The 2025 Blue Economy Report has been published. This year's edition reviews progress made since 2009 and provides an in-depth analysis of the sector's performance between 2021 and 2022 based on the most recent Eurostat data. It offers insights into emerging trends, economic growth, and sustainability across Europe's ocean-based industries.
Recent figures confirm that the EU blue economy continues on a strong growth trajectory compared to 2021. In 2022, the blue economy employed 4.82 million people (a 16% increase compared to 2021) and generated a turnover of nearly EUR 890 billion, a 29% increase compared to 2021. In the same year, the blue economy's Gross Value Added (GVA) accounted for EUR 250.7 billion, a 33% increase.
Full recovery for the EU blue economy
Notably, the report reveals that the EU blue economy has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, with emerging sectors, such as blue renewable energy, leading the charge by creating new business opportunities and economic growth.
Furthermore, innovation in the blue economy proves to be a key driver for sustainability and growth. Since 2018, investments in innovative blue economy sectors have steadily increased, with activities such as blue renewable energy attracting a high volume of financial inflows per year, putting the EU blue economy on a clear path to greater competitiveness and climate neutrality.
Tourism and renewables at the helm
Between 2013 and 2022, Gross Value Added (GVA) increased significantly across all blue economy sectors. Coastal tourism remains the largest contributor, accounting for 33% of the EU blue economy's GVA in 2022 and employing over half of the total workforce (54%). After a sharp decline in 2020-when GVA and turnover dropped by 64% and 59% respectively due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector made a full recovery by 2022, regaining its central role in the blue economy.
Over the same period, offshore wind energy experienced the highest growth at +1049%, followed by maritime transport (+99%), shipbuilding and repair (+73%), marine living resources (+44%), and port activities (+36%).
Overall, marine renewable energy has seen the largest expansion in the EU, with the EU offshore wind energy sector remaining on a fast-growth trajectory. From just a few pilot projects in the early 2000s, the EU now has a total offshore wind capacity of 18.9 gigawatts, spread across 11 countries - enough to power more than 6 million households - making it one of the fastest-growing parts of the EU economy. In 2022 alone, investment in ocean energy reached €48.53 billion—accounting for 53% of global investment in the sector.
Furthermore, the sector’s GVA increased to EUR 5.3 billion in 2022, a 42% increase compared to 2021. This growth boosted the sector’s profits, which reached EUR 4.1 billion in 2022, a 56% increase from 2021.
These trends are expected to continue. The report suggests that the EU blue economy sectors continued to grow after 2022. According to JRC estimates, in 2023, the blue economy contributed EUR 263 billion to the EU GVA and employed 4.88 million people.
Advancing sustainability in the blue economy
Recent findings show that the EU is making steady progress toward building a sustainable blue economy. This trajectory aligns closely with the objectives of the European Green Deal-promoting resource efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness, while working to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions and protect natural capital.
Maritime transport is also making steady progress toward sustainability, with sea and coastal freight water transport recording a 10% reduction in emissions per tonne of freight between 2013 and 2022. Over the same period, the EU fishing fleet achieved a 31% decrease in CO emissions. Further improvements are reflected in fuel efficiency: in 2022, the fleet used 17% less fuel compared to 2009. The adoption of more sustainable practices and technologies not only enhances the sector's competitiveness but also strengthens the EU blue economy's resilience to climate-related shocks.
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Background
The blue economy encompasses all economic activities based on or related to the ocean, seas and coasts. This includes various economic sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport of goods and passengers, ports, and marine renewable energy.
The EU Blue Economy Report is the annual flagship publication of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Joint Research Centre. It offers an in-depth analysis of the scope and size of the blue economy in the European Union.
The report and the EU Blue Economy Observatory provide an overview of key socio-economic performance indicators per sector, activity, and country.
Details
- Publication date
- 22 May 2025