Facts and figures on the common fisheries policy : basic statistical data : 2014 edition.
Date: 2014-07-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Subjects: catch quota, common fisheries policy, fishery management, fishery resources, fishing fleet, fishing industry, fishing statistics

Facts and figures

on the Common

Fisheries Policy

Basic 
statistical data
2014 EDITION

ISSN 1830-9119

Fisheries

Member States codes used in this publication 

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

Belgium
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Denmark
Germany
Estonia
Ireland
Greece
Spain
France
Croatia
Italy
Cyprus
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Hungary
Malta
The Netherlands
Austria
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovenia
Slovakia
Finland
Sweden
United Kingdom

EU-28
European Union of 28 Member States.

EU-27
European Union of 27 Member States 
before the accession of HR.

EU-25
European Union before the accession 
of BG, HR and RO.

EU-15
European Union before the accession 
of BG, CZ, EE, HR, CY, LV, LT, HU, MT, PL, 
RO, SI and SK.

EU-12
European Union before the accession 
of BG, CZ, EE, HR, CY, LV, LT, HU, MT, AT, 
PL, RO, SI, SK, FI and SE.

Text completed in February 2014. For chapter 5, data from 
Eurostat and Eumofa were extracted in December 2013.
More information on the European Union is available on the 
Internet (http://europa.eu).
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014.

ISBN 978-92-79-34192-2
doi: 10.2771/35745

© European Union, 2014
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is 
acknowledged.

Cover picture: © Javier Murcia

Printed in Belgium

PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER

1

Foreword

Dear Reader,

As European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, my 
approach to our seas and oceans has always been to prioritise 
sustainability and growth, or, even better, sustainable growth. This new 
edition of Facts and figures on the Common Fisheries Policy is an extra 
special one because these principles are now enshrined in our new 
Common Fisheries Policy, which came into force on January 1st 2014.

The new CFP is our door to a more sustainable future: a future in which 
fish stocks are not overfished, sharks are not finned and fish are no 
longer discarded at sea; a future in which fishermen get better deals 
and consumers get clearer labels; a future in which we also farm fish of 
outstanding quality and eco-friendliness; and in which the fish we import 
is just as safe.

One thing that has not changed this year is that this booklet is the 
one-stop shop for anyone interested in Europe's fisheries and seas. 
The information you will find in these pages has been compiled by 
experts working in scientific institutes, in European Union countries' 
administrations, in the European institutions and in international 
organisations. This 2014 edition includes the highest quality and widest 
data coverage we have ever had. This knowledge is the key to sound 
decision making when it comes to managing our seas and I am grateful 
we now have it at our fingertips.

2

Of course, fishing remains vital to many regions and communities 
throughout our continent. While our fleets fish sustainably and remain 
profitable, people need to know which fishing-related areas are the 
most promising and where the new jobs lie.

There is no better place to start finding those answers than this booklet.

Maria Damanaki
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

3

Contents

Responsible and sustainable fishing 

State of stocks — 5
Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) — 6
Fisheries partnership agreements and northern agreements — 8

Fishing fleet — 10

Employment — 14

Processing sector — 17

Fisheries and aquaculture production — 18

5.1 Catches — 20
5.2 Aquaculture — 26
5.3 Fisheries and aquaculture producers' organisations — 32

External trade — 33

Consumption — 41

European Union aid — 43

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

4

Seas of Europe

n
a
e
c
O
c
i
t
n
a
l
t
A

a
e
S

Baltic 

North
Sea

Bla ck  Sea

Mediterranean Se

a

 
5

1 Responsible and 
   sustainable fishing

State of stocks

Responsible and sustainable 
management of fisheries requires 
decisions based on sound scientific 
findings and long-term management. 
Decisions about total allowable 
catches (TAC) and fishing quotas are 
based on scientific advice – we are 
finding out more and more about the 
stocks that are fished. The scientific 
knowledge on the state of the 
stocks is improving constantly – for 
example, in the Atlantic and adjacent 
waters, the number of data-poor 
stocks has decreased from 61 in 
2011 to 41 in 2013. Fishing can 
therefore be better adapted to the 
state of stocks.

The European Union has agreed 
that, by 2015 where possible and 
by 2020 at the latest, all stocks 

should be exploited at a level that 
will let them produce the maximum 
sustainable yield for the long 
term (MSY). By limiting catches to 
scientifically set levels, we actually 
make sure that stocks are able to 
reproduce and ultimately provide 
higher yields for fishermen. Whilst 
good progress has been made 
in the north-east Atlantic, and 
progress in the Mediterranean Sea 
and Black Sea is expected soon, too 
many fish stocks are still overfished 
compared to this objective.

The Commission’s long-term 
multiannual plans for specific 
fisheries or fish stocks aim at 
achieving MSY conditions and, 
where necessary, facilitating the 
recovery of stocks close to collapse. 

Some plans have already been 
introduced with this goal in mind, 
with more expected to follow.

The unintended effects of fishing 
on the marine environment and 
on ecosystems sometimes have 
to be mitigated. Where necessary, 
the EU adopts measures to protect 
vulnerable marine habitats such 
as deep-sea corals, and to reduce 
unintended catches of seabirds, 
seals and dolphins.

B

21

25

20

13 12

11

A

13

11

30 –

25 –

20 –

15 –

10 –

5 –

0 –

A
North-east Atlantic 
and adjacent waters 
(North Sea, Baltic Sea, 
Skagerrak, Kattegat, 
West of Scotland Sea, 
Irish Sea and Celtic Sea)

B
Mediterranean and
Black Sea

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Number of 
stocks that 
are assessed 
as fished at 
the maximum 
sustainable 
yield (MSY) 
rate

6

1 Responsible and sustainable fishing

Regional Fisheries Management 
Organisations (RFMOs)

Regional Fisheries Management 
Organisations (RFMOs) are 
international organisations formed 
by countries with fishing interests in 
an area. Today, there are 20 RFMOs 
covering the majority of the world’s 
waters. Their role is to guarantee 
the management, conservation 
and sustainable exploitation of the 
living marine species covered in 
their remit. As a result of the work 
of RFMOs in different regions, we 
have seen a marked improvement 
in the state of tuna stocks. Out of 
16 stocks worldwide, only 6 were 
fished sustainably six years ago – in 
2013 we have gone up to 13.

The RFMOs are open both to local 
countries (‘coastal states’) and 
countries who fish in the region. 
There are two types of RFMO: those 
which only manage highly migratory 
fish stocks, like tuna (tuna RFMOs), 
and those which manage other 

fish stocks (non-tuna RFMOs). Most 
RFMOs have the power to set catch 
and fishing effort limits, technical 
measures, and control obligations. 
The European Union, represented 
by the Commission, plays an active 
role in six tuna RFMOs (including 
the Agreement on the International 
Dolphin Conservation Programme – 
AIDCP, sister organisation to IATTC) 
and 9 non-tuna RFMOs. 

The EU is also a member of two 
Regional Fisheries Organisations 
(RFOs), which have a purely 
advisory role with no management 
mandate: the Western Central 
Atlantic Fisheries Commission 
(WECAFC) and the Fisheries 
Committee for the Eastern Central 
Atlantic (CECAF).

1 Responsible and sustainable fishing

7

WCPFC

RFMOs for highly migratory fish stocks
(tuna and associated species)

ICCAT

IATTC

WCPFC

IOTC

CCSBT

CCSBT 

Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna 

IATTC

ICCAT

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

International Convention for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas

WCPFC

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

IOTC

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

CCBSP

NAFO

NASCO

NEAFC

CCBSP

RFMOs for non-tuna species

GFCM

SPRFMO

SIOFA

SEAFO
CCAMLR

Source: European Commission – Eurostat/GISCO. Administrative 
boundaries: © EuroGeographics, © FAO (UN), © TurkStat.

CCAMLR

Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine
Living Resources

CCBSP

Convention on the Conservation and Management of
Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea

GFCM

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean

NEAFC

North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

SPRFMO

NASCO

North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation

NAFO

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation

SEAFO

South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation

SPRFMO

South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation

SIOFA

South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement

8

1 Responsible and sustainable fishing

Fisheries partnership agreements and 
northern agreements

respect for human rights has been 
included in all protocols to fisheries 
agreements.

