Collection and analysis of the Italian fisheries economic data
Among its main objectives, NISEA includes the support of the fisheries management in its entirety, ranging from capture to the processing of the fish products. NISEA pursues these objectives mainly by the collecting, processing and analysing the primary economic data for the fishing fleet and the fish processing industry in Italy.
Data collection for these two sectors is handled by NISEA under the National Fisheries Data Collection Plan pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) n. 1543/2000 and subsequent Regulation (EC) 199/2008 and Council Decision n. 93/2010. Such regulations have established a community framework for the collection, management and use of the fisheries sector data and represent support for the scientific advisory services related to the Common Fishing Policy.
The main activities related to the collection, processing and analysis of economic data are:
- Sample survey for the collection of economic data and the social variables for the Italian fishing fleet
- Sample survey for the collection of economic data for the fish processing industry;
- Reports
- Ad Hoc processing for various end-users
Sample survey for the collection of economic data and the social variables for the Italian fishing fleet
The estimate of the economic and occupational employment data for the sector was made by means of a sample survey involving direct interviews of a sample of fishing boats selected in respect of a specific statistical sampling plan.
The sample economic data are obtained by using a questionnaire in which the variables correspond to specific criteria. The parties responsible for answering the questions are the owners of the selected sample boats. The survey was conducted on the basis of face to face interviewing technique. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the interview, NISEA uses a network of qualified surveyors who are periodically informed and trained in respect of the contents of the questionnaires. Our dense network of surveyors are able to ensure geographical cover of the entire Italian territory. .
The objective of the questionnaire survey is to acquire the primary data necessary for estimating both the economic activity of the boats and the main socio-economic indicators of the Italian Fishing Fleet.
The questionnaires were transmitted by the surveyors using the specific web platform accessible on the site www.rilevazionecosti.org.
The primary data are subsequently subject to a careful qualitative and quantitative statistical procedure allowing monitoring and verification of quality. The controls are guaranteed and traceable both at the micro data level and the aggregate data level (macro). This stage is followed by a field control procedure with direct interviews of the operators and monitoring of the data collection methods used by the appraisers. The quantitative and qualitative control activities involve interaction with the various appraisers who transmit the data in order to identify any discrepancies, anomalies or anything of an atypical nature. At the end of this first stage of control, the data collected are analysed and evaluated at a more advanced level of control based on statistical analyses of the individual sample data. For this second level control, a specifically designed IT tool called NIOCDA (Nisea Data Control) is used. This collects technical and statistical know-how acquired in fisheries management and economy, which also allows the input of any missing data. At the end of this quali-quantitative control procedure, expansion of the sample data is performed, in addition to the production of the final estimates by means of appropriate statistical techniques (the Horvitz – Thompson estimator, Sen-Yates-Grundy formula). Calculation of the final estimates is accompanied by the calculation of the data quality statistical indicators, first of all the coefficient of variation, as established by the Community Regulations and in conformity with the Italian National Plan for parameters estimated by means of sampling procedures.
The calculation of the coefficient of variation occurs by following a methodology developed specifically on the basis of the survey characteristics. To support this process, an IT tool called NISE (Nisea Statistical Engine) has been designed. The process ends with the control of the final estimates by means of ad hoc enquiries on a specific data bank called NIBAT.
Sample Survey for the collection of economic data for the fish processing industry
The collection of economic and occupation nal employment data related to the fish processing industry is carried out by means of a sample survey involving the collection of primary data from a sample of industries selected from the main sector data banks. In line with the requirements of the National Plan for the Collection of Fisheries Data and with Community reference legislation, the data collection takes place in two separate surveys: the first for the segment related to those industries whose core business is the processing of seafood products (ATECO Code 10.20); the second for the segment related to those industries performing seafood processing activities as a secondary business. For the acquisition of the sample data reference is made to the most up-to-date company data banks such as Telemaco (Italian Chambers of Commerce), MintItaly and AIDA BvD (Computerized Analysis of Italian Companies). The data extracted undergo appropriate controls and the processing necessary for obtaining the stratification required: geographical location and size category (defined on the basis of the number of employees). Once the necessary controls have been carried out, the estimate of the economic indicators is obtained by using the most appropriate statistical expansion procedures.
Reports: The socio-economic data related to the Italian Fishing Fleet and the Seafood Processing Industry collected during the related sample surveys enable us to produce various types of reports, the most important of which today are:
- Reports on the economic performance of the Italian Fishing Fleet
- The Italian National Chapter in the Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet;
- The Italian National Chapter in the Annual Economic Report on the Economic Performance of the EU Fish Processing Industry;
- Fishery Products – Fishing in the “Italian Agriculture Yearbook”