Extraction of non-living resources

The extraction of seafloor minerals, including aggregates, is mostly done through the process of dredging. Previous estimates (2017) put GVA of this activity in Europe at around EUR 5.66 billion and an employment of around 0.10 million people. It is expected that the extraction of marine minerals for commercial purposes will expand in the future as the world's precious metals (including cobalt, copper, zinc) and rare earths (lanthanides, scandium, etc.) are expected to increasingly come from the seafloor. However, the extraction of aggregates such as gravel is expected to decrease.

In the EU-27, these activities generated 1.4 thousand jobs and around EUR 161 million in 2021 (Table 1).

In Europe’s seas the extraction of oil and gas began in the 1960s. The North Sea area of the United Kingdom and Norway account for the majority of offshore oil and gas production in the European Economic Area with the remainder divided between Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Romania and Ireland. While the North Sea is the most intensive oil drilling sea area in the world with around 184 active rigs, overall EU oil and gas extraction activities are declining. Previous (2017) estimates put GVA of this activity in Europe at around EUR 17.18 billion with employment of around 0.06 million people. By 2050 it is expected to decrease significantly to 21.7 million tons of oil (-88 %) and 135 million tons of oil equivalent (-21%). In addition, as the EU is committed to the Paris Agreement of 2015 to limit the extent of the climate emergency, a dramatic reduction in the use of hydrocarbons and a boost in the use of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power should take place.

In the EU-27, these activities generated EUR 4 billion in GVA and almost 7.4 thousand jobs (Table 1).

In the EU the extraction of salt from the marine environment mostly occurs in the Mediterranean Sea, with Spain and Portugal being the largest producers. Other countries where the activity takes place include France, Italy, Greece, Slovenia and the UK.

In the EU-27, the GVA generated from the extraction of salt in 2021 was estimated at EUR 52 million, employing around 640 people (Table 1).

Slovenia is a good example of where the production of salt has socio-economic and ecological benefits such as preserving natural and cultural heritage, promoting sustainable tourism and also the protection of the environment by designating the salt works (Strunjan Saltworks) as protected RAMSAR wetland of international importance. However, in the coming decades salt extraction is largely expected to continue to move away from the EU to the Middle East, Asia Pacific and South America, due to available land, transfer of technologies and less stringent political conditions.