Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Contacts - Estonia

Government Contacts & Information Resources for
Commercial Fishing, Seafood, Aquaculture, Marine & Oceans in Estonia

 

Europêche - Association of national organisations of fishing enterprises in the European Union

 

European Association of Fish Producers’ Organisations (EAPO) - European Association of Fish Producers Organisations

 

European Commission - Fisheries - The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the European Union's instrument for the management of fisheries and aquaculture. It was created to manage a common resource and to meet the obligation set in the original Treaties of the then European Community. Because fish are a natural and mobile resource they are considered as common property. In addition, the Treaties which created the Community stated that there should be a common policy in this area, that is, common rules adopted at EU level and implemented in all Member States.

 

Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profile for Estonia - aquatic species caught by country or area, by species items, by FAO major fishing areas, and year, for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes. The harvest from mariculture, aquaculture and other kinds of fish farming is also included.

 

The Government of the Republic of Estonia Website -  exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Estonia.

 

Fisheries in Estonia
Capital: Tallinn
Population: 1.315 million (2014, Statistics Estonia)
GDP: €18.44 billion (2013, Statistics Estonia)
GDP/capita: €14,010 (2013, Statistics Estonia)

Fish production:
Capture: 11,956 tonnes (ocean catch, 2013), 55,559 tonnes (Baltic Sea catch 2013); 2,850 tonnes (inland waters, 2013)
Aquaculture: 733 tonnes (2013)
Export value: EUR 195.6 million (2013, Eurostat)
Import value: EUR 165.9 million (2013, Eurostat)

 

Commercial Fishing sector in Estonia
There are four segments in the Estonian capture fishery: the Atlantic distant water, the Baltic trawl, the Baltic coastal, and the inland water fleets. The distant water fleet today comprises six vessels, which target northern prawn (Pandalus borealis), Atlantic redfishes (Sebastes spp), skates, and Greenland halibut in the Northwest Atlantic, the Northeast Atlantic, and Svalbard. Catches in 2013 by this fleet amounted to just under 12,000 tonnes of fish. All shrimp is processed (boiled, frozen) on board of fishing vessels.

The Baltic Sea fishery is subdivided into the open sea fishery using trawlers, and the coastal fishery. There are about 50 vessels in the Baltic Sea fishery which employ some 500 fishers. Fishing quotas in the coastal fishery are about one third of the total Baltic Sea quotas and the gear commonly used is passive, comprising different kinds of trap and gill nets. The bulk of the catches comprises sprat and herring, but small amounts of cod, smelt and flounder are caught as well. Sprat and herring are landed mainly at Estonian ports where the catch is sold to fish freezing or processing companies.

There are about 600 vessels in the coastal fishing fleet and the sector provides employment to some 2,500 fishers, however fishing is only a part-time occupation for most of them. The total catch in the Baltic Sea in 2013 was 55,560 tonnes with Baltic sprat followed by Baltic herring making up most of the volume. The freshwater fishery amounted to 2,850 tonnes in 2013 and is essentially from two sites, the Lakes Peipsi and Vortsjärv. Bream, pike and pike perch are the most important species in volume terms, while eel is the most valuable. About 420 fishers are employed in the inland fishery sector, most of them part time. The vessels used are less than 12 m in length and number about 300. The gear used in for lake fishing is mostly passive, such as fyke nets and gill nets, but Danish seines are also used in the summer months. Source Eurofish.dk

 

AQUASTAT is FAO's global information system on water and agriculture developed by the Land and Water Division. It collects, analyses and disseminates data and information by country and by region. Its aim is to provide users interested in global, regional and national analyses with comprehensive information related to water resources and agricultural water management across the world, with emphasis on countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Information for Estonia

 

Statistical Office of Estonia - Statistics database of the national statistics, including regional statistics. The database is divided into the following thematic issues: the environment, economy, population, social life. Population and Housing Census and Agricultural Census are presented separately. Each area is divided into sub-areas. The database is in English and Estonian

 

Ocean Health Index Estonia - The Ocean Health Index is a valuable tool for the ongoing assessment of ocean health. By providing a means to advance comprehensive ocean policy and compare future progress, the Index can inform decisions about how to use or protect marine ecosystems. The Index is a collaborative effort, made possible through contributions from more than 65 scientists/ocean experts and partnerships between organizations including the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Sea Around Us, Conservation International, National Geographic, and the New England Aquarium. Information for Estonia

 

The Fisheries Secretariat - The Fisheries Secretariat is a non-profit organisation dedicated to work towards more sustainable fisheries at an international level, with a focus on the European Union. The Fisheries Secretariat (FISH) is a non-profit organisation working towards sustainable fisheries in Europe with a strong focus on the Baltic Sea. Our long-term goal is healthy seas with thriving fish stocks and great diversity. At FISH, we work towards more sustainable fisheries through information, international co-operation, capacity building and lobbying. We have a particular mission to support and help other organisations, as well as the public, with information and knowledge.