BRUSSELS, November 22, 2025: The total value of fishery products landed in the European Union reached €5.5 billion in 2024, according to data released by Eurostat. The EU’s fishing fleet caught an estimated 3.2 million tonnes of fish from seven marine areas, underscoring the continued scale and diversity of the bloc’s fisheries sector. Spain accounted for the largest share of fish landings by both value and weight, representing 30 percent of the total value and 21 percent of total volume. France followed with 16 percent of total value and 15 percent of the catch, while Denmark ranked third with 13 percent of value and 14 percent of volume. Combined, these three member states contributed nearly half of all fish landed in the European Union last year.
The Northeast Atlantic remained the dominant fishing area for the EU fleet, supplying 71 percent of total landings. The most commonly caught species in this region were herring, blue whiting, sprat, and mackerel, which together made up nearly 60 percent of the total regional catch. This area continues to serve as the EU’s main source of commercially valuable fish species. The Mediterranean and Black Seas accounted for 9 percent of total EU catches, driven largely by sardines and anchovies, each representing 18 percent of the regional take. While smaller in total output compared to northern waters, these regions remain critical for coastal economies across southern Europe, particularly for small and medium-sized fishing enterprises.
Northeast Atlantic remains key to EU fisheries
The Eastern Central Atlantic contributed 7 percent of the EU’s total catch in 2024. Yellowfin tuna and horse mackerel were the leading species in this area, comprising 27 percent and 25 percent of the catch respectively. Skipjack tuna and mackerel followed, representing 9 percent and 8 percent. These catches reflect the EU fleet’s sustained operations in distant waters under international fisheries agreements. In the Western Indian Ocean, 6 percent of the total EU catch was recorded, with tuna species making up the vast majority of the landings. Skipjack tuna represented 54 percent of the total, followed by yellowfin tuna at 33 percent and bigeye tuna at 7 percent. This concentration reflects the high commercial value of these species and the region’s role in global tuna production.
Indian Ocean supports high-value tuna trade
The Southwest Atlantic accounted for 5 percent of the EU’s total fish landings, dominated by hake and squid, which together made up almost 90 percent of the catch in that area. The remaining 2 percent of the EU’s total fishery production came from the Northwest and Southeast Atlantic, where fishing activity is comparatively limited but includes specific high-value species. Overall, the 2024 data illustrates the extensive geographical reach of the EU’s fishing industry, operating across multiple oceans and regional seas. It also highlights the economic importance of fisheries to several coastal member states, particularly Spain, France, and Denmark, which together anchor the bloc’s seafood supply and export market.
The figures come as European fisheries continue to balance economic performance with sustainability under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, which regulates catch limits and conservation efforts across all participating states. The data underscores the sector’s ongoing contribution to the European economy and its role in maintaining food supply resilience amid changing global marine conditions. The findings also highlight the importance of responsible resource management, technological modernization of fleets, and transparent reporting in sustaining productivity while protecting marine biodiversity and supporting livelihoods across EU coastal regions. – By EuroWire News Desk.