The established Blue Economy sectors in Latvia directly employ nearly 25,000 people and generate approximately €579 million in GVA (2022). The Latvian Blue Economy sectors represent a moderate share of the national economy, contributing by approx—1.8% to national GVA and 2.8% to national employment.
The size and share of the Blue Economy in Latvia have been fluctuating since 2009 in terms of employment, reaching its highest level in 2013 (48,000 employees). The COVID-19 pandemic hit the country’s Blue Economy particularly hard, with a 41% contraction in its workforce between 2019 and 2020. More than 1 200 jobs were lost in the following year.
Similarly, Latvia’s Blue Economy GVA fluctuated in nominal terms between €385 million in 2010 and the peak of €709 million registered in 2019. Then, it suffered from a 38% contraction in 2020, prior to a modest 2% recovery in 2021.
The largest Blue Economy sector in Latvia is Port activities, contributing 36% to the country’s Blue Economy GVA and nearly 23%% to its workforce. The second largest Blue Economy sector in terms of GVA is Coastal tourism, representing almost 27% of total Blue Economy GVA and 39% of its employment, i.e. the highest contribution to the country’s Blue Economy workforce. Next is the Living resources sector, accounting for 24% of the country’s Blue Economy GVA and 27% of its workforce.
Latvia has 494 km of coastline along the Baltic sea. Latvia has three major seaports and seven smaller ports. Riga is the biggest port in Latvia and second biggest in the Baltic States. It handles a significant amount of containerized cargo, handling approx. 17.5 million tonnes (2023). The port of Ventspils is one of the leading deep-water ports of the EU on the East coast of the Baltic Sea, servicing the largest vessels entering the Baltic Sea throughout the whole year, handling another 10 million tonnes/year. Liepaja is the third biggest port (6.6 million tonnes). Fishing vessels use also small ports like Skulte, Mersrags, Salacgriva, Pavilosta, Roja and Engure.
The largest passenger port in Latvia is the Free Port of Riga, which serves as a major hub for passenger transportation, including cruise ships and ferry services to and from various destinations in the Baltic Sea region. Additionally, the Port of Ventspils also serves as a key passenger port, especially during the summer months when it caters to tourists and travelers visiting the Latvian coast. Approx. 287 thousand passengers embarked or disembarked in this port in 2023.
In Latvia, several national organisations are actively monitoring and promoting the blue economy, focusing on sustainable use of marine and aquatic resources. Key institutions include:
The Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, which oversees marine spatial planning and coordinates national policies related to the marine environment.
The Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology is an agency of Daugavpils University and an internationally competitive scientific institute conducting academic and applied research in aquatic ecology. Among other objectives, the Institute aims to develop the knowledge base on ecosystem services and their values and stimulate the integration of this knowledge into planning and decision-making for sustainable ecosystem management in the Baltic Sea.
The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) is an intergovernmental organization to protect the marine environment in the Baltic Sea from pollution, preserve its biological diversity and promote the sustainable use of its resources. Latvia is one of the contracting parties and signatories of the Helsinki Convention.
Other national sources of information on the Latvian Blue Economy are:
- Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.
- Latvian Ministry of Agriculture.
- Freeport Authority of Riga.
- Latvian Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment (BIOR).
Currently, there are a few opportunities to acquire Blue Economy education and skills within the country, for example thought the BSc in Maritime Transport offered by RTU Latvian Maritime Academy or by the Riga Technical University.
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 Latvia. 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.