In exchange, the EU pays partner 
countries a financial contribution 
comprising two different elements: 
firstly, the payment for access rights 
to the EEZ and, secondly, financial 
aid called ‘sector support’, which 
aims to help develop sustainable 
fishing in partner countries. The 
latter aims to strengthen the 
country’s administrative and 
scientific capacity by emphasising 
the sustainable management of 
fisheries as well as monitoring, 
control and surveillance activities.

Fisheries partnership agreements 
(FPAs) with third countries are 
negotiated and concluded by the 
European Commission on behalf 
of the European Union. These 
agreements aim to allow EU 
vessels to exploit surplus resources 
in the third country’s exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ), within a 
regulated and legally guaranteed 
environment. The tuna agreements 
allow European vessels to catch 
highly migratory fish stocks. The 
mixed agreements provide access 
to a wide range of fish stocks, 
especially ground fish species 
(mainly shrimps and cephalopods) 
and/or pelagic species. FPAs 
emphasise resource conservation 
and environmental sustainability, 
and guarantee that all EU vessels 
are subject to supervisory and 
transparency regulations. At the 
same time, a clause concerning 

4

5

2

18

14

16

6

15

7

Multi-species 
agreements (mixed)

Tuna agreements 
West Africa

1  Greenland
2  Mauritania
3  Morocco

4  Cape Verde
5  Côte d'Ivoire
6  São Tomé and
    Principe
7  Gabon

1

21

22

20

3

17

13

19

8

9

12

10

11

Tuna agreements 
Indian Ocean

Tuna agreements 
Pacific Ocean

‘Dormant’
agreements*

13  Kiribati

  8  Comoros
  9  Madagascar
10  Mauritius
11  Mozambique
12  Seychelles

14  Gambia
15  Equatorial Guinea
16  Guinea-Bissau
17  Micronesia 
18  Senegal
19  Solomon Islands

* Agreements where no  
  protocol is in force.

Northern
agreements

20  Faroe 
      Islands
21  Iceland
22  Norway

1 Responsible and sustainable fishing

9

The EU, since the advent of 
exclusive economic zones in the 
North-east Atlantic in the late 
1970’s, has concluded fisheries 
agreements with Norway and 
the Faroe Islands, and in the 
early 1990’s with Iceland. The 
agreements with the Faroe Islands 
and Iceland are based on the 
annual reciprocal exchange of 
fishing possibilities in each other’s 
waters, in line with traditional 
fishing practices. In addition to 
the annual reciprocal exchange of 
fishing possibilities, the agreement 
with Norway provides for the joint 
management of shared stocks 
(total allowable catches and quotas 
notably) in the North Sea and 
Skagerrak areas. Currently, the 
management of most of these joint 
stocks is framed within long term 
management plans.

10

2 Fishing fleet

February 2014 was 87 445 
– 19 284 fewer than in 1995.

Healthier stocks contribute to a 
more sustainable industry. Overall, 
the EU fleet was profitable in 2011, 
consolidating the slow recovery 
of recent years. Both the income 
and profit of the EU fleet increased 
between 2008 and 2011 whilst in 
relative terms, its net profit margin 
increased steadily from 1 % in 
2008 to 6 % in 2011.

Fleet capacity management is an 
essential tool for the sustainable 
exploitation of fisheries resources, 
one of the main objectives of the 
Common Fisheries Policy. The 
European Union fishing fleet is 
diverse, with vessels ranging from 
less than six metres to more than 
75. Under EU law the total capacity 
of the fishing fleet may not be 
increased and any publicly financed 
decommissioning of vessels or 
fleet capacity reduction must be 
permanent.

For the last 19 years, EU fishing 
fleet capacity has declined in 
terms of both tonnage and engine 
power. Despite enlargements to the 
EU, the number of EU vessels in 

EU fishing fleet capacity by length category 
(situation as at 28 February 2014) 

EU Member States economic performance 
indicators between 2008 and 2011

2 Fishing fleet

11

Length

 0 - 6

 6 - 12

12 - 18

18 - 24

24 - 30

30 - 36

36 - 45

45 - 60

60 - 75

>75 

28 198

23 385

352 894

45 946

162 730

2 287 848

6 955

159 505

986 749

 3 330

249 700

886 491

1 729

243 883

642 124

579

433

109

76

90

139 979

311 268

172 689

409 750

93 235

164 607

130 994

225 899

349 840

414 945

Average
age

27

24

25

22

20

22

17

19

16

20

87 445

1 725 938

6 682 574

21.3

Number of 
vessels

Gross 
tonnage

Engine power 
in kW

NB: length refers to total length. 

Source: EU Fishing Fleet Register.

Income 
(in billions of EUR)

Net profit 
(as percentage of income)

7.156

6.656

6.492

6.285

6 %

5 %

4 %

1 %

7.5 –

7.0 –

6.5 –

6.0 –

5.5 – 

5 – 

6 –

5 –

4 –

3 –

2 – 

1 – 

–
8
0
0
2

–
9
0
0
2

–
0
1
0
2

–
1
1
0
2

–
8
0
0
2

–
9
0
0
2

–
0
1
0
2

–
1
1
0
2

Source: Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee 
for Fisheries (STECF), The 2013 Annual Economic 
Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF-13-15), 
Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 
2013 (Report EUR 26158 EN, JRC 84745).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12

2 Fishing fleet

The fishing fleet 
of the Member 
States (situation as 
at 28 February 2014)

Number of 
vessels

Gross tonnage

Engine power 
in kW

Non-trawlers

Trawlers

Source: EU Fishing Fleet 
Register.

MS

BE

BG

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

%
0,1%

2,3%

3,1%

1,8%

1,7%

2,5%

18,1%

11,3%

8,2%

8,7%

82

2.053

2.682

1.538

1.443

2.202

15.860

9.895

7.143

7.621

14.985

6.657

66.680

61.794

13.513

64.251

78.103

379.209

177.860

51.710

IT    

12.698

14,5%

163.905

CY

LV

LT

MT

NL

PL

PT

RO

SI

FI

SE

UK

894

703

293

1.037

848

832

8.236

200

170

3.210

1.390

6.415

1,0%

0,8%

0,3%

1,2%

1,0%

1,0%

9,4%

0,2%

0,2%

3,7%

1,6%

7,3%

3.478

29.945

76.108

7.692

150.687

33.729

99.953

618

598

16.467

29.399

%
0,9%

0,4%

3,9%

3,6%

0,8%

3,7%

4,5%

22,0%

10,3%

3,0%

9,5%

0,2%

1,7%

4,4%

0,4%

8,7%

2,0%

5,8%

0,0%

0,0%

1,0%

1,7%

%

%

%

46.975

57.958

227.840

144.247

44.349

194.768

457.105

858.067

1.022.030

414.474

1.017.737

39.037

49.800

89.793

76.020

335.370

81.361

366.359

6.259

8.425

172.542

169.177

802.882

0,7%

0,9%

3,4%

2,2%

0,7%

2,9%

2

1.939

2.004

1.180

1.339

1.291

6,8% 15.189

12,8%

15,3%

6,2%

15,2%

0,6%

0,7%

1,3%

1,1%

5,0%

1,2%

5,5%

0,1%

0,1%

2,6%

2,5%

12,0%

8.811

5.581

6.597

8.899

888

635

217

1.014

265

669

7.629

190

154

3.118

1.128

4.385

2%

94%

75%

77%

93%

59%

96%

89%

78%

87%

70%

99%

90%

74%

98%

31%

80%

93%

95%

91%

97%

81%

68%

80

114

678

358

104

911

671

1.084

1.562

1.024

3.799

6

68

76

23

583

163

607

10

16

92

262

2.030

98%

6%

25%

23%

7%

41%

4%

11%

22%

13%

30%

1%

10%

26%

2%

69%

20%

7%

5%

9%

3%

19%

32%

198.598

11,5%

EU-28

87.445

100,0

1.725.938

100,0

6.682.574

100,0

73.124

84% 14.321

16%

Evolution of the number of 
vessels in the EU fishing fleet
between 1995 and 2014

Evolution of EU fishing fleet capacity 
between 1995 and 2014

2 Fishing fleet

13

-32.4

1995

-17.2

2004

-11.3

2007

Period
reduction %

-0.4

2014

9 000 –

8 000 –

7 000 –

6 000 –

5 000 –

4 000 –

3 000 –

2 000 –

1 000 –

0 –

5
1
-
U
E

5
2
-
U
E

7
2
-
U
E

8
2
-
U
E

– 2 500

– 2 000

– 1 500

– 1 000

– 500

– 0

.

