Abstract:

Environmental pollution, inimical spawning conditions as well as intensive fishing, and other no less important factors have major influence on development of fishery worldwide, including Latvia. In the modern global economy, competitiveness is brought to the fore as one of preconditions for economic recovery, where exactly the availability of production resources and their efficient use play a significant role. Competitiveness of any sector and its further growth depend on efficiency of production processes. The aim of the research is to evaluate the production competitiveness of SMEs enterprises in the Latvian fishery sector, simultaneously providing recommendations concerning the need in structural reforms. On the basis of the applied methodology of the financial analysis and the available data and availability, capacity, utilization intensity and efficiency of fixed assets of the Latvian fishery enterprises was analysed. In the framework of the research the skills of Latvian fishery enterprises in formation and utilization of capital structure were reflected, the factors currently ensuring and procrastinating the competitiveness of production and the measures to be implemented to facilitate competitiveness were identified. The results of the research can help the institutions, entrepreneurs and researchers involved in establishment and implementation of fisheries policy to better understand the aspects making up the competitiveness in Latvian fishery sector and to plan the common policy of the sector more successfully.