REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) 788/96
Date: 2020-12-15
Institutions: European Commission, Eurostat
Subjects: EU Member State, EU statistics, aquaculture, data collection, disclosure of information, fishing statistics, statistical method

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 15.12.2020  COM(2020) 809 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) 788/96  
 
 
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL 

on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and 
of the Council on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and 
repealing Council Regulation (EC) 788/96 

1 

BACKGROUND 

The Commission (Eurostat) collects statistics on aquaculture under Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 
of the European Parliament and of the Council1. Article 11 of the Regulation states that every 3 
years, the Commission must submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the 
quality  and  relevance  of  the  statistics  compiled.  The  report  must  also  analyse  the  cost-
effectiveness of the data collection system and pinpoint any best practices that could lessen the 
workload for Member States and lead to more useful, higher-quality data.  

The Regulation applies to Member States, to the United Kingdom during the transitionary period 
after  its  withdrawal  from  the  EU,  and  to  Norway,  Iceland  and  Liechtenstein  (EEA  relevance). 
Luxembourg and Liechtenstein do not have commercial aquaculture production, and are therefore 
exempted from the data reporting obligation. 

This report is based primarily on the aquaculture quality reports submitted by the Member States. 
Eurostat also analysed the 2017-2018 aquaculture data. The European Statistical System provided 
information  on  the  total  costs  of  collecting  the  data.  As  a  result,  this  report  assesses  the 
timeliness, completeness, consistency, accessibility and confidentiality of the data overall. It also 
looks at the burden and cost-effectiveness of the data collection process. 

The  Commission  adopted  the  previous  evaluation  reports  on  aquaculture  statistics  submitted 
 (for 2011-2013 data) and in December 20173
under Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 in June 20152
(for 2014-2015 data). This report covers the data for 2016-2018. 

In 2018, Eurostat launched the project ‘Streamlining and simplifying European fishery statistics’. 
It consists of an evaluation of the current aquaculture, catch and landing statistics, and an impact 
assessment  of  future  policy  options  and  possible  future  legislation.  The  evaluation,  which  also 
covered the functioning of Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 on aquaculture, was concluded in 2019, 
and the impact assessment was launched in 2020. 

1   Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the 

submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 
788/96 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 1). 

2   Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of 
Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the 
submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 
788/96; COM(2015) 297 final. 

3   Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of 
Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the 
submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) 788/96; 
COM(2017) 747 final. 

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2  MAIN FINDINGS 

Eurostat strives to continually improve the quality and availability of European statistics. It is also 
committed  to  reducing  the  burden  on  Member  States  and  respondents.  To  this  end,  the 
‘Streamlining and simplifying European fishery statistics’ project looks at current data collection 
and  draws  up  a  strategy  for  making  aquaculture  statistics  more  fit  for  purpose.  The  project 
ensures coordination to dovetail with statistics collected under Regulation (EU) 2017/10044 and 
better  harmonisation  with  the  standard  aquaculture  questionnaire  recommended  by  the 
Coordinating  Working  Party  on  Fisheries  Statistics5.  The  first  milestone  of  the  project  –  to 
finalise  the  evaluation  of  European  fishery  statistics  –  was  reached  in  late  2019,  when  a  staff 
working document was produced on the evaluation6.   

2.1  Timeliness and completeness 

2.1.1  Timeliness 

Most Member States have met the data submission deadlines in recent years. However, a third of 
them  sent  some  data  sets  after  the  deadline.  In  most  cases,  the  delay  was  relatively  short. 
However, Eurostat has taken steps to find solutions with France and Italy, which have repeatedly 
been sending in data very late, in particular for the reference year 2016. 

Eurostat publishes the data immediately after validation. Valid data are normally published on its 
public database by the end of March of the year after the deadline. The data may be revised any 
time throughout the year.  

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) considered the deadlines of 
Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 to be 6 months too late for their reporting needs, which resulted in 
a parallel data collection from countries. 

2.1.2  Completeness 

The  main  aquaculture  dataset  (production  from  aquaculture)  was  relatively  complete.  It  has 
become more complete over time. Unfortunately, many values remain confidential as the sector is 
very specialised.  

The dataset on the structure of the aquaculture sector is collected every 3 years, and was collected 
in  2017.  This  dataset  posed  serious  concerns  about  its  usability  as  the  reporting  units  are  both 

4   Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the 

establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector 
and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation 
(EC) No 199/2008 (OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, p. 1). 