–
5
9
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
6
9
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
7
9
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
8
9
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
9
9
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
0
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
1
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
2
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
3
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
4
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
5
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
6
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
7
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
8
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
9
0
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
0
1
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
1
1
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
2
1
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
3
1
1
0
1
0

.

.

–
4
1
1
0
1
0

.

Total engine power in 
kW/1 000

Total tonnage in 
GT/1 000

kW EU-28
kW EU-27
kW EU-25
kW EU-15

GT EU-28
GT EU-27
GT EU-25
GT EU-15

EU-15

EU-25

EU-27

EU-28

-2.0

Average annual
reduction %

-2.6

-2.5

-0.5

Source: EU Fishing Fleet Register.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14

3 Employment

The fishing sector plays a vital role 
in many European Union regions 
in terms of its contribution to 
local employment and economic 
activity - in some European coastal 
communities more than half of the 
local jobs are in the fishing sector 
(as shown in the map opposite). 
Employment in the fishing sector 
tends to be concentrated in 
a handful of countries. Spain 
alone accounts for a quarter of 
employment in the EU and the four 
countries with the highest levels of 
employment (Spain, Italy, Portugal 
and Greece) account for around 
70 %.

The aquaculture sector is also 
significant in socio-economic terms 
with a turnover of roughly EUR 
3.5 billion and some 85 000 
employees (including part-time and 
full-time jobs). 

Employment dependency on 
fishing in EU regions (2011)

Fishing dependency in NUTS3 regions (measured 
as the ratio between the fishing fleet employment 
and total employment in the region): 

Very low to low

Moderate to high

Low to moderate

High to very high

Top 10 NUTS 3 regions (regions at level 3 of the 
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) : 

Lefkada (EL), Shetland Islands (UK), Eilean Siar (Western 
Isles) (UK), Samos (EL), Zadarska županija (HR), 
Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija (HR), Orkney Islands 
(UK), Preveza (EL), El Hierro (ES), Kefallinia (EL).

Employment according to vessel size 
categories (size of pie charts depends on the 
total amount of people employed):

<12 m

12-24 m

24-40 m

>40 m

Up to 5 000 
fishermen

Up to 1 500 
fishermen

Up to 1 000 
fishermen

Up to 500 
fishermen

Source: Joint Research Centre, 
Eurostat and Scientific, Technical 
and Economic committee for 
Fisheries (STECF), The 2013 Annual 
Economic Report on the EU Fishing 
Fleet (STECF-13-15), Luxembourg, 
Publications Office of the European 
Union, 2013 (Report EUR 26158 EN, 
JRC 84745).

     
3 Employment

15
15

16
16

3 Employment

Employment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector (2011) 
(measured in full-time equivalents)

2

Fisheries 1

ES
IT
PT
EL
UK
FR
IE
NL
BG
DK
PL
DE
SE
CY
LT
EE
LV
BE
FI
MT
SI
RO

32 194
20 599
16 773
12 169
11 277
7 447
3 428
1 768
1 668
1 661
1 576
1 258
974
911
575
521
378
341
316
155
77
28

3

3

5

Aquaculture 4

FR
ES
EL
UK
IT
PT
RO
IE
FI
DK
CY
BG
SE
MT

10 658
6 639
5 559
2 671
2 116
1 749
1 047
958
349
299
276
270
263
165

1  Data not available for AT, CZ, HR, HU,

LU and SK. 

2  2010 data taken from the Hellenic

Statistical Authority. 

3  2010 data.

4  Data not available for AT, BE, CZ, EE, 
HR, HU, LT, LU, LV, NL and SK. For
the following Member States data
only cover marine aquaculture:
DE 18, PL 49 and SI 32. 

5  Total employment (full-time and 

part-time).

Source: STECF, The 2013 Annual 
Economic Report…, op.cit.

17

Number of persons 
employed (2011) 
(measured in full-time 
equivalent national)

4 Processing sector

Value of the
output (2011) 
(in thousands of EUR)

The overall value of the output of 
the processing industry amounts 
to around EUR 30 billion. The 
United Kingdom, France, Spain, 
Italy and Germany are the leading 
countries in terms of production. 
The sector employs around 116 000 
people. The mainstay of European 
production is conserves and ready 
meals of fish, crustaceans and 
molluscs.

NB: Figures are not relevant for LU.

Source: Scientific, Technical and Economic 
Committee for Fisheries (STECF), The Economic 
Performance Report on the EU Fish Processing Sector 
(STECF-13-31), Luxembourg, Publications Office of 
the European Union, 2013 (Report EUR 26444 EN, JRC 
87692) and Eurostat for AT, BE, CZ, HR, HU and SK.

375 600
7 650
80 700
1 858 701
1 966 462
128 611
558 655
268 341
4 646 394
4 802 316
75 300
2 231 651
8 400
170 757
308 830
2 900
37 700
803 738
36 400
1 806 317
1 131 578
44 504
35 400
31 900
262 798
599 415
7 544 785

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

842
325
836
3 043
6 509
1 810
2 829
2 265
17 702
15 662
1 442
5 517
75
4 998
3 699
61
28
2 537
137
15 051
6 913
1 178
351
655
777
1 837
18 572

29 825 802

EU-28

115 651

18

5 Fisheries and 
aquaculture production

The European Union is the fifth 
largest producer worldwide. 
It represents about 3.5 % of 
global fisheries and aquaculture 
production, as compared to 4.4 % 
in 2009. This relative decrease is 
due both to the growing total world 
production and to a slight drop in 
EU production.

Spain, the United Kingdom and 
Denmark are the three largest 
producers in terms of volume in 
the EU.

Main world producers (2011) 
(catches and aquaculture) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

Total

177 632 194

100 %

China

Indonesia

India

Peru

EU-28

United States

Vietnam *

Philippines

Japan *

Chile

Russia

Myanmar

Norway

South Korea

Bangladesh

Thailand

 65 903 381 

37.1 %

 13 601 723 

 8 879 499 

 8 346 461 

7.7 %

5.0 %

4.7 %

 6 143 294 

3.5 %

 5 559 838 

 5 555 000 

 4 971 799 

 4 755 093 

 4 436 484 

 4 391 154 

 4 150 091 

 3 572 608 

 3 260 930 

 3 124 677 

 2 868 436 

3.1 %

3.1 %

2.8 %

2.7 %

2.5 %

2.5 %

2.3 %

2.0 %

1.8 %

1.8 %

1.6 %

* FAO estimate.

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa for EU-28 
and FAO for other countries.

Production per Member State (2011) 
(catches and aquaculture) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

ES
UK
DK
FR
NL
IT
DE
IE
PT
PL
SE
EL
LV
LT
FI
HR
EE
CZ *
BE
HU *
BG
RO
CY
MT
AT *
SK *
SI

 1 134 255 
 798 492 
 770 643 
 650 458 
 408 684 
 376 858 
 263 690 
 250 467 
 223 945 
 197 578 
 193 277 
 169 430 
 156 677 
 140 297 
 130 961 
 84 993 
 78 361 
 25 000 
 22 227 
 21 725 
 16 050 
 11 607 
 5 829 
 4 875 
 2 820 
 2 521 
 1 574 

18.46 %
13.00 %
12.54 %
10.59 %
6.65 %
6.13 %
4.29 %
4.08 %
3.65 %
3.22 %
3.15 %
2.76 %
2.55 %
2.28 %
2.13 %
1.38 %
1.28 %
0.41 %
0.36 %
0.35 %
0.26 %
0.19 %
0.09 %
0.08 %
0.05 %
0.04 %
0.03 %

EU-28

6 143 294

100.00 %

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production

19

* 2010 data.

