Studies in the Field of the CFP and Maritime Affairs No. FISH/2006/09. Lot 4: Impact assessment studies related to the CFP. EU Regional Socioeconomic Dependencies

With axis 4 of the EFF, Common Fisheries Policy has widened its scope to address socio-economic development of local and regional communities depending on the fisheries sector. Within this approach, the emphasis is on the impact and the added value of the sector (that includes capture, processing, marketing, support services, and aquaculture). This study examined the value added and employment of the sector for coastal communities, as well as other key maritime-related activities. The main aims of the study were: to review current statistical data and socio-economic indicators for EU fisheries regions and to support the discussion about the future CFP, in particular as regards future financial support for the purpose of coastal development.

Twenty-four case study locations were selected in agreement with the Commission to represent a diversity of communities within fisheries dependent areas across the maritime states of the European Union. This diversity includes differing conditions in the case study locations in terms of: development (increasing, decreasing and diversifying); size; population; dependency on the fisheries sector; and geography (e.g. mainland and island locations).

The approach applied in each of the 24 case study locations for this impact assessment was to:

• Compile existing statistical data and socio-economic indicators to provide a broad picture of economic and social impacts on local and regional coastal communities brought about by the fisheries sector, disaggregated into catching, processing, support services, and aquaculture sub-sectors.

• Interpret the case studies within a coherent methodological framework to deliver a quantitative and qualitative assessment and description of the evolution of a number of key social aspects over the last ten years. This provided the basis for drawing some conclusions about the economic importance of fisheries in the case study locations, and for summarising and presenting information about the role of fisheries and other activities.

Case studies included: Stornoway (UK), Killybegs (Ireland), Lorient (France), Celeiro (Spain), Costa da Morte (Spain), Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), Peniche (Portugal), Carboneras (Spain), Sète (France), Oristano (Italy), Mazara del Valla (Italy), Amvrakikos (Greece), Burgas (Bulgaria), Danube Delta (Romania), Lake Peipsi (Estonia), Kolka (Latvia), Wladyslawowo (Poland), Darlowo (Poland), Rugen Island (Germany),  Bremerhaven (Germany), Hirtshals (Denmark), Urk (Netherlands), Ostende (Belgium), Grimsby (UK).