Germany

Germany in the world and in the EU

In 2023, Germany was the EU’s 6th largest producer of fishery products and the 7th largest for 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 also include aquatic plants and species not destined for human consumption. Landings are recorded in net weight and value, and cover landings made by vessels from Member States, Iceland, Norway and the UK.

In 2023, landings in Germany consisted of 19% fresh whole/gutted products and 56% frozen products, of which 70% were whole/gutted, 17% fillets and 13% other cuts. Cooked products accounted for 23% of the total, while no detail is available on the preservation state of the remaining 2%.

Moreover, during 2023, 49% of the products were destined for human consumption, 2% for industrial use, while 49% were destined for unknown uses.

There are 203 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.

In 2023, 30% of German production occurred in on bottom sea and brackish water, while the remaining methods are not specified.

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 Germany, 12 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.

All 12 POs and the association of POs operate in the fishery sector; 1 of the 12 POs is also involved in the aquaculture 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.

In 2025, total first sales in German places of sale amounted to 14.585 tonnes and 78 million euros. The top-3 places of sale covered 56% and 56% 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 Germany, auctions have lost their importance, and fishery and aquaculture products are mostly sold directly to the wholesale trade, filleting wholesalers (in fishing harbours) and processors, or processed and sold by fishermen’s cooperative trade and filleting units. 

In 2016, 445 fish wholesalers were active, with a turnover of 5 billion euros (source: Fischinformationszentrum).

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 6.714 persons were employed in the German fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 866 million euros, covering only 2% of the value added of total manufacture of food products. In 2024, the main products sold were “Fish fillets in batter or breadcrumbs including fish fingers (excluding prepared meals and dishes)” and “Prepared or preserved fish (excluding whole or in pieces and prepared meals and dishes)” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

190 companies
Net turnover: 3,5
billion euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Germany:

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 12,08 kg per capita, a 3% decrease compared with 2022. The most consumed species were Alaska pollock, salmon, skipjack tuna and herring (source: EUMOFA).

12,08 kg
per capita in live 
weight equivalent
(2023, source: EUMOFA)

The country in EUMOFA