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424 V. Borsellino et al.

Finally, of the fishing methods practised on the Egadi islands (Favignana, Marettimo, and
Levanzo), small-scale purse seining with the use of gillnets (48.8%), purse seines (31.7%),
and beach seines (17.1%) represent the most common methods.

3.1.2 Tunisia. A structural analysis of marine fishing in the Channel of Sicily was carried
out, looking at the structure and typology of the fishing fleet, the type of fishing, and the work
force in the area under whose governorate the north-west coastal area falls—facing the area
being studied. However, in order to have some idea, at least in general terms, of the significance
of the fishing industry in the Tunisian economy, the main macro-economic variables in the
sector were examined. This analysis was based on studies in the area by ICE [15, 16, 17], and
on statistics released by the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Tunisia and
by contacting experts and workers in the sector who have been involved in Italian–Tunisian
joint ventures.

The fishing sector in Tunisia occupies an important position in the national economy, in
terms of both product worth and product quantity, as well as the employment it provides.

Production in 2002 (ICE, 2004) of 96 685 tonnes, was the result of the growing trend
which has characterized the sector over recent years; in the decade 1993–2002, the quan-
tity fished increased by 14.3%, a rise in real terms from 85.4 million tonnes in the 2 yr
period of 1993–94, to 97.6 million tonnes in the 2 yr period of 2001–2002. During the
period in consideration, production increased annually, except for 1994, 1995, and 2002 (see
table 9). The most important types of fishing for these results were coastal fishing and oily
fish fishing (anchovies, sardines, and mackerel, etc.), which represent 39.5% and 34.3%,
respectively.

The fishing sector (2002) generates a wealth of 182 million euros, 39.1% of which comes
from coastal fishing; the income from aquaculture is 5.2% (see figure 2).

The coastal infrastructure is located on about 1300 km of coastline, where there are 41 ports
and 50 small landing areas; these latter are able to provide for the basic needs of small vessels
only, while there are 11 deep-sea ports (allowing for a depth of over 3 m), 21 coastal ports and
eight docks.

The most recently available information (2003) registers a fishing fleet made up of about
13 000 units, of which 11 000 are for coastal fishing, and of these, 40% are motor boats.
The governorate with the highest number of vessels is that of Sfax, located on the central
southern coast of Tunisia; however, geographical division appears not to be homogenous, in

Table 9. Tunisian total production by fishing tipology (tonnes).

Fishing typology 1993–1994 2001–2002
x¯ % x¯ %

Coast fishing 33 734 39.5 26 516 27.2
Benthic trawl fishing 16 897 19.8 25 638 26.3
Pelagic trawl fishing
Mediterranean blue fish fishing 390 0.5 703 0.3
Tuna fish fishing 29 297 34.3 36 639 37.5
Lagoon fishing and aquiculture 2.2 4.9
Shellfish harvest 1893 4794
Shrimp fishing 1729 2.0 2451 2.5
Sponge fishing 1412 1.7 846 0.9
Coral harvest 0.1 –
Total 49 – 37 –
25 – 34 –
100.0 100.0
1 2
85 411 97 657

Source: APIA.