the world is divided into Major Fishing Areas, namely 8 inland areas and 19 marine fishing areas. Certain of these areas have been sub-divided for the reporting of catch statistics. Only marine fishing areas are covered in the [fish_ca] tables displaying data from 2000 onwards.
The concepts and definitions used in the compilation of catch statistics are those laid down by the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP), of which Eurostat is one of the member organizations. These concepts and definitions have been in force since the late 1950's and are applied uniformly worldwide by the CWP and by the national authorities reporting to its member organizations. Therefore, though the quality of the data varies from country to country (being in many cases a function of the general characteristics of the national fishing industry), there is a high degree of comparability between countries and over time.
Nominal catch: The data refer to the catch of freshwater, brackish water and marine species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals and plants, killed, caught, trapped or collected for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes.
In view of the importance of recreational fishing regarding some stocks and for certain countries, as well as the difficulty of distinguishing between recreational and subsistence fishing, the data should include the catches from recreational fisheries as well. However, it is recognised that certain countries are unable to supply the data for recreational fisheries.
Species [SPECIES]: FAO maintains the FAO ASFIS List (Aquatic Sciences and Fishery Information System) list of Species for Fishery Statistics Purposes. Using this list, all species are identified by an internationally assigned three letter identifier (e.g. COD = Atlantic cod, PLE = European plaice). Based on their taxonomic, ecological and economic characteristics, the species are aggregated in 50 groups according to the FAO 'International Standard Statistical Classification for Aquatic Animals and Plants' (ISSCAAP). These groups are aggregated further to higher level groups, to which the codes F10, F20, … F90 are assigned.
Fishing areas/regions [FISHREG]: The catches are sub-divided by the area in which they occur. For data from 2000 onwards these are:
21 - Atlantic, Northwest
27 - Atlantic, Northeast
34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central
37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea
41 - Atlantic, Southwest
47 - Atlantic, Southeast
51 - Indian Ocean, Western
Unit [UNIT]: The catches quantity is recorded as the live weight equivalent of the landings or transhipments to the nearest tonne (Tonnes Live Weight).
3.5. Statistical unit
The basic statistical units are the catches by the individual fishing vessels. Although these records are available to the national authorities, only the national aggregates are submitted to the international agencies and are made available in this database.
3.6. Statistical population
All catches of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic organisms caught in commercial, industrial and recreational fishing operations.
Data are available from 1950 onwards. See 3.1. Data description above for more details.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Tonnes Live Weight (TLW).
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Three EU Council Regulations cover the submission of catch statistics by the authorities of EEA countries to the European Commission (Eurostat):
Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic
Regulation (EC) No 217/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-west Atlantic
Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic
All of these legislative acts are EEA relevant: that is, they apply to EU Member States and EFTA countries except Switzerland. In fisheries context this means that they also apply to Iceland and Norway.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not available.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
In case the national data contains confidential records they are not published but only a c-flag (confidential) is shown in the database. Aggregates including these records are also masked with the “c” flag (including the EU-aggregate).
8.1. Release calendar
The deadline for the national data submission to Eurostat is:
30 June year (N + 1) where N is the reference year for the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic and on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic.
31 May year (N + 1) where N is the reference year for preliminary and 31 August for final data on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-west Atlantic.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not available
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
The methodologies used by EEFisheries statistics Handbook, rev. 2019 (see Annex 1) gives a summary of the methodologies used for landings statistics.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The quality reports are required only for the landing statistics which is done every three years based on the Article 6 of the Regulation (EC) 1921/2006 on statistics on landings of fishery products. Althought quality reports are not required based on anz regulation, landings quality reports are also relevant for catch statistics which are usually based on the same raw data.
11.1. Quality assurance
At national level, a number of quality checks are performed before data are submitted to Eurostat: preliminary checks on raw data to detect species or fishing area mis-reporting, procedures to verify internal consistency, cross-checking of the various source data (log-books, landings declarations and sales notes), adjustments for non-response, checks for monitoring consistency over time.
At Eurostat, formal data checks are performed during the import of data into the production database:
Validation level 0:
File format check
Validation level 1:
Existence of codes (against dictionaries)
Duplicated records
Validation level 2:
Check for consistency over time (outlier detection)
Check for newly reported species
Check for newly reported combinations species caught/declared fishing area
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Eurostat monitors regularly the quality of landings statistics. In general the data are of good quality.
