1
Commonwealth Europe Fisheries Profile
Europe’s capture fisheries produce 4.86 Mt annually. Commonwealth Europe is made up of the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Malta, each with high coastline to land area ratios, highlighting the important presence of maritime domains for these countries.
2
“The UK industry is currently trying to rebuild sales following closures and supply chain problems forced by COVID-19.”
Digitalisation in European fisheries
The state of digital fisheries in the region is assessed using the digital fisheries framework described under the methodology section.
It consists of (I) digital innovations, (II) data infrastructure, (III) business development services, and (IV) the enabling environment for the digitalisation of fisheries.
United Kingdom
Like many national fishing industries, the UK industry is currently trying to rebuild sales following closures and supply chain problems forced by COVID-19. The country’s seafood sector is also coming to terms with changes following their departure from the EU (“Brexit”). Although there is keen interest in the benefits of digitalisation within the sector, few UK fisheries stakeholders are currently benefitting from advancements in digitalisation efforts.
Mediterranean
Due to the limited information pertaining to Cyprus and Malta individually, they are being discussed as part of the wider fisheries of the Mediterranean basin. SSF within the Mediterranean represent 83 per cent of the fleet, 57 per cent of employment onboard vessels, 29 per cent of revenue and 15 per cent of catch.1 Digitalisation within these fisheries is generally obstructed by poor data availability within the sector, which often prevents them from being considered in centralised decision-making processes.2 The sector is also considered highly vulnerable, with little access to financial services, which hinders their ability to modernise the fleet and recover from adverse events impacting their fisheries, particularly the SSF sector.3
Pillar i
Digitalisation Innovations
The uptake of digital innovations within the United Kingdom’s fisheries sector is slow, but there is some progress being witnessed.
The level of digital innovations within the Mediterranean’s fisheries is considered “low”, with little technology or research and development currently happening within the sector.
“The uptake of digital innovations within the United Kingdom’s fisheries sector is slow, but there is some progress being witnessed.”
Pillar ii
Data Infrastructure
The United Kingdom’s fisheries data is inconsistent in terms of quality and harmonisation. Fisheries data from the Mediterranean is fragmented.
Although there are many diverse data sets being collected within the sector, much of this data is stored in silos for single-use purposes, which hinders the development as the industry is not able to benefit from the wider use and integration of the UK's fisheries data. In the Mediterranean, electronic reporting systems are not compulsory for SSF.
“The United Kingdom’s fisheries data is inconsistent in terms of quality and harmonisation. Fisheries data from the Mediterranean is fragmented.”
Pillar iii
“There are ongoing efforts to support and fund digital solutions within the Mediterranean’s fisheries sector.”
The Base
“The United Kingdom has one of the most promising enabling environments in the Commonwealth.”
Footnotes
[1] FAO (2020) The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2020. doi:10.4060/cb2429en.
[2] FAO (2020) The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2020. doi:10.4060/cb2429en.
[3] FAO (2020) The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2020. doi:10.4060/cb2429en.