In 2022, the Estonian established Blue Economy sectors employ about 30 000 people and generate around €961 million in GVA. Historically, the Blue Economy was an important part on the overall national economy. In 2022, roughly 4.5% of the national workforce is employed in blue activities, marking a sharp increase from 2021 (3.6%) but still far from pre-Covid (in 2019, 6.2%). A similar trend is observed to the overall contribution to the GVA: the Blue Economy value added is 3.0% in 2022, showing an increase from 2021 (2.6%) but still not as high as 2019 (4.4%).
In terms of employment, the Estonian Blue Economy is dominated by Coastal tourism in 2022, with 53% of blue workers employed in this sector.
Although the sector is still trying to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic (in 2019, the share was 65%), the share has increased compared to 2021 (39%). The second biggest sector in terms of persons employed is Marine living resources, which occupies roughly 16% of the blue economy workforce.
In terms of GVA, Coastal tourism contributes to 34% of the Blue Economy GVA in 2022, displaying a nominal value and a share larger than the previous year (€327M vs €143M; 34% vs 20%). The second sector in terms of contribution to the national Blue Economy GVA is Port activities, with a share of 22% (in 2021 it was 32%) and a similar nominal value compared to the previous year (€216M in 2022 vs €225M in 2021).
The busiest Estonian container port in terms of gross weight of goods handled in 2023 is the Port of Tallinn, which ranks 75th in EU, followed by the Port of Sillamäe (157th). In terms of passengers embarked and disembarked in ports, the port of Tallinn is the first ranked in Estonia and the 6th busiest in EU in 2023. Other busy passengers ports are Kuivastu and Virtsu (62nd).
Among the many institutions that monitor the blue economy in Estonia, there are the Transport Administration, the Ministry of Climate, the Environmental Board, the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK). Research institutes that deal with blue economy activities and funding opportunities are the TAL Tech and the Estonian Research Council.
Estonia will receive €97 M from the EMFAF to enhance the national Blue Economy as part of the EMFAF 2021-2027. Specifically, the resources will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources (35%), to aquaculture, processing and marketing (38%), to coastal areas (22%).
Some educational opportunities are available to study matters of blue economy in the country, such as the MSc in Maritime Digital Solutions and the MSc in Marine Engineering offered by Tallinn University of Technology.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Economic and Social Analysis (ESA)
As part of the MSFD reporting obligations, Member States must provide an Economic and Social Analysis of the blue economy. This analysis is integrated into the broader reporting package under Articles 8, 9, and 10, which includes:
- The status of marine waters;
- The determination of GES;
- Environmental targets to achieve GES.
The Economic and Social Analysis (ESA) report for the 2024–2029 cycle is presented below in PDF format. This document is available in English translation, with the original language included where applicable.
The full reports submitted under Articles 8, 9, and 10 are available here: MSFD Reporting Portal.
For more information on the implementation of the MSFD, visit the European Commission’s MSFD page.
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Estonia. It is designed to provide insights into key economic indicators over time.
At the top of the dashboard, there is a drop-down menu that allows users to select one of the following data categories:
- Employment: Number of jobs and workforce trends in the blue economy sectors.
- Gross Value Added (GVA): The contribution of the blue economy to the national economy.
- Turnover and Gross Profit: Revenue and profitability metrics of blue economy industries.
- Investment: Capital investment levels in blue economy sectors.
Once a category is selected, the main panel updates to display relevant visualisations, such as line charts or bar graphs, showing trends over time. These visualisations are accompanied by labels, legends, and tooltips to ensure clarity and accessibility.
The dashboard is navigable via keyboard and compatible with screen readers. All interactive elements are clearly labeled, and data visualisations include alternative text descriptions summarising key insights.