NB: Not relevant for LU.

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.

20

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production

5.1 Catches

The European Union accounts for 
just over 5 % of total fisheries 
production worldwide, a decrease 
compared to previous years. 

Catches represent around 80 % 
of the total volume of the EU 
production. Although the European 
fleet operates worldwide, EU 
catches are taken primarily in the 
north-east and eastern central 
Atlantic and in the Mediterranean, 
and are mainly made up of sprat, 
herring and mackerel. 

The leading fishing countries 
are Spain, Denmark, the United 
Kingdom and France, who together 
account for more than half of EU 
catches.

Total EU catches in major fishing areas (2011) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

Atlantic, north-east

 3 344 352 

69.62 %

Atlantic, eastern central

 618 901 

12.88 %

Mediterranean

 462 029 

9.62 %

Indian Ocean, west

 110 061 

2.29 %

Atlantic, south-west

 101 108 

Atlantic, north-west

Pacific, south-east

Atlantic, south-east

Atlantic, western central

Pacific, western central

Pacific, eastern central

Black Sea

Pacific, south-west

Indian Ocean, east

 61 547 

 26 532 

 19 323 

 11 060 

 10 957 

 9 713 

 9 493 

 2 466 

 1 022 

2.10 %

1.28 %

0.55 %

0.40 %

0.23 %

0.23 %

0.20 %

0.20 %

0.05 %

0.02 %

Source: Eurostat.

Total catches of world’s leading producers (2011) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

Total catches per Member State (2011) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.1 Catches

21

China
Peru
Indonesia
United States
EU-28
India
Russia 
Japan *
Chile
Myanmar
Vietnam
Norway
Philippines
Thailand
South Korea
Bangladesh
Mexico
Malaysia
Iceland
Morocco
Taiwan

16 046 114 
 8 254 261 
 5 713 101 
 5 162 997 
 4 889 188 
 4 301 534 
 4 261 503 
 3 848 955 
 3 466 945 
 3 332 979 
 2 502 500 
 2 433 811 
 2 363 679 
 1 862 151 
 1 761 785 
 1 600 918 
 1 571 437 
 1 378 799 
 1 154 199 
 964 704 
 903 892 

17.02 %
8.75 %
6.06 %
5.47 %
5.18 %
4.56 %
4.52 %
4.08 %
3.68 %
3.53 %
2.65 %
2.58 %
2.51 %
1.97 %
1.87 %
1.70 %
1.67 %
1.46 %
1.22 %
1.02 %
0.96 %

* FAO estimate.

Source: Eurostat for EU-28; 
FAO for other countries.

ES
DK
UK
FR
NL
DE
PT
IT
IE
SE
PL
LV
LT
FI
EE
HR
EL
BE
BG
HU *
CZ *
RO
MT
SK *
CY
SI
AT *

 860 030 
 738 846 
 599 523 
 443 549 
 364 964 
 224 592 
 214 779 
 212 730 
 206 177 
 179 836 
 169 593 
 156 130 
 137 063 
 119 686 
 77 942 
 70 534 
 62 847 
 22 191 
 8 956 
 6 216 
 3 990 
 3 254 
 1 920 
 1 608 
 1 163 
 719 
 350 

17.59 %
15.11 %
12.26 %
9.07 %
7.46 %
4.59 %
4.39 %
4.35 %
4.22 %
3.68 %
3.47 %
3.19 %
2.80 %
2.45 %
1.59 %
1.44 %
1.29 %
0.45 %
0.18 %
0.13 %
0.08 %
0.07 %
0.04 %
0.03 %
0.02 %
0.01 %
0.01 %

Total EU-28

4 889 188  100.00%

* 2010 data.

NB: Not relevant for LU.

Source: Eurostat.

22

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.1 Catches

The 15 main species caught by the European Union (2011) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

Herring

Sprat

Mackerel 

Sandeels

Sardine 

Horse mackerel

Cod 

 509 951  10.46 %

 413 415 

8.48 %

 376 333 

7.72 %

 335 023 

6.87 %

 307 963 

6.31 %

 159 756 

3.28 %

 146 634 

3.01 %

Jack and horse mackerels

 133 531 

2.74 %

Anchovy

Round sardinella

Skipjack tuna

Yellowfin tuna

Blue shark

Hake 

Plaice

 126 115 

2.59 %

 123 600 

2.53 %

 121 056 

2.48 %

 102 132 

2.09 %

 100 270 

2.06 %

 85 256 

1.75 %

 82 668 

1.70 %

Source: Eurostat.

Main species caught per Member State (2011)  
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.1 Catches

23

BE

Plaice
Sole
Anglerfishes

BG

Sprat
Sea snails

CZ*

Carp
Freshwater 
bream

DK

Sandeels
Sprat
Herring

 6 344 

 3 530 

 1 279 

28.6 %
15.9 %
5.8 %

 3 955 

 3 935 

44.2 %
43.9 %

 3 161 

79.2 %

 170 

4.3 %

 282 948 

 171 212 

 87 408 

38.3 %
23.2 %
11.8 %

DE

Herring
Jack and horse 
mackerels
Mackerel
Cod
Common shrimp

EE

 38 191 

17.0 %

 28 756 

12.8 % 

 24 088 

 18 966 

 17 036 

10.7 %
8.4 %
7.6 %

Sprat
Herring
Northern prawn

 34 976 

 25 325 

 9 919 

44.9 %
32.5 %
12.7 %

IE

Mackerel
Horse mackerel
Herring

 61 670 

 38 465 

 24 807 

29.9 %
18.7 %
12.0 %

EL

Anchovy 
Sardine
Hake
Bogue

 8 896 

 5 809 

 4 113 

 3 404 

14.2 %
9.2 %
6.5 %
5.4 %

* 2010 data.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.1 Catches

ES

Blue shark 
Skipjack tuna
Yellowfin tuna
Jack and horse 
mackerels
Sardine

FR

Yellowfin tuna
Skipjack tuna
Great Atlantic 
scallop
Hake
Sardine

HR

Sardine
Anchovy 

IT

Anchovy 
Striped venus
Sardine

 86 180 

 77 709 

 62 675 

10.0 %
9.0 %
7.3 %

 50 763 

5.9 %

 49 830 

5.8 %

 38 754 

 37 099 

8.7 %
8.4 %

 27 820 

6.3 %

 24 062 

 22 955 

5.4 %
5.2 %

 46 051 

 14 387 

65.3 %
20.4 %

 46 237 

 19 668 

 14 377 

21.7 %
9.2 %
6.8 %

CY

Albacore
Picarels 
Bogue

LV

Sprat
Jack and horse 
mackerels
Herring

LT

 243 

 129 

 109 

20.9 %
11.1 %
9.4 %

 33 056 

21.2 %

 26 942 

17.3 %

 25 789 

16.5 %

Round sardinella
Cunene horse 
mackerel 
Sardine

32 877 

24.0 %

25 588 

18.7 %

25 565 

18.7 %

HU*

Carp
Cyprinids
Freshwater fishes

3 247 

1 113 

 371 

52.2 %
17.9 %
6.0 %

* 2010 data.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.1 Catches

25

MT

Swordfish
Common 
dolphinfish
Bluefin tuna

NL

 532 

27.8 %

 349 

18.2 %

 142 

7.4 %

Horse mackerel
Sardine
Herring
Round sardinella

 80 923 

 52 111 

 45 400 

 44 705 

22.2 %
14.3 %
12.4 %
12.2 %

AT*

Freshwater fishes

350

100 %

PL

Sprat
Herring
Horse mackerel

 50 477 

 29 296 

 19 369 

29.8 %
17.3 %
11.4 %

PT

Sardine
Scomber 
mackerels
Blue shark
Horse mackerel

 57 286 

26.7 %

 32 994 

15.4 %

 13 774 

 11 269 

6.4 %
5.2 %

RO

Goldfish
Pontic shad
Freshwater bream

 1 105 

 423 

 267 

34.0 %
13.0 %
8.2 %

SI

Sardine
Anchovy 
Whiting 

SK*

Carp

FI

Herring
Sprat

SE

Herring
Sprat
Sandeels

 306 

 163 

 56 

42.6 %
22.7 %
7.8 %

1 159

72.1 %

 97 645 

 15 762 

81.6 %
13.2 %

 60 879 

 60 574 

 32 690 

33.9 %
33.7 %
18.2 %

UK

Mackerel
Herring
Norway lobster
Great Atlantic 
scallop

 182 214 

 61 571 

 34 532 

30.4 %
10.3 %
5.8 %

 29 996 

5.0 %

* 2010 data.

