Poland

Poland in the world and in the EU

In 2023, Poland was the EU’s 8th largest producer of fishery products and the 5th largest in terms of aquaculture production.

Fishing fleet

Landings

Landings comprise the initial unloading of any fisheries products from on board a fishing vessel in a given Member State. The landings also 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 Poland consist mainly of fresh whole/gutted products. In 2023, most of them were destined for human consumption (96%). Smaller quantities included products intended for animal feed and industrial uses (4%), while no details are available for the residual share.

There are 71 fishing ports registered in Poland (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.

Aquaculture activity in Poland is limited to freshwater farming.

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 Poland, 17 producer organisations (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 17 POs, 12 operate in the fishery sector and 5 in aquaculture.

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.

The majority of marine catches in Poland are sold to registered buyers. In 2025, total first sales in Polish places of sale amounted to 45.818 tonnes and 24 million euros.

The top-3 places of sale covered 86% and 79% 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 Poland, there are wholesalers and one wholesale market, namely Metro (source: Eurofish).

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 18.427 persons were employed in the Polish fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 701 million euros, covering 4% of the value added of total manufacture of food products.

In 2024, the main products sold were “Prepared or preserved fish (excluding whole or in pieces and prepared meals and dishes)” and “Frozen fish meat, whether or not minced (excluding fillets and surimi)” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

330 companies
Net turnover: 5,1
billion euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Poland (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 13,67 kg per capita, a 2% increase compared with 2022. The most consumed species were herring and Alaska pollock, as well as sprat, herring, mackerel, salmon and blue whiting (source: EUMOFA).

13,67 kg
per capita in live
weight equivalent
(2023, source: Institute of Agricultural and Food 
Economics - National Research Institute)

The country in EUMOFA