Small-scale fishing represents over 90% of vessels and over 60% of jobs in the Baltic Sea, but captures only 7% of landings by weight and 22% by value.

Omissions

• The 7% landings-by-weight figure is drawn from the STECF 2021 Annual Economic Report (based on 2019–2020 data), making it approximately five years old at the time of the claim. The STECF 2025 AER would provide more recent data.
• The vessels and employment figures (92% and 77%) are cited via a secondary source referring to STECF AER 2024, based on 2022–2023 data.
• The claim states 'over 60% of jobs' when the actual figure is approximately 77%—the MEP understated the employment share.
• The geographic scope is specifically the Baltic Sea; these figures are not representative of all EU waters, where the SSCF share is lower (around 83% of vessels and 49–53% of employment EU-wide).

Sources

• PrimarySTECF 2021 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing FleetSSCF in the Baltic accounted for 7% of the landed weight and 22% of the value.
• SecondaryLIFE Platform – Commission Baltic Quota Proposals for 2026In the Baltic Sea, SSCF account for 92% of the vessel fleet, 77% of the employment in fishing, and contribute 22% of the landed value (STECF AER 2024).