5  

The Coordinating Working Party on Fisheries Statistics was established in 1959 by Resolution 23/59 of the 
FAO Conference to coordinate fishery statistical programmes of regional fishery bodies and other inter-
governmental organisations. Its purpose is to (i) keep under continuous review the requirements for 
fisheries statistics (including aquaculture); (ii) agree standard concepts, definitions, classifications and 
methodologies for the collection and collation of fisheries statistics; and (iii) propose ways of coordinating 
and streamlining statistical activities among relevant intergovernmental organisations 
(http://www.fao.org/fishery/cwp/en). Recently, it has developed a draft standard aquaculture questionnaire 
as a recommendation for minimum requirements for aquaculture statistics. 

6  

Staff Working Document (2019) 425. Available only in English.  

2 

 
 
 
 
                                                           
 
 
surfaces  and  volumes  depending  on  the  type  of  species.  Because  of  this,  the  dataset  provides 
users  with  ambiguous  information,  in  particular  when  comparing  data  from  countries  that  raise 
different species. The dataset has not yet been published. 

Unit prices posed difficulties in general for all aquaculture production datasets. The most recent 
Fisheries Statistics Working Group meeting in October 2018 discussed the issue.  

2.2  Consistency 

2.2.1  Quality and accuracy 

Eurostat collects yearly quality reports on aquaculture statistics. They describe the methods and 
quality  aspects  of  data  collection  based  on  self-assessments  by  the  countries.  Eurostat  has  used 
the national quality reports to compile an EU-level quality report7. The overall quality is good as 
most  of  the  countries  follow  a  census  approach,  with  non-response  either  non-existent  or 
insignificant.  

A quality management system is in place in more than half of the countries. Since the last report, 
the  overall  quality  evaluated  by  Eurostat  has  improved  in  five  countries.  Most  improvements 
targeted  timeliness  (seven  countries),  accuracy  and  reliability  (five  countries).  All  aspects  of 
quality improved in 2018 for France, which runs a census. Relevance improved in one country, 
while no countries improved coherence and comparability. 

2.2.2  Comparability 

In  October  2018,  Eurostat  published  a  handbook  for  aquaculture  statistics8,  which  has  further 
improved  the  homogeneity  and  therefore  the  comparability  of  the  data  between  countries.  The 
length  of  the  time  series  –  comparability  over  time  –  varies  between  the  countries.  In  some 
countries, the time series go back to 1970, while other countries started only in 2011. However, 
for the period covered by this report, data are comparable over time.  

2.3  Relevance 

Aquaculture statistics are widely used by various data users. They form the basis for other data 
collections9,  and  in  particular  for  freshwater  aquaculture,  where  no  other  EU-level  dataset  is 
collected and published.  

The  data  collected  under  Regulation  (EC)  No  762/2008  are  essential  for  informed,  evidence-
based policymaking at both national and EU level. The data on production levels and trends are 
important in analysing the development of the aquaculture sector as part of the common fisheries 
policy. Quantitative data are central in shaping the Member States’ multiannual national plans for 

7  

8  

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/EN/fish_aq_esqrs.htm. Available only in English. 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/Annexes/fish_aq_esms_an2.pdf. Available only in English. 

9   Commission  Implementing  Decision  (EU)  2019/909  of  18  February  2019  establishing  the  list  of 
mandatory research surveys and thresholds for  the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the 
collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 21). 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
 
 
 
 
sustainable aquaculture. They provide policymakers and industry with solid foundations on which 
to build the sector’s future. 

Moreover, the data are an important source for other organisations’ publications and services. The 
European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products uses European statistics on 
aquaculture  in  compiling  its  structural  analysis  of  the  European  fisheries  and  aquaculture 
industry.  The  World  Trade  Organisation  uses  European  statistics  on  aquaculture  for  its  trade 
policy review. 

Almost all Member States confirmed the need for aquaculture production data at national level as 
well.  Most  national  data  needs  were  fully  or  almost  fully  met  by  the  data  collected  under  the 
Regulation.  However,  Regulation  EC  (No)  762/2008  does  not  cover  important  data  on 
microalgae, feed and juveniles input, product destination, production cost, employment and other 
socioeconomic  variables.  Socioeconomic  information  is  collected  for  aquaculture  under 
Regulation (EU) 2017/1004. By contrast, some Member States referred to the data collection as 
too  detailed and  burdensome  for  national needs.  Despite the  relevance  of  aquaculture  statistics, 
the evaluation of fisheries statistics also confirmed a higher level of user dissatisfaction linked to 
unavailability caused by data confidentiality.  

