Spain

Spain in the world and in the EU

In 2023, Spain was the largest EU producer of both aquaculture products and 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, 53% of landings in Spain included frozen products, mainly whole/gutted and 47% included fresh products (mainly whole/gutted as well). The remaining quota included salted, smoked and cooked products. As for destination use, they were almost entirely for human consumption, with a small portion being destined for industrial use.

There are 332 fishing ports registered in Spain (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, 93% of Spanish production occurred in marine waters, while the remaining 7% in freshwater. The following main production methods were used:

• 65% of production: off bottom in sea and brackish waters;
• 22% of production: cages in sea and brackish waters;
• 7% of production: tanks and raceways in freshwater;

• 1% of production: ponds in sea and brackish waters and a slight portion in freshwater (0,003%);

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 Spain, 42 producer organisations (POs) and 2 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 42 POs, 38 operate in the fishery sector and 4 in aquaculture. Both associations of POs are 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 Spain, 201 places of sale were operating in 2025, of which 101 operating in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast, 71 in the Mediterranean sea and 29 in outermost regions.

In 2025, total first sales amounted to 368.447 tonnes and 1,43 billion euros.

The top-3 places of sale covered 18% and 21% 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. 

The wholesale distribution in Spain is mainly structured through the Food Units of the Mercasa network: 24 wholesale markets, out of which 20 include a fish wholesale market. In 2021, total sales of these 20 markets amounted to 599.934 tonnes, for a value of 4,33 billion euros. The most important fish wholesale markets are Mercabarna (185.883 tonnes for a value of 1,50 billion euros) and Mercamadrid (151.424 tonnes for a value of 1,10 billion euros). (source: Mercasa Informe Anual 2021).

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 25.148 persons were employed in the Spanish fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 1,2 billion euros, covering 5% of the value added of total manufacture of food products.

In 2024, the main products sold were “Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates and seaweed, otherwise prepared or preserved” and “Molluscs (scallops, mussels, cuttle fish, squid and octopus), frozen, dried, salted or in brine” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

573 companies
Net turnover: 8
billion euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

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)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Spain (source: IDES, University of Cantabria):

Consumption

In 2023, apparent consumption was estimated at 40,68 kg per capita, a 3% decrease compared with 2022. The most consumed species were hake, cod, salmon, mussel and yellowfin tuna (source: EUMOFA).

40,68 kg
per capita in live
weight equivalent
(2023, source: EUMOFA)

The country in EUMOFA