EU aquaculture grew in value by 78% in a decade, Spain remains top producer

Aquaculture production in the European Union remained stable in 2023 at just under 1.1 million tonnes of live weight, according to newly-released data from the European Union's statistics service Eurostat.

This volume, according to the EuroStat report, represents one-quarter of the output of European fisheries as a whole. "This share was well below the global average in 2020 (about 49%), underlining the growth potential in the EU," the report states.

While output volumes have hovered around this level for over a decade, the value of the sector reached an estimated €4.8 billion last year - an increase of 78% since 2010, mainly driven by higher prices.

In 2023, aquaculture production in the EU was heavily concentrated in four countries: Spain, France, Greece, and Italy. Together, they accounted for more than two-thirds of total output by volume, and 63% of total value.

Spain was the largest producer by weight, responsible for just over 23% of the EU’s aquaculture volume, followed by France with 17.8%, Greece with 13.4%, and Italy with 12.3%.

In terms of value, France led the bloc with an estimated €906 million in aquaculture output, followed closely by Spain (€802 million), Greece (€684 million), and Italy (€618 million).

The EU aquaculture sector is largely focused on finfish and molluscs, according to the report. In 2023, mussels were the most farmed species by weight, making up 34.5% of total production, while rainbow trout, though smaller in volume, was the most valuable species, accounting for 17.7% of the sector’s total value.

Other high-value finfish species included seabass and gilthead seabream, which contributed 13.3% and 12.0% respectively. Greece dominated production of these species, producing 62% of the EU’s total output of seabream, and and 51% of seabass.

Malta accounted for 57% of the EU’s farmed bluefin tuna, while Ireland was the only EU country farming salmon, though its production of 9,300 tonnes was modest compared to Norway’s 1.5 million tonnes of farmed salmon in 2023.

In low-trophic species, Spain was the main producer of Mediterranean mussels, responsible for nearly 70% of all farmed output. Meanwhile, France led in the production of Pacific cupped oysters and was also the largest EU producer of farmed aquatic plants such as algae and seaweed, a growing niche sector with uses ranging from food to pharmaceuticals. Italy produced 94% of the EU’s Japanese carpet shell clams.

Average prices varied significantly across species, EuroStat indicated, with mussels selling for around €1 per kilogram, seabass at about €7 per kilogram, and tuna reaching €12 per kilogram.

Despite its diversity, the EU’s aquaculture industry remains relatively small in global terms, according to the Eurostat report, accounting in 2022 for just 0.9% of global aquaculture volume, ranking 13th worldwide - just above Thailand.

Norway, by contrast, produced 1.6 million tonnes of aquatic organisms in 2023, valued at €10 billion - more than double the EU’s entire aquaculture value.

At the same time, organic aquaculture is beginning to make inroads. Ireland led the EU in this area, with 86% of its production certified organic in 2022, mostly salmon. Other countries such as the Netherlands, Slovenia, Lithuania, and Denmark also reported notable organic output.

However, organic production still represented less than 2% of total aquaculture in major producing countries like Spain, France, and Greece.

The release of these EU statistics on aquaculture come at a time when the bloc is running a campaign to raise public awareness of aquaculture across European member states, with an emphasis on food security, local economies, and environmental sustainability.

Over the next three months, the campaign "EU aquaculture. We work for you with passion" will spotlight nine emblematic species - mussels, trout, clams, sea bream, oysters, carp, salmon, meagre, and seaweed - through videos, educational content, and a road trip visiting aquaculture sites across the EU.