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EU fish landings valued at €5.5 billion in 2024

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In 2024, the total value of fisheries products landed in the EU was €5.5 billion. The EU’s fish catch was estimated at 3.2 million tonnes, taken from the 7 marine areas covered by EU statistics.

The value of fish landings was highest in Spain, accounting for 30% of the EU total. France followed with 16% and Denmark with 13%.

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Source dataset: fish_ca_main

In terms of weight, the top three countries remained the same. Spanish fishing fleet caught 21% of the total fish mass, ahead of France (15%) and Denmark (14%). 

Most EU catches were made in the Northeast Atlantic region

The majority (71%) of the fish catch made by the EU’s fishing fleet was in the Northeast Atlantic. The key species caught in this area were herring (19%), blue whiting (17%), sprat (13%) and mackerel (10%). 

9% of the total EU catch was taken in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, with sardines and anchovies being the main species fished there (18% each).

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Another 7% of the total EU catch was taken in the Eastern Central Atlantic area. The main catches in this area were yellowfin tuna and horse mackerel (accounting for 27% and 25% of the total catch there, respectively). Other key species caught were skipjack tuna (9%) and mackerel (8%).

Click to enlarge

Source datasets: fish_ca_main, fish_ca_atl27, fish_ca_atl34, fish_ca_atl37 and fish_ca_ind51

The Western Indian Ocean area contributed 6% to the total EU catch, with 3 tuna species dominating the take (accounting for 94% of the total). These were skipjack (54%), yellowfin (33%) and bigeye tuna (7%).

Another 5% of the EU catch came from the Southwest Atlantic area, mainly consisting of hake (72%) and squid (17%).

The remaining 2% of the total catch was taken in the Northwest and Southeast Atlantic region.

This article marks the World Fisheries Day celebrated on 21 November. 

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Methodological note

Fish catches refer to the quantities of aquatic biological resources taken during fishing operations. Part of the catch may be discarded (returned to the sea, dead or alive) and some quantities may be consumed or processed on board, used as bait, or lost. As a result, landings represent only a portion of total catches that reaches the land.

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