Source: Eurostat.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production

5.2 Aquaculture

Aquaculture is an important 
activity in many European regions. 
European Union aquaculture 
produces around 1.25 million 
tonnes, more than 20 % of total EU 
fisheries production, with a total 
value of EUR 3.6 billion. Its share of 
total world aquaculture production 
is 1.5 % in terms of volume and 
just under 4 % in terms of value.

Total aquaculture 
production per Member 
State (2011) 
(value in thousands of EUR, 
volume in tonnes live weight
and percentage of total)

NB: Not relevant for LU.

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.

value

% value

volume % volume

 739 685 
 666 730 
 452 976 
 447 361 
 404 021 
 124 901 
 95 593 
 93 954 
 82 728 
 73 960 
 62 806 
 62 629 
 45 109 
 43 105 
 42 442 
 39 865 
 30 294 
 26 561 
 17 114 
 15 890 
 14 334 
 6 886 
 2 804 
 2 615 
 2 421 
 1 971 
 202 

20.55 %
18.53 %
12.59 %
12.43 %
11.23 %
3.47 %
2.66 %
2.61 %
2.30 %
2.06 %
1.75 %
1.74 %
1.25 %
1.20 %
1.18 %
1.11 %
0.84 %
0.74 %
0.48 %
0.44 %
0.40 %
0.19 %
0.08 %
0.07 %
0.07 %
0.05 %
0.01 %

 198 969 
 206 909 
106 583
 274 225 
 164 128 
 44 290 
 31 797 
 14 459 
 39 098 
 43 720 
 27 985 
 9 166 
 2 955 
 11 275 
 13 441 
 21 010 
 15 509 
 4 666 
 7 094 
 8 353 
 2 470 
 3 234 
 547 
 855 
 913 
 419 
 36 

15.87 %
16.50 %
8.50 %
21.87 %
13.09 %
3.53 %
2.54 %
1.15 %
3.12 %
3.49 %
2.23 %
0.73 %
0.24 %
0.90 %
1.07 %
1.68 %
1.24 %
0.37 %
0.57 %
0.67 %
0.20 %
0.26 %
0.04 %
0.07 %
0.07 %
0.03 %
0.00 %

UK
FR
EL
ES
IT
IE
DK
HR
DE
NL
PL
PT
MT
FI
SE
CZ
HU
CY
BG
RO
AT
LT
LV
SI
SK
EE
BE

EU-28

 3 598 955 

100.00 %  1 254 106 

100.00 %

EU aquaculture production 
per product type (2011) 
(percentage of total volume)

Total aquaculture production by other major producers (2011) 
(value in thousands of EUR, volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.2 Aquaculture

27

27 %

China

India

value

% value

volume % volume

 44 993 188 

48.49 %  49 857 267 

60.75 %

 6 678 302 

7.20 %  4 577 965 

Indonesia

 5 357 979 

5.77 %  7 888 622 

Chile

 4 554 318 

4.91 %

 969 539 

Vietnam *

 4 094 379 

4.41 %  3 052 500 

Norway

EU-28

Japan

 3 764 608 

4.06 %  1 138 797 

 3 598 955 

3.88 %  1 254 106 

1.53 %

 3 244 949 

3.50 %

 906 138 

5.58 %

9.61 %

1.18 %

3.72 %

1.39 %

23 %

50 %

Molluscs and crustaceans

Seawater fish (including 
salmon and trout farmed in 
seawater)

Freshwater fish (including 
trout and eels farmed in 
freshwater)

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.

Bangladesh

 2 426 456 

2.61 %  1 523 759 

Thailand

 1 833 910 

1.98 %  1 006 285 

Philippines

 1 426 590 

1.54 %  2 608 120 

Egypt *

 1 410 610 

1.52 %

 986 820 

South Korea

 1 357 971 

1.46 %  1 499 145 

Ecuador *

 1 026 713 

Brazil

Taiwan

United States

Myanmar

Malaysia

North Korea *

 981 366 

 971 318 

 791 991 

 769 359 

 559 866 

 83 491 

1.11 %

1.06 %

1.05 %

0.85 %

0.83 %

0.60 %

0.09 %

 308 900 

 630 034 

 315 799 

 396 841 

 817 112 

 526 526 

 508 350 

1.10 %

1.86 %

1.23 %

3.18 %

1.20 %

1.83 %

0.38 %

0.77 %

0.38 %

0.48 %

1.00 %

0.64 %

0.62 %

* FAO estimate.

Source: FAO.

28

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.2 Aquaculture

Top 10 species in aquaculture in the 
European Union (2011) 
(value in thousands of EUR and percentage of total)

Top 10 species in aquaculture in the 
European Union (2011) 
(volume in tonnes live weight and percentage of total)

value

% value

volume  % volume

Salmon

Trout

Oyster

Mussel

Gilt-head seabream

Seabass

Clam

Bluefin tuna

Carp

Turbot

752 116

499 904

438 512

428 773

370 251

369 812

171 597

145 374

136 467

70 949

20.90 %

13.89 %

12.18 %

11.91 %

10.29 %

10.28 %

4.77 %

4.04 %

3.79 %

1.97 %

Mussel

Trout

Salmon

Oyster

Carp

Gilt-head seabream

Seabass

Clam

Other freshwater fish

Turbot

492 413

185 539

170 591

98 751

73 860

72 900

67 809

37 028

13 989

10 799

39.18 %

14.76 %

13.57 %

7.86 %

5.88 % 

5.80 %

5.40 %

2.95 %

1.11 %

0.86 %

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.

Main species in aquaculture per Member State (2011) 
(value in thousands of EUR and percentage of total value - volume in 
tonnes live weight and percentage of total volume)

