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European Maritime facts and figures
 

THE MARITIME ECONOMY
Given its export-based economy, the increase in global and regional trade volumes and its geographical circumstances, the European Union (EU) has a vital interest in the competitiveness of shipping,shipbuilding, marine equipment and port industries.

Did you know?

  • Between 3 and 5 % of Europe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to be generated from sea-related industries and services, without including the value of raw materials, such as oil, fish or gas.
  • Almost 90 % of the EU’s external trade and over 40 % of its internal trade are transported by sea.
  • 3.5 billion tonnes of cargo per year and 350 million passengers pass through the 1 200 European seaports.
  • Europe’s leadership in shipping is beyond any doubt with 40 % of the world fleet.
  • Aquaculture accounts for 19 % of the Union’s total fisheries production. By 2030, aquaculture will provide more than half of the fish consumed worldwide.

GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION
From the earliest times, the oceans and seas have played a leading role in the development of European culture, economy, identity and history.

Did you know?

  • The continent of Europe is surrounded by four seas: the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the North
    Sea and the Black Sea; and by two oceans: the Atlantic and the Arctic.
  • Europe’s Outermost Regions result in areas of Europe also being surrounded by the
    Caribbean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
  • The maritime surface areas under the jurisdiction of the Member States are larger than the
    total land area of the European Union.
  • The European Union has a coastline of 68 000 km – that is over 3 times longer than that of
    the US and almost 2 times that of Russia.
  • No European resident lives more than 700 km away from the coast.
  • Almost half of the Union’s population lives less than 50 km from the sea, although the population is concentrated in urban areas along the coast.

GOVERNANCE
The current fragmentation into sectoral policies makes it difficult to reconcile competing uses of the oceans and seas and to define priorities. This can result in the adoption of conflicting measures, which in turn have negative consequences on the marine environment, may impose disproportionate constraints on competing maritime activities, or may limit the benefits which could be drawn from new activities.

Did you know?

  • Within the United Nations system, there are 12 Organisations involved in maritime policy making.
  • The European Community and its Member States are parties to more than 100 multilateral agreements relating to Maritime Affairs.
  • 7 Commissioners from the European Commission responsible for different policy areas direct a common Task Force to look at the oceans and seas in an integrated fashion.
  • At the European level, there are 6 agencies dealing with matters related to the seas; FRONTEX (the European agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the Member States), European Defence Agency, European Space Agency, European Maritime Safety Agency, Community Fisheries Control Agency, and the European
    Environment Agency.
  • There are many examples of bilateral cooperation between individual Member States.
  • The responsibilities for different maritime activities on coastal waters are attributed and coordinated differently within Member State governments.
 
European Maritime facts and figures
 

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
The preservation of the marine environment is key to improving the EU’s competitiveness,long-term growth and employment and it is important for life on earth.

Did you know?

  • Over 70 % of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, with an estimated volume of around 1 360 000 000 cubic kilometres. Over 97 % of all water is found in oceans.
  • As a result of global climate change, mean sea level will rise between 9 cm and 88 cm by 2100 as compared to 2000.
  • Half of Europe’s wetlands are expected to disappear by 2020.
  • The beaches of the Amana reserve in the French Guiana are home to half the world’s leatherback turtles.
  • On the basis of the latest scientific assessments made by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), European Community fish stocks are being fished at between two to five times more than the level that would provide the maximum sustainable yield from those stocks.
  • In 2003 there were 4,116 registered Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering over 1.6 million square kms all over the world. This represents less than 0.5 % of the seas
    and oceans.
  • A deterioration of the marine environment is leading to widespread algal blooms in the Baltic.

COASTAL REGIONS
As coastal regions become more attractive, increased attention will need to be paid to the attendant risks such as pollution, floods and coastal erosion and how they may be avoided. A preventative approach and innovative planning are required.

Did you know?

  • Maritime Regions account for over 40 % of Europe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • Europe has an estimated 8-10 million anglers fishing for sport or pleasure at sea with a related industry of 8-10 billion Euros.
  • The sea is Europe’s most popular holiday destination: among European holiday makers,
    63 % choose the sea as their holiday destination.
  • Europe has clean beaches: of the 14 000 coastal bathing areas monitored by the EU, 96.7 %
    comply with the mandatory values set out in the European Directive on bathing water.
  • There are an estimated 3 000 coastal marinas in the EU with an associated 1 000 000 berths.
    EU public expenditure dedicated to coastline protection against the risk of erosion and flooding will average €5.4 billion a year for the period 1990-2020.

    MARITIME HERITAGE
    There is much to be gained by encouraging a sense of common identity among all those who
    earn their living from maritime activities or whose quality of life is significantly connected to
    the sea. This can foster a better understanding of the complex relationships involved and of
    the importance of the seas for human life.

    Did you know?

  • The MOSS (Monitoring, Safeguarding and Visualizing North-European Shipwreck Sites)
    project aims to increase an interest in European common underwater cultural heritage and
    to encourage the public to protect this heritage. The project acts as an underwater window
    to four significant European shipwrecks located in the waters of the Netherlands, Germany,
    Sweden, and Finland.
  • Opened on 23 April 2000, “Escal Atlantic” is the centrepiece of the Saint-Nazaire “Ville-Port” project, designed to educate local people about the town’s maritime past. An old submarine has been converted into a museum where visitors can take a virtual tour on board.
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
         

 

  
 
© The Maritime Industry Foundation