EU Aquaculture Production Reaches 1.1 Million Tonnes in 2023, Valued at €4.8 Billion

In 2023, the European Union's aquaculture production reached nearly 1.1 million tonnes in live weight, with a total value of €4.8 billion, according to data released by Eurostat. Aquaculture refers to the controlled cultivation of fish, mollusks, algae, and crustaceans.

Spain, France, and Greece Lead Aquaculture Output

The EU's top three aquaculture producers were:

• Spain, with 242,754 tonnes (23.1% of the EU total),
• France, with 186,561 tonnes (17.8%),
• Greece, with 140,908 tonnes (13.4%).

These figures are part of a broader set of data published today by Eurostat and summarized from the more detailed article available in Statistics Explained.

Production Trends: Stability with National Fluctuations

From 2008 to 2023, the overall volume of aquaculture production in the EU remained relatively stable at around 1.1 million tonnes. However, this stability masks differing national trends:

• Greece’s production rose steadily over the years,
• Spain saw a sharp decline compared to 2018,
• France’s production remained largely stable since 2018.

Top Species: Trout by Value, Mussels by Weight

EU aquaculture production mainly focused on finfish species such as trout, gilthead seabream, European seabass, carp, tuna, and salmon, alongside mollusks including mussels, oysters, and clams. These accounted for the vast majority of production by weight in 2023.

Key species by share of total live weight:

• Mussels: 34.5%
• Trout: 15.8%
• Gilthead seabream: 10.0%

Key species by economic value:

• Trout: 17.7% of total aquaculture value
• European seabass: 13.3%
• Gilthead seabream: 12.0%

These figures highlight the continued importance of both finfish and shellfish in EU aquaculture, with species like trout playing a central role in economic returns, and mussels dominating overall production by volume.