EU seafood landings valued at €5.5 billion in 2025; fleet shrinks 13.3% over ten years

Newly published data from Eurostat show that in 2025 EU commercial fishers' seafood landings were worth €5.5 billion (about US$6.2 billion), roughly on par with the 2024 landing value. Measured in live weight, EU landings in 2025 were 3.3 million tonnes, up from 3.2 million tonnes in 2024 — a rise in volume with value flat.

Over a longer time series, EU landings continue their downward trend. Eurostat data show that EU landings have fallen from 4.6 million tonnes in 2017 and 2018 to 3.3 million tonnes in 2025, a steeper decline compared with 5.9 million tonnes in 2001.

By country, Spain remains the EU's leading fishing nation, accounting for 30.6% of EU landing value, slightly up from 30.3% in 2024. France follows, with its share of EU landing value rising from 15.7% to 17.6%. By weight, Spain also leads with 21% of total EU landings; Denmark is second at 16%, and France third at 14%.

In terms of fishing grounds, the vast majority of EU landings come from the Northeast Atlantic, at 72%, with blue whiting, sprat and mackerel as the main species. The Mediterranean and Black Sea together contribute 8% of total landings, mainly sardine and anchovy. Thanks to the European distant-water tuna fleet, the Western Indian Ocean accounts for another 7%.

On fleet size, Eurostat confirms the continued contraction of the EU fishing fleet. Over the past decade, the total number of fishing vessels fell 13.3% to 68,318 in 2025; total capacity measured in gross tonnage shrank 13.4% over the same period to 1.23 million GT; and engine power dropped 10.4% to 5.04 million kW.

In terms of fleet structure, Spain has the EU's largest fishing fleet, accounting for 24.4% of EU gross tonnage; Italy has a higher share of engine power, at 18.9% of the EU total, versus 14.5% for Spain. By number of vessels, Italy's fleet is the largest, accounting for 18% of all EU fishing vessels.