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.2 Aquaculture

29

value

% value

volume % volume

DE

value

% value

volume % volume

BE

Trout

BG

Trout
Carp
Mussel

 202 

100.0 %

 36 

100.0 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 8 078.48 

 5 396.49 

 725.30 

47.2 %
31.5 %
4.2 %

 2 339 

 3 109 

 747 

33.0 %
43.8 %
10.5 %

CZ

value

% value

volume % volume

Carp
Trout
Other 
freshwater fish

 34 210 

 2 747 

85.8 %
6.9 %

 1 660 

4.2 %

 19 156 

 815 

 832 

91.2 %
3.9 %

4.0 %

Trout
Mussel
Carp

EE

Trout
Carp

IE

Salmon
Oyster
Mussel

 33 554 

 17 497 

 11 435 

40.6 %
21.2 %
13.8 %

 10 062 

 20 830 

 5 082 

25.7 %
53.3 %
13.0 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 1 368 

 127 

69.4 %
6.4 %

 355 

 46 

84.7 %
11.0 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 73 295 

 29 655 

 16 226 

58.7 %
23.7 %
13.0 %

 12 196 

 7 937 

 22 671 

27.5 %
17.9 %
51.2 %

DK

Trout
Eel

value

% value

volume % volume

EL

value

% value

volume % volume

 83 623 

 10 388 

87.5 %
10.9 %

 29 885 

 1 137 

94.0 %
3.6 %

Gilt-head 
seabream
Seabass
Mussel

 241 552 

53.3 %

 48 974 

45.9 %

 184 382 

 6 766 

40.7 %
1.5 %

 36 058 

 17 193 

33.8 %
16.1 %

30

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.2 Aquaculture

ES

Mussel
Seabass
Trout

FR

Oyster
Mussel
Trout

value

% value

volume % volume

LV

value

% value

volume % volume

 112 402 

 87 256 

 42 058 

25.1 %

19.5 %

9.4 %

208 583 

76.1 %

17 548 

 16 547 

6.4 %

6.0 %

Carp
Other freshwater 
fish

 933 

74.5 %

 462 

84.5 %

 220 

17.6 %

 56 

10.2 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 394 750 

 140 406 

 61 940 

59.2 %

21.1 %

9.3 %

 84 454 

 74 750 

 30 477 

40.8 %

36.1 %

14.7 %

LT

Carp

HU

HR

value

% value

volume % volume

Bluefin tuna
Seabass
Carp
Mussel

IT

Clam
Trout
Mussel

CY

Other 
seabreams
Seabass

 53 479 

 14 666 

 5 043 

 3 133 

56.9 %

15.6 %

5.4 %

3.3 %

 3 223 

 2 775 

 3 666 

 3 000 

18.8 %

16.1 %

21.3 %

17.5 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 126 534 

 93 309 

 60 257 

31.3 %

23.1 %

14.9 %

 32 276 

 36 275 

 79 520 

19.7 %

22.1 %

48.4 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 18 336 

69.0 %

 3 056 

65.5 %

 7 774 

29.3 %

 1 495 

32.0 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 6 527 

94.8 %

 3 158 

97.6 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 23 435 

77.4 %

 13 139 

84.7 %

 5 945 

19.6 %

 2 197 

14.2 %

Carp
Other 
freshwater fish

MT

value

% value

volume % volume

Bluefin tuna
Gilt-head 
seabream

 38 594 

85.6 %

 1 759 

59.5 %

 4 837 

10.7 %

 1 082 

36.6 %

NL

Mussel
Eel
Oyster

value

% value

volume % volume

 49 376 

 16 503 

 3 082 

66.8 %

22.3 %

4.2 %

 36 700 

83.9 %

 2 050 

 2 680 

4.7 %

6.1 %

AT

value

% value

volume % volume

Trout
Carp
Other salmonids

 10 195 

 2 302 

 1 427 

71.1 %

16.1 %

10.0 %

 1 664 

 634 

 140 

67.4 %

25.7 %

5.7 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 33 600 

 29 206 

53.5 %

46.5 %

 14 000 

 13 985 

50.0 %

50.0 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 26 246 

 19 294 

 2 585 

45.0 %

33.1 %

4.4 %

 2 315 

 3 197 

 1 113 

25.3 %

34.9 %

12.1 %

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production / 5.2 Aquaculture

31

SK

Trout
Carp

FI

value

% value

volume % volume

 1 640 

 678 

67.8 %

28.0 %

 578 

 310 

63.3 %

34.0 %

value

% value

volume % volume

Trout
Other salmonids

 33 174 

 9 228 

77.0 %

21.4 %

 9 981 

 1 211 

88.5 %

10.7 %

SE

value

% value

volume % volume

Trout
Other salmonids
Mussel

 34 249 

 6 446 

 895 

80.7 %

15.2 %

2.1 %

 10 752 

 1 128 

 1 470 

80.0 %

8.4 %

10.9 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 9 053 

 6 111 

57.0 %

38.5 %

 6 374 

 1 710 

76.3 %

20.5 %

UK

Salmon
Trout
Mussel

value

% value

volume % volume

 678 562 

91.7 % 158 310 

 32 974 

 20 702 

4.5 %

2.8 %

 12 679 

 26 158 

79.6 %

6.4 %

13.1 %

value

% value

volume % volume

 1 852 

 438 

 325 

70.8 %

16.8 %

12.4 %

 611 

 188 

 56 

71.5 %

22.0 %

6.5 %

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.

PL

Trout
Carp

PT

Clam
Turbot
Trout

RO

Carp
Trout

SI

Trout
Carp
Seabass

32

5 Fisheries and aquaculture production

5.3 Fisheries and aquaculture
      producers’ organisations

Small-scale fishing
Coastal fishing
Offshore fishing
Deep sea fishing 

Total: 188 organisations in 2013 

Aquaculture and
other types of fishing 

Total: 44 organisations in 2013 

21

1

UK

3

1

IE

6

1

SE

3

DK

5

NL

BE

15

1

DE

9

1

24

8

FR

3

3

EE

1

LV

LT

3

PL

2

5

5

1

RO

Producers’ organisations are made 
up of fishermen and fish farmers 
who choose to join together to 
take measures aimed at ensuring a 
rational approach to production and 
creating the best possible conditions 
for marketing their products. They 
are a fundamental part of the 
common organisation of the market 
in the fisheries and aquaculture 
sector. In 2013, there were 232 
producers’ organisations in 17 EU 
Member States.

13 3

PT

ES

13

33

IT

6

39

EL

1

2

NB: In AT, BG, CY, CZ, FI, HR, HU, LU, MT, SI and 
SK, there are no producers’ organisations. 

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C 68, 
8/3/2013.

6 External trade

33

value is comparable to that of 
imports coming from outside the 
EU. The main exporters to other EU 
Member States are Denmark, Spain, 
Sweden and the Netherlands. The 
main importers are France, Italy, 
Germany and Spain.

The supply of the EU market is 
ensured by EU catches, aquaculture 
production, and imports. EU 
self-sufficiency - the ratio of 
EU production to total apparent 
consumption - is around 45 % 
(2011).

In terms of value, the European 
Union is the leading importer of 
fishery and aquaculture products in 
the world. Norway, China, Iceland 
and Ecuador are the EU’s main 
suppliers. Spain, Sweden and the 
United Kingdom are the leading 
importing Member States. 

EU exports are almost entirely 
composed of products from 
captured fisheries, whilst EU 
aquaculture products stay in the 
European market. EU exports to 
third countries increased by 50 % 
in value between 2009 and 2012 
to reach EUR 4.1 billion. Spain, the 
Netherlands and Denmark are the 
leading exporting Member States to 
third countries. 

Trade between EU countries is very 
significant and plays an essential 
role in the EU's fishery trade. Its 

34

6 External trade

Trade of fishery and aquaculture products between 
the European Union and third countries (2012) 
(volume in tonnes and value in thousands of EUR)

Extra- and intra-EU trade (2012) 
(value in billions of EUR)

Imports

Exports

1 047 394

3 364 170

997 210

1 429 726

763 386

3 229 625

97 673

512 407

1 861 906

6 030 289

453 687

1 275 047

Extra-EU imports 

Extra-EU exports 

4.2

Intra-EU trade 

19.2

17.9

0        5       10      15      20

Pelagic fish

Salmonids

Other fish

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Non-food use products

728 605

927 390

311 884

605 378

3 660 981

571 401

2 025 962

72 048

44 239

306 439

215 155

431 539

Total EU-28

5 578 068

19 238 417

1 976 740

4 170 313

Volume 
in tonnes

Value in 
thousands of EUR

Tuna, sardine, mackerel, herring, anchovy, etc.

Salmon, trout.

Cod, hake, pollock, haddock, panga, sole, halibut, seabream, etc.

Shrimp, spiny lobster, scallop, etc.

Mussels, cuttlefish, squid, etc.

Products not intended for human consumption, fish meal, decorative fish.

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.     

Trade of fishery and aquaculture products between 
the European Union and third countries (2012) 
(value in thousands of EUR)

The European Union's main suppliers

The European Union's main customers  

Norway

China

Iceland

Ecuador

United States

Vietnam

Morocco

Thailand

Peru

India

Argentina

3 874 711

20 %

United States

415 326

10 %

1 565 995

968 758

952 646

873 906

852 395

850 901

823 830

642 270

626 541

519 778

8 %

5 %

5 %

5 %

4 %

4 %

4 %

3 %

3 %

3 %

Norway

Switzerland

China

Nigeria

Japan

Russia

Egypt

Vietnam

Seychelles

Mauritius

394 023

334 653

278 389

248 482

228 089

224 320

132 779

112 449

106 072

106 014

9 %

8 %

7 %

6 %

5 %

5 %

3 %

3 %

3 %

3 %

Other third countries

6 686 687

35 %

Other third countries

1 589 718

38 %

Total

19 238 417 100 %

Total

4 170 313 100 %

6 External trade

35

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.     

