The European Blue Economy Report is a compass to help decision-makers and stakeholders navigate the waters of the European blue economy.
The 2023 edition of the report sheds light on the development of blue economy sectors since 2010. It shows that despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine Most of the sectors analyzed increased their economic output.
For example, from 2010 to 2020 there was a significant increase in gross value added, the key economic performance indicator, for sectors in:
- living resources: +25%;
- Port activities: +25%;
- Offshore Wind Energy: +1762%;
- Shipbuilding and Repair: +22%.
And not only that – the blue economy offers a lot new job opportunities. The number of people employed in the sectors analyzed has increased, with a peak in the offshore wind energy sector, where the employment rate has increased twenty-fold in just 10 years.
A little insight into the report
Overall the established industries The EU blue economy (marine living resources, marine non-living resources, marine renewable energy, port activities, shipbuilding and repair, maritime transport and coastal tourism) generated 129 billion euros in gross value added (GVA) in 2020, 43.6 billion euros in profit and a total turnover of 523 billion euros.
among the emerging sectors, The algae sector is one of the most dynamic Subsectors of blue biotechnology. Available socio-economic estimates show that seaweed production in Europe generates annual sales well over €10 million in France, Spain and Portugal, the Member States with the largest number of production facilities.
In addition to insights into established and emerging sectors, the 2023 version includes a chapter on the energy transition in the blue economy. This section follows the Commission communication on the energy transition in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector. It is launching a series of analyzes on this topic that will support the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Transition Partnership. The partnership will be officially launched on June 16th and registration is now open.
The Section on climate change and impacts on the coast is a novelty in this year’s edition. Climate change could have profound impacts on coastal zones due to sea level rise, changes in the frequency and intensity of storms, coastal flooding and erosion. The Commission’s Joint Research Center has developed the integrated risk assessment tool LISCoAsT (Large Scale Integrated Sea-level and Coastal Assessment Tool) to assess its impact on EU coasts. This tool assesses the dynamics of coastal flooding impacts, adaptation and ecosystem services along the EU27 coastline. This section of the report is dedicated to the latest findings.
A new and fresher look to offer better information
Finally, the EU Blue Economy Report comes out in 2023 with a fresher look. As of this issue, the report appears in a more concise format. It will also be linked and integrated with the broader EU Blue Economy Observatory, which will provide more frequent and dynamic updates of blue economy data.
background
The EU Blue Economy Report is the annual flagship publication of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Joint Research Centre. It provides a detailed analysis of the scope and size of our blue economy.
The blue economy includes all economic activities based on or related to the sea, seas and coasts. These include fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, shipping and ports, offshore renewable energy and biotechnology.
More information
In a new format, the sixth edition of the EU Blue Economy Report continues to analyze the scope and size of the Blue Economy in the European Union.
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