Today, the European Commission published "The EU Blue Economy Report 2025", which presents the economic results of the sectors of the EU's blue economy referring to the latest data provided by Eurostat for 2022, the year in which the sector has generally shown a recovery from the crisis of the Covid-19 directly employing 4.82 million people, generating almost 890 billion euros in revenues and representing 250.7 billion euros of gross value added. The document also presents estimates for 2023, the year in which - it is announced - the sectors of Europe's blue economy continued to grow contributing €263 billion to gross value added and employing 4.88 million people.

Also in 2022, coastal tourism continued to be the main sector of the blue economy, generating 33% of the value of the EU's blue economy and 53% of employment sector. In 2022, strong increases were recorded both of gross value added and employment, as well as in that of coastal tourism, maritime transport and Renewable. In addition, emerging sectors such as energy from blue biotechnology and desalination create new business opportunities and promote economic growth. The offshore wind energy sector is one of those in faster growth, with an increase in gross value added by +42% compared to 2021. This increase boosted profits of the sector, which reached 4.1 billion euros.

The document highlights that 2013 and 2022 took place a significant increase in gross value added in all sectors of the European blue economy. Among these, coastal tourism remains the leading sector and in 2022 it recorded a full recovery in terms of gross value added and turnover, after being fell by 64% and 59% respectively in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the same period, wind energy recorded the highest growth, with +1,049%, followed by maritime transport (+99%), construction and repair marine biological resources (+44%) and port activities (+36%).

The report also highlights that the EU is progressing towards a sustainable blue economy, in line with the objectives of the Green European Deal to improve resource efficiency, resilience and competitiveness, while eliminating net emissions of greenhouse gases and safeguarding natural capital. Transport maritime sector, for example - it is specified - is on the right track, with a 10% reduction in emissions over the period 2013-2022 for ton of goods transported for sea freight, including the cabotiero. In addition, the EU fishing fleet has achieved a 31% reduction in CO2 emissions in the same time span. The increased efficiency of the fishing fleet is also demonstrated by a 17% reduction in the fuel consumption in 2022 compared to 2009.