36

6 External trade

Trade of fishery and aquaculture products between 
the European Union and third countries (2012) 
(value in thousands of EUR)

Main Member States importing from third countries

Main Member States exporting to third countries

ES
SE
UK
DE
FR
DK
IT
NL
Other Member States

3 341 905
2 433 147
2 224 135
1 993 497
1 841 564
1 822 683
1 802 126
1 569 991
2 209 369

17 %
13 %
12 %
10 %
10 %
9 %
9 %
8 %
11 % 

ES
NL
DK
UK
FR
DE
PT
IE
Other Member States

883 443
577 482
571 447
494 178
359 720
289 595
166 403
161 640
666 404

21 %
14 %
14 %
12 %
9 %
7 %
4 %
4 %
16 %

Total

19 238 417

100 %

Total

4 170 313

100 %

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.     

Imports and exports of fishery and aquaculture products (2012) – Extra-EU trade 
(volume in tonnes and value in thousands of EUR) 

6 External trade

37

Imports

Exports

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

IT

CY

LV

130 141

665 166

9 600

17 082

13 618

47 143

6 750

2 030

2 459

28 696

10 903

7 946

664 394

1 822 683

268 605

571 447

708 407

1 993 497

131 397

289 595

7 071

32 968

92 203

14 073

16 999

92 351

72 546

173 223

161 640

205 528

11 479

63 604

1 020 165

3 341 905

400 891

883 443

451 654

1 841 564

113 497

359 720

12 920

43 186

11 759

35 892

432 515

1 802 126

24 530

123 145

8 158

15 556

30 675

26 429

2 701

69 313

13 688

62 524

(continue)

Imports

Exports

50 461

109 850

14 728

21 706

71

2 703

8 207

1 158

6 033

19 038

154

1 437

2 151

1 981

4 664

32 101

428 061

1 569 991

403 434

577 482

11 364

58 546

2 601

162 202

374 328

29 639

13 205

88 475

118 564

377 499

34 496

166 403

17 816

4 543

4 593

28 314

13 481

9 848

41 697

148 456

595 503

2 433 147

662

2 028

1 177

23 845

15 116

1 828

10 253

3 335

15 254

54 657

529 453

2 224 135

134 289

494 178

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

RO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

EU-28

5 578 068 19 238 417

1 976 740

4 170 313

Volume 
in tonnes

Value in 
thousands of EUR

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.     

38

6 External trade

Imports of fishery and aquaculture products (2012)
Extra-EU trade 
(value in thousands of EUR)

Exports of fishery and aquaculture products (2012)
Extra-EU trade 
(value in thousands of EUR)

25 %

4 %

22 %

49 %

27 %

4 %

19 %

50 %

Fresh and chilled products

Frozen products

Smoked, salted and dried products

Ready meals and conserves

4 186 877

9 384 515

766 240

4 875 611

22 %

49 %

4 %

25 %

19 213 243

100 %

Fresh and chilled products

Frozen products

Smoked, salted and dried products

Ready meals and conserves

794 875

2 063 801

173 145

19 %

50 %

4 %

1 131 434

27 %

4 163 254

100 %

Source: Eurostat and Eumofa.     

6 External trade

39

Imports of fishery and aquaculture products (2012) – Extra-EU trade 
(value in thousands of EUR)

Pelagic fish

Salmonids

Other fish

ES
IT
FR
UK
DE
NL
PL
DK
Other Member States

867 072

549 767

462 727

428 526

314 127

218 342

107 641

80 512

335 457

SE
DK
DE
UK
FR
FI
PL
NL
Other Member States

1 826 999

538 009

264 238

242 283

83 088

82 831

46 867

44 407

100 903

DE
UK
NL
ES
DK
FR
SE
IT
Other Member States

877 908

834 015

825 363

786 631

541 850

497 291

428 573

347 312

891 345

Total EU-28

3 364 171

Total EU-28

3 229 625

Total EU-28

6 030 289

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Non-food products

ES
UK
FR
NL
DK
BE
IT
DE
Other Member States

744 024

565 989

524 982

390 329

347 814

309 004

302 175

257 119

219 546

ES
IT
FR
PT
EL
UK
NL
BE
Other Member States

859 073

554 787

215 619

79 674

65 891

57 018

52 054

49 150

92 696

DK
DE
UK
ES
FR
EL
NL
IT
Other Member States

281 005

243 096

96 304

68 220

57 856

55 747

39 496

29 239

56 427

Total EU-28

3 660 981

Total EU-28

2 025 962

Total EU-28

  927 390

Source: Eurostat 
and Eumofa.     

40

6 External trade

Exports of fishery and aquaculture products (2012) – Extra-EU trade 
(value in thousands of EUR)

Pelagic fish

Salmonids

Other fish

ES
NL
FR
IE
UK
IT
LV

DE
Other Member States

482 643

320 301

130 842

96 339

69 907

54 360

54 271

38 258

182 805

UK
DK
PL
DE
FR
NL
SE
EE
Other Member States

317 213

41 531

30 237

27 407

25 362

18 059

11 692

8 416

32 490

ES
FR
NL
DK
DE
PT
EL
IE
Other Member States

274 278

150 421

144 402

142 948

109 248

106 476

54 848

47 561

244 863

Total EU-28

1 429 726

Total EU-28

512 407

Total EU-28

1 275 047

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Non-food products

DK
NL
UK
EE
ES
FR
DE
BE
Other Member States

107 233

74 090

21 091

20 915

18 474

17 902

14 093

11 374

21 268

ES
UK
FR
PT
IT
IE
BG
NL
Other Member States

99 153

28 572

25 474

13 914

12 181

11 449

6 801

4 184

13 428

DK
DE
NL
UK
FR
ES
PL
SE
Other Member States

Total EU-28

306 439

Total EU-28

215 155

Total EU-28

272 028

101 674

16 447

10 019

9 725

4 386

3 269

3 093

10 899

431 539

Source: Eurostat 
and Eumofa.     

41

7 Consumption

As a source of protein, fishery 
and aquaculture products are an 
important part of a healthy diet. 

Consumption varies from 
5.3 kg per person in Hungary to 
56.7 kg in Portugal. 

Worldwide, 18.9 kg of fish or 
seafood is consumed per person 
per year, as compared to a 
European Union average of 23.1 kg. 

Three quarters of EU fish or seafood 
consumption is from wild fisheries 
with a quarter coming from 
aquaculture. 

.

7
6
5

.

4
3
4

.

8
9
3

.

6
5
3

.

2
5
3

.

5
1
3

.

3
1
3

.

2
9
2

.

0
6
2

.

9
5
2

.

5
5
2

.

7
3
2

.

1
3
2

.

1
3
2

.

8
2
2

.

3
2
2

.

2
9
1

.

1
9
1

.

0
8
1

Consumption of fishery and
aquaculture products (2010) 
(quantity in live weight (kg/inhabitant/year)) 

Supply balance per Member State

.

3
4
1

.

1
4
1

.

5
3
1

.

0
2
1

.

9
0
1

7
9

.

0
8

.

4
6

.

3
6

.

3
5

.

PT

ES

LT

FI

FR MT SE

LU BE

IT

LV

NL

8
2
-
U
E

DK

IE

CY

EL UK HR DE

EE

AT

PL

SI

CZ SK BG RO HU

Source: FAO, Eurostat and Eumofa.

42

7 Consumption

Consumption of fishery and aquaculture 
products (2010) 
(quantity in live weight (kg/inhabitant/year)) 

The main species consumed in the 
European Union (2011) 
(quantity in live weight (kg/inhabitant/year)) 

.

4
0
9

Supply balance per candidate countries 
and per major world economy

Supply balance at EU-27 level

.

5
4
5

.

1
4
5

.

1
3
3

.

4
6
2

.

6
2
2

.

4
2
2

.

7
1
2

d
n
a
l
e
c
I

*
n
a
p
a
J

y
a
w
r
o
N

i

a
n
h
C

a

i
l

a
r
t
s
u
A

a
d
a
n
a
C

a
i
s
s
u
R

*  Data 2009.
** Including Liechtenstein.

Source: FAO.

*
s
e
t
a
t
S

d
e
t
i
n
U

0
9

.

