Italy

Italy in the world and in the EU

In 2023, Italy was the 4th largest EU-27 country in terms of aquaculture production, while it ranked 10th in terms on fishery production.

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, 96% of landings in Italy included fresh whole/gutted products and 4% included frozen products. As for destination use, 96% of landings were for human consumption and 4% for industrial uses.

There are 328 fishing ports registered in Italy (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.

71% of Italian production occurs in sea and brackish water and 29% in freshwater.

In 2023, the following main production methods were used:

• 44% of production: off bottom in sea and brackish water;
• 27% of production: in tanks and raceways, almost entirely in freshwater (slight portion in sea and brackish water);
• 17% of production: on bottom in sea and brackish water;
• 8% of production: in cages, entirely in sea and brackish water;
• 3% of production: in ponds in freshwater;

The rest (1%) was farmed in enclosures and pens in sea and brackish water.

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 Italy, 51 producer organisations (POs) and 2 associations of POsare 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 51 POs, 35 operate in the fishery sector and 16 in aquaculture. The 2 associations of POs operate 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.

In 2025, total first sales in Italian places of sale amounted to 52.166 tonnes and 266 million euros.

The top-3 places of sale covered 22% and 28% 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 Italy, there are two main wholesale market places involved in sales of fishery and aquaculture products, namely Rome and Milan.

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 6.403 persons were employed in the Italian fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 447 million euros, covering 1% of the value added of total manufacture of food products.

In 2024, the main products sold were “Prepared or preserved tuna, skipjack and Atlantic bonito, whole or in pieces (excl. minced products and prepared meals and dishes)” and “Frozen whole salt water fish” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

384 companies
Net turnover: 3,14
billion euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Italy (source: Ministero delle Attività Produttive):

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 30,38 kg per capita, a 1% increase compared with 2022. The most consumed species were yellowfin tuna, squid, salmon, mussel, skipjack tuna and cod (source: EUMOFA).

30,38 kg
per capita in live
weight equivalent
(2023, source: EUMOFA)

The country in EUMOFA