Denmark

Denmark in the world and in the EU

In 2023, Denmark was the secondlargest EU-27 producer of fisheries products and the 10th largest as concerns aquaculture production.

Fishing fleet

Landings

Landings comprise the initial unloading of any fisheries products from on board a fishing vessel in each 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.

A large share of landings in Denmark are destined to industrial uses (62% in 2023), while almost all landings consist of fresh whole/gutted products (95% in 2023).

There are 131 fishing ports registered in Denmark (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.

In 2023, around 45% of Danish production occurred in freshwater, 51% in marine waters and the rest has been classified under “not specified” for which no detail is available. The following main production methods were used:

• 39% of production: in recirculation systems, mostly in freshwater (38%) and a small percentage in sea and brackish water and other not specified methods (1%);
• 29% of the production: in cages in sea and brackish water;
• 19% of the production: off-bottom.

The rest was farmed in ponds (5%), in tanks and raceways (2%) and with other methods for which no detail is available (4%).

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

Producer organisations

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

In Denmark, 4 producer organisations (POs) are formally recognized, 3 operating in fishery and 1 in aquaculture sector. Their 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 their 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 Denmark, there are nine fish auction centres, the largest in Hanstholm on the West coast. ”Danske Fiskeauktioner” in Thyborøn is the second largest which sells on an Internet auction system the fish from the harbours of Thyborøn, Hvide Sande and Thorsminde. 

In 2025, total first sales in Denmark amounted to 670.044 tonnes and 526 million euros. Five main commercial species covered 77% and 60% of total first sales, respectively in volume and value terms.

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. In Denmark, there is only one wholesale market involved in sales of fishery and aquaculture products: “Københavns Fisketorv”. It is situated in the Northern harbour area of Copenhagen (Source: Eurofish).

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 2.522 persons were employed in the Danish fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 262 million euros, covering 5% of the value added of total manufacture of food products.

In 2024, the main products sold were “Flours, meals and pellets of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption”, “Other inedible products of fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates or seaweed (including fish waste; excluding whalebone and whalebone hair, coral or similar materials, shells an cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared/natural sponges)” and “Fats and oils and their fractions of fish or marine mammals (excluding chemically modified)” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

82 companies
Net turnover: 1,78
billion euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Denmark (source: Eurofish):

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)

Consumption

According to the estimates made by the University of Copenhagen for the latest years, per capita apparent consumption in Denmark has been between 20,00-25,00 kg LWE. The most consumed species were herring, salmon and mussel (source: EUMOFA). 

20 - 25 kg
per capita in live 
weight equivalent
(2023, source: University of Copenhagen)

The country in EUMOFA