Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar)

Biology and habitat

Species description
Native to the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic salmon has been introduced throughout the world for aquaculture purposes.

Geographical distribution and habitat
The wild Atlantic salmon lives in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, in rivers flowing into the North Atlantic, and, due to human introduction, in the North Pacific Ocean.

Resource, exploitation and management

Stock and resource status/conservation measures
Minimum conservation size is established at 60 cm in all fishing areas, and 50 cm only in Bothnian Bay (Finland).

Production methods and fishing gears
The main fishing gears used are drifnets, gillnets and similar nets, hooks and lines, and pots and traps. The species is also massively produced by aquaculture.

Source: Information system on commercial designations

Catches

Evolution of world catches

• Catches of wild Atlantic salmon have decreased significantly in the last decades. In 2023, global catches of Atlantic salmon reached 1. 248 tonnes (i.e. 0,001% of the total global catches).
• Between 2014 and 2023, Atlantic salmon catches have dropped by 49%.

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU catches

• In 2023, the EU provided 76% of the global Atlantic salmon catches (vs. 49% in 2012). Sweden was the main EU producer, contributing to 50% of the EU production of Atlantic salmon in 2023, followed by Finland (38% of the EU catches) and Ireland (9%). EU catches decreased by 32% between 2014 and 2023 in relation to the decrease of the main producers, except for Ireland (+50% over the last decade).

Source: FAO

Aquaculture production

Evolution of world production
The global production of Atlantic salmon has been increasing since the early 1900s. During the last decade, it has increased by 20% and reached over 2,8 million tonnes in 2023. Norway and Chile were the leaders of salmon production, accounting for 82% of the global production. Both have significantly increased their production (by respectively 23% and 19% between 2014 and 2023).

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU production
After Brexit, the EU production of Atlantic salmon become very limited (9.289 tonnes in 2023) (UK was the largest producer within the EU). Currently, EU salmon production occurs exclusively in Ireland (88% of the EU production) and in Denmark (12%) in 2023. Irish production is charchterised by being 100% organic.

Processing

A significant processing activity of Atlantic salmon exists (mainly smoking).

2 PRODCOM codes refer to Atlantic salmon:

•     - 10202425: “Smoked Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon (including fillets, excluding heads, tails and maws)”.

      - 10202510: “Prepared or preserved salmon, whole or in pieces (excluding minced products and prepared meals and dishes)”. 

Source: EUROSTAT/PRODCOM

(*) data for 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 was incomplete for Poland, France, Sweden, Spain , Italy Germany. Values from the previous available year were used to estimate the EU production.

Trade

Combined nomenclature

EU trade of salmon (2024, EU-27)

Source: EUROSTAT-COMEXT

In EUROSTAT-COMEXT, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is combined with Pacific salmon, Danube salmon and other species.

EU imports of Salmon products (tonnes - 2024) 

EU imports from third countries reached over 909.000 tonnes in 2024, from which 724.959 tonnes of fresh whole salmon, i.e. 80% of the EU imports. Norway was by far the main supplier of the EU market. In 2024, Norway contributed to 79% of the EU imports from third countries. Sweden and Denmark were the main importers, accounting for 76% of EU imports. Both act as hubs and re-export almost all products to the main EU markets for salmon (Poland, Germany and France).

EU exports of Salmon products (tonnes - 2024)

Extra-EU exports reached over 57.000 tonnes in 2024. 34% of exports concerned frozen fillets salmon, while lesser volumes were exported smoked (20%) or in fresh fillets (17%). Main destinations were the Unites States, the United kingdom and Switzerland (24%, 13%, and 12% of EU exports in volume terms, respectively). Main exporters were Poland (37% of EU exports to third countries), the Netherlands (23%), and Denmark (12%).

Source: EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance

EU supply balance (2023) – Tonnes of live weight equivalent – Salmon:
Data concern Atlantic salmon and other species of salmon.

Source: FAO/ EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance is provided for the year 2023 (trade data for 2023 were taken into account). Detailed trade data provided in the slides 5 and 6 concern the year 2024.
The conversion factors were used to convert net weight of imports and exports of fishery and aquaculture products into live weight equivalents.

Prices along the supply chain (EUR/kg)

Ex-farm (fresh farmed)
Ex-farm prices are provided for Ireland, the main and only major EU producer of Atlantic salmon.

(*) last available year

Wholesale
Wholesale prices are provided for Rungis (Paris, France).

(*) from January to October 2025

Retail/consumption
Retail prices refer to France and Spain.

(*) from January to July 2025

Data concern Atlantic salmon and other species of salmon

Extra-Eu import (fresh whole)
Import prices are provided for Sweden, Denmark and Poland, the largest EU importers from third countries.

(*) From January to September 2025

Extra-EU export (frozen fillets)
Export prices refer to the Poland, Netherlands, and Denmark, the largest EU exporters to third countries.

(*) From January to September 2025

Marketing

National lists of commercial designations

Information system on commercial designations and scientific names in all EU languages

Applicable marketing standards

In the EU, there is one name protected under Protected Geographical Indication: PGI “Clare Island Salmon” in Ireland.

Consumption

Second most consumed species in the EU after tuna (all species of salmon included) (source: The EU Fish Market – 2025 edition, EUMOFA)

Apparent consumption per capita of salmon (all species) in 2023: 2,40 kg live weight equivalent (source: Supply balance - 2023, EUMOFA)

Nutritional value (Atlantic salmon, nutrition values per serving 100g)