Estonia

Estonia in the world and in the EU

While it is a minor producing country in terms of aquaculture, in 2023 Estonia was the EU’s 13th largest producer of fishery 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. 

Landings in Estonia consist of fresh whole/gutted products only. In 2023, 72% of landings were destined for human consumption, the rest being used for industrial purposes.

There are 144 fishing ports registered in the country (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. 

According to 2023 data available in Eurostat, in Estonia, aquaculture production is carried out both in sea and brackish water and in freshwater. Marine and brackish water aquaculture production is mainly carried out using cage methods, while freshwater aquaculture mainly uses tanks and raceways as production methods.

Main commercial species farmed and % of total
2022, 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 Estonia, 5 producer organisations (POs) and 1 association of POs are formally recognized. 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. Of the 5 POs, 1 operates in aquaculture and 4 in the fishery sector. The association of POs operates in the fishery sector.

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.

There are no auction markets in Estonia. In 2025, total first sales in Estonian places of sale amounted to 55.052 tonnes and 25 million euros.

The top-3 places of sale covered 62% and 45% of total first sales, respectively in volume and value terms.

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 1.169 persons were employed in the Estonian fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 38 million euros, covering 8% of the value added of total manufacture of food products. In 2024, the main products sold were“Frozen whole salt water fish” and” and “Flours, meals and pellets of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

71 companies
Net turnover: 250
million euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Estonia (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

In 2023, apparent consumption was estimated at 17,51 kg per capita by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research, representing a significant 5% increase compared with 2022. The most consumed species were herring, sprat and salmon (source: EUMOFA). 

17,51 kg
per capita in live 
weight equivalent
(2023, sources: Estonian Institute of
 Economic Research - EKI)

The country in EUMOFA