EU profile

The European Union in the world

In 2023, the EU-27 was the 8th largest producer of fishery products in the world and the 11th 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. 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, 72% of landings in the EU-27 included fresh whole/gutted products, 26% included frozen mainly whole/gutted products, 1% included cooked products and the remaining share included salted, smoked, dried products as well as products for which no detail is available in terms of preservation state. As for destination use, around 85% of the total was for human consumption, while the rest included products mainly destined for industrial uses.

There are 2.968 fishing ports registered in the EU-27 (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.

The data available for the environment production for 2023 is, according to Eurostat, only available in aggregated terms. However, the following main production methods were used: on bottom, tanks and raceways, ponds, enclosures in sea and brackish water and unspecified methods.

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 the EU-27 216 producer organisations (POs) and 10 associations 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 associations of POs operate in the fishery sector. Of the 216 POs, 174 operate in the fishery sector, 39 in aquaculture and 3 are involved in both sectors.

First sales

First sale concerns the fish that is sold or registered at an auction center or to registered buyers, or to producer organisations (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 EU countries as transmitted to EUMOFA* amounted to 2 million tonnes and 4 billion euros. In terms of value, the top-5 places of sale were Vigo (ES), Killybegs (IE), A Coruña (ES), Huelva (ES) and Burela (ES). They covered together 11% and 12% of total first sales, respectively in terms of volume and value.

*Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands. 

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 the European Union, the wholesale stage is diversified. In most countries, fishery and aquaculture products are sold wholesale in cash & carry shops. In some countries with long-standing tradition of fresh fish consumption (France, Italy, Spain), they might be sold in dedicated wholesale marketplaces. In some other countries, which do not have such specialised wholesale infrastructures, the wholesaling activities are performed by companies operating as wholesalers.

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 107.000 persons were employed in the EU-27, fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded in 2023 a value added of 6 billion euros, covering 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)”, “Flours, meals and pellets of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption”, “Prepared meals and dishes based on fish, crustaceans and molluscs” and “Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates and seaweed, otherwise prepared or preserved” (source: Eurostat-PRODCOM). 

3.390 companies
Net turnover: 36 billion euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Import

Main commercial species imported
and % of total imports
2024, billion euros (nominal value)

Export

Main commercial species exported
and % of total exports
2024, billion euros (nominal value)

Distribution

The chart shows percentages representing how consumers prefer different purchasing channels, such as markets, fishmonger or specialist shop, grocery stores or supermarkets, or direct purchases from producers like fisher men.

Supply balance

Consumption

In 2023, apparent consumption in the EU-27 was estimated at 22,89 kg per capita, a 3% decrease compared with 2022. The most consumed species were tuna, salmon, Alaska pollock, shrimps, cod, mussel, hake and herring (source: EUMOFA).

22,89 kg
per capita in live weight equivalent
(2023, source: EUMOFA)

EU data in EUMOFA