4
6

.

l
i
z
a
r
B

i

a
d
n
I

.

8
7
1

*
*
d
n
a
l
r
e
z
t
i
w
S

.

9
8
1

e
g
a
r
e
v
a

d
l
r
o
W

Tuna (canned)

Cod

Salmon

Pollack

Herring

Mussel

Hake

Mackerel

Pangasius

Tropical shrimps

Sardine

Squid

Scallop

2.14

1.96

1.72

1.64

1.18

1.16

0.94

0.87

0.80

0.75

0.71

0.70

0.58

% wild

% farmed

100 %

98 %

2 %

100 %

100 %

10 %

100 %

100 %

0 %

46 %

100 %

100 %

87 %

0 %

2 %

98 %

0 %

0 %

90 %

0 %

0 %

100 %

54 %

0 %

0 %

13 %

Source: Eumofa, The EU fish 
market, 2014 edition.

 
 
8 European Union aid

Structural policy in the fisheries 
sector contributes to the objectives 
of the Common Fisheries Policy 
(CFP) while strengthening 
economic and social cohesion. The 
European Fisheries Fund (EFF), in 
operation since 1 January 2007, 
is the financial instrument of this 
policy. With a budget of around 
EUR 4.305 billion for 2007-2013, 
including 75 % for regions whose 
development is lagging behind, 
the EFF helps to finance projects 
presented by companies, public 
authorities, or representative 
bodies. 

The EFF has been replaced from 
2014 by the European Maritime 
and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which 
has a budget of around EUR 5.749 
billion for the period 2014-2020. 

Among the changes from the 
previous regulation, the EMFF 
will support the rebuilding of 
fish stocks and the progressive 
elimination of wasteful discarding. 
Improving fisheries data collection 
to allow decisions to be based on 
robust evidence, and reducing the 
impact of fisheries on the marine 
environment will be a priority for 
the new fund. It will also focus 
on fisheries control programmes 
to ensure that the rules on 
responsible and sustainable 
fishing are respected and complied 
with. The EMFF will also focus on 
the Integrated Maritime Policy 
by investing in identifying and 
addressing barriers that hinder 
growth in coastal communities and 
emerging maritime sectors.

43

1
s
i
x
A

2
s
i
x
A

3
s
i
x
A

4
s
i
x
A

5
s
i
x
A

Adaptation of the Community fishing fleet to the 
available resources (aid for permanent or temporary 
cessation, for small-scale coastal fishing, for 
investments on board fishing boats, etc.)

Aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and 
marketing of fishery and aquaculture products 
(measures for productive investments in 
aquaculture, aqua-environmental measures, public 
health measures, etc.) 

Measures of common interest (protection 
and development of aquatic fauna and flora, 
promotional campaigns, transformation of fishing 
vessels for a different use, etc.)

Sustainable development of fishing areas (local 
projects for sustainable development, diversification 
of economic activities, etc.)

Technical assistance intended to facilitate the 
implementation of aid from the EFF (financing the 
work of public services that manage the funds, etc.)

 
 
 
 
 
44

8 European Union aid

European Fisheries Fund 
(EFF) – Distribution per 
Member State for the 
2007-2013 programming 
period – Per axis 
(in thousands of EUR)

NB: Not relevant for LU.

Source: Operational 
programmes adopted by the 
European Commission. 
Latest update: 8/1/2014.

Axis 1

Axis 2

Axis 3

Axis 4

Axis 5

Total 
per country

% 
per country

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

IT

CY

LV

LT

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

RO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

 14 259 

 8 001 

0

 32 980 

 3 347 

 15 265 

 29 937 

 77 272 

 800 

 36 004 

 14 427 

 23 289 

 43 171 

 24 584 

 6 246 

 59 690 

 8 502 

 20 002 

 11 324 

 57 991 

 72 946 

 21 210 

 5 047 

 32 320 

 473 719 

 327 624 

 258 259 

 70 728 

 4 507 

 43 109 

 3 757 

 163 905 

 110 778 

 6 150 

 26 197 

 4 869 

0

 2 935 

 16 913 

0

 2 600 

 52 320 

 30 795 

 30 209 

 910 

 7 379 

 5 202 

 94 574 

 0 

 97 181 

 9 474 

 30 300 

 9 684 

 2 519 

 3 982 

 1 900 

 12 001 

0

 15 960 

 23 539 

 19 282 

 788 

 33 300 

 52 790 

 5 454 

 0 

 31 275 

 1 000 

 11 238 

 6 694 

0

0

 16 903 

 4 987 

 12 

0

 124 184 

 173 757 

 164 537 

 234 910 

 62 865 

 74 187 

 6 222 

 2 164 

0

 2 495 

 13 111 

 17 269 

 123 719 

 7 141 

 11 432 

 18 430 

 10 933 

 40 365 

 83 408 

 29 991 

 7 574 

 896 

 14 220 

 20 133 

 62 119 

 17 403 

 53 978 

 2 164 

0

 3 606 

 7 755 

 14 187 

 800 

 4 000 

 1 355 

 3 456 

 3 579 

 4 228 

 250 

 5 250 

 26 262 

 80 010 

 27 107 

 133 675 

 146 582 

 84 568 

 42 267 

 207 832 

 19 499 

 1 131 891 

 1 784 

 435 

 21 204 

 500 

 4 961 

 2 672 

 2 041 

 545 

 2 395 

 45 

 36 705 

 8 622 

 16 736 

 2 597 

 684 

 698 

 2 733 

 3 890 

 215 650 

 8 699 

 424 343 

 19 724 

 125 016 

 54 713 

 34 770 

 8 372 

 48 578 

 5 259 

 734 093 

 246 485 

 230 646 

 21 640 

 13 012 

 39 449 

 54 665 

 137 828 

0.61 %
1.86 %
0.63 %
3.11 %
3.41 %
1.97 %
0.98 %
4.83 %
26.30 %
5.01 %
0.20 %
9.86 %
0.46 %
2.91 %
1.27 %
0.81 %
0.19 %
1.13 %
0.12 %
17.06 %
5.73 %
5.36 %
0.50 %
0.30 %
0.92 %
1.27 %
3.20%

Total per axis

Total in %

 1 179 295 
27.41 %

 1 282 857 
29.81 %

 1 135 107 
26.38 %

 554 210 
12.88 %

 151 665 
3.52 %

 4 303 134 
100.00 %

100.00 %

European Commission

Facts and figures on the Common Fisheries Policy –
Basic statistical data – 2014 Edition
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

2014 — 44 p. — 14.8 × 21 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-34192-2   doi: 10.2771/35745

To find out more
European Commission, European Maritime Affairs & Fisheries (magazine; 
former “Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe”)

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/magazine

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), The 2013 
Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF-13-15), Luxembourg, 
Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 (Report EUR 26158 EN, JRC 
84745).

http://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/581354/2013-09_STECF+13-
15+-+AER+EU+Fleet+2013_JRC84745.pdf

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), 
The Economic Performance Report on the EU Fish Processing Sector 
(STECF-13-31), Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 
(Report EUR 26444 EN, JRC 87692)

http://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/631667/2013-12_STECF+13-
31+EU+Fish+processing+report_JRC87692.pdf

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), The 
Economic Performance of the EU Aquaculture Sector (STECF 13-29), 
Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 (Report EUR 
26366 EN, JRC 86671)

http://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/622206/2013-12_STECF+13-
29+-+Aquaculture+economics_JRC86671.pdf

Eumofa, The EU fish market, 2014 edition

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/market-observatory/documents/10157/c8cdfc29-
91dc-42f5-88cd-0886f4c97cbb

FAO, statistics on fisheries:

http://fao.org/fishery/statistics/en

European Commission websites

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries:
Common Fisheries Policy: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries 
European Atlas of the Seas: http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeatlas

Eumofa - European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture products

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/market-observatory/

Eumofa is an on-line multilingual database which provides access to real-time 
comprehensive data on price, value and volume of fisheries and aquaculture 
production across the EU as well as market information and analysis.

Eurostat, statistics on fisheries:

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/fisheries/introduction

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ISBN 978-92-79-34192-2