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420 V. Borsellino et al.

Table 2. Structural characteristics of Sicilian fishing fleet in the ports of the
Channel of Sicily (2004).

Indicators No. x¯ S CV

Vessels 1080 – – –
Gross tonnage (GT) 45 845.00 43.25 75.87 1.75
Gross registered tonnage (GRT) 40 149.79 37.18 62.92 1.69
Engine power (kW) 158 855.46 147.09 194.12 1.32
Overall length (m) 16 062.82 14.90 0.60
Construction year 1974 8.95
– 13.53 –

Source: Our processing on the EU Fishing Fleet Register database.

boats), it does, however (as far as size is concerned) represent 12.3% of engine capacity and
more than a fifth of the tonnage (expressed in GT) used throughout Italy (respectively equal
to 1 289 117.6 kW and 214 349.6 GT).

Division of the fleet based on levels of tonnage gives the first key to understanding the
infrastructures: more than half (57.0%) of vessels reach less than 10 GRT; in terms of capacity,
this sector reaches barely 6.7% of the entire tonnage (see table 3).

Such figures highlight the artisanal origins of the fishing activities of the Sicilian ports
examined [14], confirmed by the fact that vessels exceeding dimensions of 100 GRT, which
make up a productive segment of a more industrial nature, represent barely 13.1% of the fleet
being examined.

Dividing the fleet by levels of kW, the highest number (56.7% of the total) are those types
characterized by a lower engine capacity (less than 100 kW), while out of the rest of the fleet,
the most frequent level is that of engine capacity over 300 kW (13.15%) (see table 4).

One particularly significant indication of the fleet efficiency is that of the age of its vessels,
also because of the effects that this would have in terms of subsidized financial investments.
Information regarding the age of the fleet shows the high level of obsolescence of the vessels
(with an average age of 25 yr), and the low rate of new investment into the sector.

Of all the fleet, 58.7%, equivalent to 59.4% of total tonnage, is older than 25 yr, while more
recently constructed vessels (less than 5 yr old) represent just 3.1% of the fleet and 9.4% of
total GRT (see table 5).

A breakdown of the Sicilian fleet according to fishing gear (regarding the most frequently
used equipment over the year) shows that the most commonly used gear is bottom otter trawls

Table 3. Number of Sicilian fishing
vessels in the ports of the Channel of Sicily

by tonnage classes (2004).

Tonnage classes (GRT) No. %

Up to 2.99 289 26.76
3–5.99 165 15.28
6–9.99 162 15.00
10–20.99
21–35.99 48 4.44
36–50.99 115 10.65
51–99.99
100 and over 87 8.06
Total 72 6.67
142 13.15
1080 100.00

Source: Our processing on the EU Fishing Fleet
Register database.