2.4  Accessibility 

2.4.1  Online database 

Eurostat’s public database10 provides European statistics on aquaculture with the following 
datasets:  

  production from aquaculture excluding hatcheries and nurseries (fish_aq2a);  
  production of fish eggs for human consumption from aquaculture (fish_aq2b);  
 
  production of hatcheries and nurseries at eggs stage in life cycle (fish_aq4a); and  
  Production of hatcheries and nurseries at juvenile stage in life cycle (fish_aq4b).  

input to capture-based aquaculture (fish_aq3);  

In  addition,  half  of  the  Member  States  publish  the  data  in  national  online  databases  or  as 
downloadable annual tables. Access to these products is always free of charge. 

2.4.2 

Publications and data tables 

Eurostat publishes data and articles on aquaculture in its online Statistics Explained collection 
and in statistical books11. 

Most Member States publish aquaculture statistics regularly in various reports, in some cases 
together with press releases. 

2.4.3  Metadata 

Eurostat  collects  national  quality  reports  every  year,  as  required  under  Annex  6  to  Regulation 
(EC) No 762/2008. These reports contain detailed information on the quality of the data and on 

10   http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database  

11   The most recent is ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics – 2019 edition’, ISBN 978-92-76-13193-9  
  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/10317767/KS-FK-19-001-EN-N.pdf/742d3fd2-961e-
68c1-47d0-11cf30b11489. Available only in English. 

4 

 
 
 
                                                           
 
 
the  methods  used  to  collect  them.  The  ESS  Metadata  Handler12  collects  the  national  quality 
reports, which follow the European Statistical System guidelines. 

The European reference metadata, including an EU-level quality report on aquaculture statistics13, 
are published on Eurostat’s public database with the data tables listed above. Countries review the 
metadata each year. 

2.5  Data confidentiality 

A  major  shortcoming  in  aquaculture  statistics  collected  under  Regulation  (EC)  No  762/2008  is 
the  high  number  of  confidential  data  cells.  There  are  two  main  reasons  for  this.  First,  the 
Regulation calls for a highly detailed data structure, which in turn leads to very fragmented data. 
Second, the aquaculture sector is highly specialised, as there are companies that grow very  few 
species with one main production method or production environment. As a result, a large number 
of data on single species and aggregates have become confidential. 

In  2018,  almost  half  of  the  Member  States  faced  data  confidentiality  issues  with  the  main 
aquaculture  production  dataset.  This  meant  that  EU  aggregates  remained  confidential  for  most 
species, often because of confidential data in a single Member State. However, the national total 
production volume and value were published for 2016 for all Member States, while they became 
confidential  for  Latvia  in  2017  and  2018.  Confidential  data  from  one  Member  State  prevented 
publication  of  the  EU  aggregate  for  input  to  capture-based  aquaculture.  EU-wide  production  of 
fish  eggs  for  human  consumption  remained  confidential  because  of  niche  production  in  three 
Member  States,  while  national  production  started  to  be  confidential  in  Spain  and  Hungary  in 
2018.  The  data  on  the  production  from  hatcheries  and  nurseries  were  confidential  in  several 
Member States. 

Eurostat  and  the  Member  States  have  invested  time  and  effort  in  making  as  many  figures  as 
possible  available  to  data  users,  while  safeguarding  statistical  confidentiality  and  keeping  the 
process as efficient as possible. 

3  BURDEN AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS 

Eurostat assessed the cost-effectiveness of aquaculture data collection under Regulation (EC) No 
762/2008 using the methodological country reports for 2018, together with the cost analysis by 
statistical  product  carried  out  each  year  by  the  European  Statistical  System.  The  cost  analysis 
corresponds to the year 2019, which covered the aquaculture data collection for the reference year 
2017. Twenty-four countries replied to the cost analysis; in monetary terms, the average cost is 
approximately EUR 105 000 per year. A direct comparison with the figure from the last reporting 
exercise is not possible as not all countries replied to both exercises. Seventeen countries reported 
costs in both the previous and current reporting exercise. For those countries, costs fell by 3 %. 

