(Blue) Growth accounting in small-scale European Union fleets

Fisheries account for one-third of the total jobs in the global ocean economies. Small scale fleets (SSF) fisheries are the main segment from the number of jobs point of view, and in the EU, SSF account for over 40% of employment in the fisheries sector. Given this marine employment source, it is important to analyse SSF's productivity growth. This was done using Total Factor Productivity (TFP), which is dened as the portion of output not explained by the traditionally measured inputs of labour, energy and capital used in production. TFP calculation is relevant to understand the technology evolution in fisheries and as a reference for management assessment. TFP was calculated for SSF in two EU main sea areas, the Mediterranean (FAO area 37) and the North-East Atlantic (FAO area 27). Constant elasticity production functions were used to analyse the intensity of the use of production factors and how these are substituted or complemented when producing. Additionally, TFP was corrected by stock evolution indexes to evaluate the EU conservation policy. Results showed how the TFP presented signs of stagnation when stocks status were considered. This implies a low technological evolution and that the use of production factors is to be reduced in the following years. It was concluded that in the North-East Atlantic the EU conservation policy is obtaining the objective of restoring fish stocks and contributing to maintaining the productivity. In the Mediterranean, the stocks are not being restored, therefore not contributing to growth as a production factor. Finally, it is concluded that in neither areas the conservation policy is enough to provide positive productivity trends.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource