In 2022, the EU’s aquatic animal production stood at 4.2 million tonnes, with landings of fisheries contributing to an estimated 3.1 million tonnes and aquaculture reaching 1.1 million tonnes, Eurostat reported.

This means that fisheries’ catches remain the main source of aquatic animals in the EU, accounting for 74% of the total production.

In terms of value, EU fisheries’ catches landed reached an estimated EUR 6.2 billion, while aquaculture production amounted to EUR 4.9 billion. Therefore, the average price for fishery products was EUR 1.9 per kilo and EUR 4.5 per kilo for aquaculture aquatic animals.

The situation in the EU is unlike the global trend, where the recent SOFIA report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated that in 2022 and for the first time in history, “aquaculture surpassed capture fisheries as the main producer of aquatic animals.”

Credits: Eurostat