Based  on  the  replies  to  the  methodological  country  reports  for  2018,  the  vast  majority  of 
countries  cover  national  needs  with  the  aquaculture  data  compiled  under  Regulation  (EC)  No 
762/2008. Altogether, 16 countries collect the data as a census, and five derive the dataset from 
administrative  sources;  the  remaining  six  countries  run  administrative  sources  or  use  expert 
estimates.  

12   https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/estat/spe/metaconv/ 

13   https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/EN/fish_aq_esqrs.htm 

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Fifteen  countries  reported  on  efficiency  gains.  The  main  efficiency  gains  were  linked  to  online 
surveys  (six  countries),  further  automation  (four  countries)  and  to  the  increased  use  of 
administrative  data  (two  countries).  There  were  burden  reductions  in  10  countries.  Easier  data 
transmission  and  multiple  uses  of  data  were  the  most  common  types  of  burden  reduction 
measures. 

From the country reports, it appears that more than half of the countries collect data directly from 
the  facilities  at  production  unit  level,  while  the  others  have  company  managers  fill  out  the 
questionnaires for all of their facilities. Collecting data at company level makes reporting under 
Regulation (EC) No 199/200814 easier at the same time. The idea of covering both regulations 
with one data collection exercise may be worth investigating further to reduce the overall burden 
for Member States. 

A number of countries have suggested improvements to reduce the burden of Regulation (EC) No 
762/2008,  particularly  for  improving  the  cooperation  with  other  stakeholders  in  the  field  to 
standardise  data  submission  requirements  and  deadlines.  This  concerns  primarily  the  FAO  and 
Data Collection Framework Regulation (EU) 2017/1004. 

4  CONCLUSIONS 

In  recent  years,  aquaculture  statistics  have  evolved  into  a  stable  set  of  data  with  timely  and 
consistent output for data users not only at European and global levels, but also at national level.  

At  the  same  time,  the  consultation  activities  carried  out  as  part  of  the  recent  evaluation  on 
European fisheries statistics demonstrated that aquaculture statistics have a significant number of 
dissatisfied users. This is likely linked to the large number of confidential values in the dataset, 
which makes it harder to use the dataset. Confidential cells are linked to the detailed breakdown 
of  the  data  requirements  set  by  Regulation  (EC)  No  762/2008  and  to  the  aquaculture  sector’s 
specialised and concentrated structure. 

Some Member States have continued to face problems with the timeliness and punctuality of data 
collection  and  delivery.  The  Eurostat  data  collection  guidelines  have  helped  make  aquaculture 
data collection more consistent.  

In some countries, the burden was reduced and measurable efficiency gains were observed. The 
average annual cost of producing aquaculture statistics was EUR 105 000 for the reference year 
2017. This was 3 % less than in the previous period (for countries that delivered cost data for both 
periods).  The  share  of  the  data  collection  costs  in  the  total  economic  value  of  aquaculture 
production  was  rather  low.  Inefficiencies  with  other  data  collections  (namely  the  FAO  and 
Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 repealing Regulation (EC) No 199/2008) remain. 

 5  RECOMMENDATIONS 

The most important outcome derived from the evaluation of fisheries statistics for aquaculture is 
that they are a very important and widely used part of fisheries statistics, but that they suffer from 

14   Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 has been repealed by Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European 
Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  17  May  2017  on  the  establishment  of  a  Union  framework  for  the 
collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding 
the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 (OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, p. 
1). 

6 

 
 
                                                           
 
data  confidentiality  issues.  Despite  efforts  made  by  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  and  by  the 
Member States to reduce the amount of confidential data, their impact has been very limited. The 
sector’s specialisation has in fact increased the amount of confidential data. The only solution to 
providing  a  better  service  to  data  users  would  be  to  amend  the  current  legislation  or  replace  it 
with another one that is more focused on production and less demanding on structural dimensions 
linked  to  production.  A  new  legislation  could  also  bring  about  efficiency  gains,  especially  by 
aligning deadlines with the needs of other international organisations. 

At  national  level,  the  use  of  electronic  questionnaires  should  be  further  encouraged  as  it  helps 
make data collection more efficient. National data collection guidelines and helpdesks  that offer 
respondents tailor-made support are other examples of good practices.  

7