TIOPESCA

Context

Changes in fishing catch levels directly affect fishers and trigger ripple effects across the regional economy, which are not always considered when assessing the economic importance of the fishing sector. This sector influences other activities through its demand for inputs and services, meaning that an increase in landings can lead to higher employment and greater income circulation in coastal communities.

To assess these impacts, Input-Output (IO) models are used, enabling the analysis of how changes in demand affect key economic variables such as production, income, and employment. However, in the case of the Basque fishing sector, there is currently no specific tool that allows this analysis to be carried out with the required level of detail. The IO Tables produced by EUSTAT include a single activity branch for the entire fishing sector, which limits disaggregated analysis and does not adequately reflect the specific characteristics of fishing in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC). This situation highlights the need to develop a model tailored to the economic structure of the Basque fishing sector.

Objectives

The project proposes adapting the Input-Output (IO) model for its specific application to the analysis of the fishing sector in the BAC. This approach is based on a detailed characterization of the sector’s economic structure, enabling a disaggregated representation of the main fishing fleets, considering both the technologies used and the species of commercial interest.

Estimates of the economic impact of policies and management measures on these fleets and species—and on the rest of the directly and indirectly supplying sectors—will be highly relevant for managers and end users in the sector.

The main objectives of the project are:

1. To design the economic structure of the fishing sector in the BAC by identifying activity branches and sub-branches.
2. To adapt the IO model by integrating this structure into the existing IO Tables of the BAC economy.
3. To develop the first pilot IO Tables, modified with a 2017 base year, and to carry out initial impact analysis exercises.
4. To update the model without changing the base year.

These objectives are addressed within a collaborative framework between AZTI, HAZI, and the Basque Government, ensuring consistency with the official IO Tables produced by EUSTAT.

Expected Impact

The main impact of the project will be the creation of a high-value tool for multiple end users, enabling the measurement of both the direct and indirect economic impact of the fishing sector on the wider Basque economy. Stakeholders such as the Basque Government’s Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well as the fishing sector itself, will be able to analyse the effects of variations in production across different fishing segments included in the IO Tables (artisanal, purse seine, trawling, among others).

Furthermore, the tool will make it possible to simulate the impact of public policies and management measures on key variables such as production, employment, and income. This will provide a clear understanding of the role of the fishing sector in the regional economy and support informed decision-making for the economic development of coastal communities dependent on fishing.

Funding