Eurostat launches regular quality reporting updates on landings data every three years as it is required to submit an assessment report to the European Parliament and the Council on the statistical data compiled pursuant to Regulation EC (No) 1921/2006 and in particular on their relevance and quality.
This report is also relevant for catch statistics which are usually based on the same raw data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main users of the data are other Directorates General of the European Commission, mainly DG MARE being in charge of the Common Fisheries Policy. The data are equally used by other European institutions, international organisations (FAO, OECD), regional fisheries bodies (e.g. ICES, NAFO), national administrations, national statistical institutes (NSIs) and research institutes, besides the press and the public in general.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction survey carried out.
12.3. Completeness
Not available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Most Member States report a complete coverage of their fish catches with sampling being used in exceptional cases only. This indicates that the accuracy of the volume of fish caught is fairly high.
13.2. Sampling error
Not available
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not available
14.1. Timeliness
The deadline for submitting catch data to Eurostat is according to the fishing areas between five and eight months after the end of the reference year. Data are then normally processed and disseminated between July and September of the following year.
14.2. Punctuality
The punctuality of the data transmissions is assessed by Eurostat on the basis of received transmissions in EDAMIS.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Although the quality of the data varies from country to country (being in many cases a function of the general characteristics of the national fishing industry), there is a high degree of comparability between countries, due to the fact that the concepts and definitions used in the compilation of catch statistics are those laid down by the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP) being in force since the late 1950's and being applied uniformly worldwide by the CWP and by the national authorities reporting to its member organizations.
15.2. Comparability - over time
A high degree of comparability over time is also ensured by the worldwide adoption of the CWP concepts and definitions.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Catch data are cross-checked against landings data. These controls are currently performed on a case-by-case basis but they are expected to be extended and fully integrated in the validation process.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Coherence is being ensured during the data validation process.
According to the cost-effectiveness assessment carried out for reference year 2014, the burden associated with providing the data to Eurostat differs significantly between respondent countries. It seems to be closely related to the size of the national fishery activity and to the degree of centralisation of the national data collection and validation system.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data may be published even if they are missing or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated.
Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated.
18.1. Source data
Catch statistics are submitted by the national authorities under the terms of the above mentioned EU Regulations (see section 6.1. above). These regulations apply to Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA). Historical data for non-EEA countries which are displayed in [fish_ca_h] tables for years prior to 2000 were submitted through international organizations in response to the STATLANT questionnaires managed by FAO. Data for fishing areas not covered by EU legislation shown in those tables were provided by countries on a voluntary basis.
Most of the data are compiled from administrative sources: data for vessels of 10 m in length and above are collected from fishing log-books (which have to be completed by all large fishing vessels on a trip basis), landings declarations and/or sales notes. Data for smaller vessels are collected from monthly landings reports, from interviews by inspectors, by sampling, or by other methods considered appropriate to the national infrastructure.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
Annual catch statistics are collected by Eurostat according to the following timetable, as set in the related Regulations:
Catches in North-West Atlantic (FAO area 21) - preliminary data: 31 May
Catches in North-East Atlantic (FAO area 27): 30 June
Catches in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic (FAO areas 34 to 51): 30 June
Catches in North-West Atlantic (FAO area 21) - final data: 31 August
The North Atlantic Fishery Organisation (NAFO) Scientific Council, responsible for monitoring fisheries in the North West Atlantic, FAO Major Fishing Area 21, has identified timely catch and activity statistics as essential to the performance of its work in evaluating the state of the fish stocks. The data to be submitted for the Area shall be of two types: (a) the annual nominal catches, expressed in tonnes live weight equivalent of the landings, of each of the species in each of the statistical fishing regions of the north-west Atlantic; (b) the catches as specified under point (a) and the corresponding fishing activity, subdivided by calendar month of capture, fishing gear, vessel size and main species sought. Table 2 (Section 2) presents the details of the (b) data set.
All fisheries data are sent by countries through eDAMIS as the Single Entry Point of data to Eurostat. The transmissions are delivered to Eurostat Unit E1, as well as to the FAO, the NAFO (for FAO area 21) and DG MARE (for FAO areas 21 and 27).
18.4. Data validation
All data received from the reporting countries are verified against a number of checks. These checks control the plausibility of the data, presence of outliers, species caught in relation with declared fishing areas, size of revisions.
18.5. Data compilation
EU and EEA aggregates are compiled by summation of the data for the individual countries.
From 1950 to 1991 DE data equal the sum of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic.
Catches of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic organisms by species and fishing area for EU and associated countries (in live weight equivalent of the landings).
European data on fish catches, in tonnes live weight (TLW) have been recorded since 1950. Historical data up to 1999 are displayed under [fish_ca_h] while data from 2000 onwards are released in the [fish_ca] tables. These exclude catches in inland waters and focus on marine fishing areas that are legally covered, namely:
21 - Atlantic, Northwest
27 - Atlantic, Northeast
34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central
37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea
41 - Atlantic, Southwest
47 - Atlantic, Southeast
51 - Indian Ocean, Western
29 October 2024
The concepts and definitions used in the compilation of catch statistics are those laid down by the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP), of which Eurostat is one of the member organizations. These concepts and definitions have been in force since the late 1950's and are applied uniformly worldwide by the CWP and by the national authorities reporting to its member organizations. Therefore, though the quality of the data varies from country to country (being in many cases a function of the general characteristics of the national fishing industry), there is a high degree of comparability between countries and over time.
Nominal catch: The data refer to the catch of freshwater, brackish water and marine species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals and plants, killed, caught, trapped or collected for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes.
In view of the importance of recreational fishing regarding some stocks and for certain countries, as well as the difficulty of distinguishing between recreational and subsistence fishing, the data should include the catches from recreational fisheries as well. However, it is recognised that certain countries are unable to supply the data for recreational fisheries.
Species [SPECIES]: FAO maintains the FAO ASFIS List (Aquatic Sciences and Fishery Information System) list of Species for Fishery Statistics Purposes. Using this list, all species are identified by an internationally assigned three letter identifier (e.g. COD = Atlantic cod, PLE = European plaice). Based on their taxonomic, ecological and economic characteristics, the species are aggregated in 50 groups according to the FAO 'International Standard Statistical Classification for Aquatic Animals and Plants' (ISSCAAP). These groups are aggregated further to higher level groups, to which the codes F10, F20, … F90 are assigned.
Fishing areas/regions [FISHREG]: The catches are sub-divided by the area in which they occur. For data from 2000 onwards these are:
21 - Atlantic, Northwest
27 - Atlantic, Northeast
34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central
37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea
41 - Atlantic, Southwest
47 - Atlantic, Southeast
51 - Indian Ocean, Western
Unit [UNIT]: The catches quantity is recorded as the live weight equivalent of the landings or transhipments to the nearest tonne (Tonnes Live Weight).
The basic statistical units are the catches by the individual fishing vessels. Although these records are available to the national authorities, only the national aggregates are submitted to the international agencies and are made available in this database.
All catches of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic organisms caught in commercial, industrial and recreational fishing operations.
Most Member States report a complete coverage of their fish catches with sampling being used in exceptional cases only. This indicates that the accuracy of the volume of fish caught is fairly high.
Tonnes Live Weight (TLW).
EU and EEA aggregates are compiled by summation of the data for the individual countries.
From 1950 to 1991 DE data equal the sum of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic.
Catch statistics are submitted by the national authorities under the terms of the above mentioned EU Regulations (see section 6.1. above). These regulations apply to Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA). Historical data for non-EEA countries which are displayed in [fish_ca_h] tables for years prior to 2000 were submitted through international organizations in response to the STATLANT questionnaires managed by FAO. Data for fishing areas not covered by EU legislation shown in those tables were provided by countries on a voluntary basis.
Most of the data are compiled from administrative sources: data for vessels of 10 m in length and above are collected from fishing log-books (which have to be completed by all large fishing vessels on a trip basis), landings declarations and/or sales notes. Data for smaller vessels are collected from monthly landings reports, from interviews by inspectors, by sampling, or by other methods considered appropriate to the national infrastructure.
The data are annual.
The deadline for submitting catch data to Eurostat is according to the fishing areas between five and eight months after the end of the reference year. Data are then normally processed and disseminated between July and September of the following year.
Although the quality of the data varies from country to country (being in many cases a function of the general characteristics of the national fishing industry), there is a high degree of comparability between countries, due to the fact that the concepts and definitions used in the compilation of catch statistics are those laid down by the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP) being in force since the late 1950's and being applied uniformly worldwide by the CWP and by the national authorities reporting to its member organizations.
A high degree of comparability over time is also ensured by the worldwide adoption of the CWP concepts and definitions.
