Homepage MNP Homepage CBS Homepage WUR

Revenue from the Dutch fishing industry

The financial revenue generated by the Dutch fishing industry has fallen by more than 12% since 1990.

Trends


Real revenue from the Dutch fishing industry has fallen by more than 12% since 1990, to EUR 520 million. During that period, the fall in revenue from Dutch waters was 15% while that from non-Dutch waters was 9%.

High-sea fishing accounts for a large proportion of the fishing revenues in non-Dutch waters. In particular, there has been an increase over the past decade in the income generated by fishing off the coast of Africa.

In Dutch waters, real revenue generated by the cutter fleet has fallen by 25% since 1990, but that from mussel farming has increased by 12%. Income from cockle fishing fluctuates from year to year.

Segments of the fishing industry


The main segments making up the Dutch fishing industry are cutter fishing, high-sea fishing, mussel farming and cockle fishing. Oyster culture in Zeeland and fishing on the IJsselmeer (Lake Ijssel) are less significant. The 400 active cutters fish mainly in the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. The most significant species are sole, plaice and shrimps. The 16 active high-sea freezer stern trawlers fish for such species as herring, mackerel and horse mackerel. A significant proportion of their fishing grounds is outside European waters, in particular off the coast of Africa. Mussel farming is located in the Wadden Sea and along the coast of Zeeland. Seed mussels caught in the Wadden Sea are grown by mussel farmers in their particular sections. Fishing for cockles takes place primarily in the Wadden Sea and the Oosterschelde.

Technical note


The data are from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. Revenues from catches in Dutch waters are estimates based on ships' logbooks; these do not however categorise the Dutch Continental Shelf as a series of separate fishing grounds, meaning that it was necessary to produce estimates of the revenues for Dutch waters. Revenues are for fishing carried out under the Dutch flag; foreign vessels also operate over the Dutch Continental Shelf, generating significant income.

The data on revenues were collected within the framework of the LEI information network. The figures have been corrected for the purchasing power of the euro, taking 2001 as the baseline year.

References


  • Wijk, M.O. van, C. Taal, J.W. de Wilde en M.H. Smit (2002). Visserij in Cijfers 2001. Rapport PR.02.04 Landbouw Economisch Instituut. Den Haag.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
This page was last changed on 13 May 2004  (version 01).