It is a fact of our industry that the communities engaged in fishing and in which our auctions are founded often have very little alternative industry. Therefore although total employment levels involved are perhaps small in national and EU terms they are enormously important in the fishing areas and communities. The EU produced a report on fishing dependent communities but even this tended to mask the social issues as it looked at geographic areas, Regions or administrative areas and not individual communities.
The social implications of fishing policies are vital and simplistic alterations to fleet capacity, fishing quotas and import controls can have consequences far beyond their apparent impact or "temporary" application. EAFPA would like to assemble comprehensive information on direct and indirect employment related to fishing in the communities (towns and immediate area) around the coast of Europe where fish is landed, sold or processed. Contributions are welcomed from public and private bodies.