Belgium

Belgium in the world and in the EU

Belgium is a minor EU-27 producer of fishery and aquaculture products.

Fishing fleet

Landings

Landings comprise the initial unloading of any fisheries products from on board a fishing vessel in a given Member State. They include aquatic plants and species not destined for human consumption. Landings are recorded in net weight and value, and concern landings made by vessels from EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and the UK.

In 2023, 98% of landings in Belgium included fresh whole/gutted products, the rest mostly consisting of cooked products.

Almost all landings are destined for human consumption, the rest being used for industrial purposes.

There are 7 fishing ports registered in Belgium (source: EU Master Data Register, 03 December 2025).

Main commercial species landed and % of total
2023, million euros (nominal value) and 1.000 tonnes

Aquaculture

Aquaculture consists in the farming of aquatic (fresh or saltwater) organisms, such as fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Aquaculture data are reported in live weight equivalent and value.

Only limited freshwater production exists in Belgium, mainly consisting in trout farming.

Producer Organisations

Source: European Commission, List of the recognised producer organisations in the fishery and aquaculture sector

In Belgium, 1 producer organisation (PO) is formally recognized, operating in the fishery sector. Its role is to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and of the Common organisation of the markets (CMO) through the collective management of its members' activities. 

First sales

First sales concern the fish that is sold or registered at an auction center or to registered buyers or to producer organizations (PO). First sales may differ from landings since the former do not cover fish that is landed by vessels owned by processing companies or direct sales to processors.

In Belgium, there are three auctions, all located in the North Sea: Oostende (Ostend), Zeebrugge and Nieuwpoort.

In 2025, total first sales amounted to 11.105 tonnes and 69 million euros.

Wholesale

Wholesale is an intermediary stage in the distribution channel that buys in bulk and sells to resellers (e.g. retailers) rather than to consumers. There are no wholesale markets in Belgium. The three Belgian auctions (Oostende, Zeebrugge and Nieuwpoort) play an important role in the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. There are two auction management companies in Belgium:

• Vlaamse Visveiling (the most important): management company of the two auctions of Oostende and Zeebrugge. It gathers 170 buyers: wholesalers, supermarkets, markets and speciality stores.
• Nieuwpoortse Visveilling: management company of the Nieuwpoort auction. 

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 1.475 persons were employed in the Belgian fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 137 million euros, covering the 1,2% of the value added of total manufacture of food products.

In 2024, the main products sold were “Fresh or chilled fish fillets and fish meat (including shark fins), whether or not minced” and “Smoked Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon (including fillets, excluding heads, tails and maws)” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

61 companies
Net turnover: 837,5
million euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Import

Main commercial species imported
and % of total imports
2024, million euros (nominal value)

Export

Main commercial species exported
and % of total exports
2024, million euros (nominal value)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Belgium (based on the operational programme for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund - EMFF - of Belgium):

* Processing depends heavily on imports. The majority of processed products are exported.

In 2023, apparent consumption was estimated at 21,77 kg per capita, a 1% increase compared with 2022. The most consumed species were salmon, cod, mussel and skipjack tuna (source: EUMOFA). 

21,77 kg
per capita in live 
weight equivalent
(2023, source: EUMOFA)

The country in EUMOFA