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Fishing in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2030)

EU-A031 July 2025 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€38.3bn

2020-2025 1.6 %
2025-2030 X.X %

Employees

254k

2020-2025 0.3 %
2025-2030 X.X %

Businesses

141k

2020-2025 0.4 %
2025-2030 X.X %

Wages

€X.Xbn

2020-2025 X.X %
2025-2030 X.X %

Fishing in Europe industry analysis

European fishermen operate in a range of waters shared and managed by government bodies to ensure fish stocks are managed sustainably. As such, revenue can be contingent on the quotas allowed and agreed by governments for allowable catches. Although fish has become more common in consumer diets, the fairly high prices for fish products put many consumers off or reduce their fish consumption when economic conditions and spending budgets are weak. In the five years through 2025, industry revenue tumbled at a compound annual rate of 1.6% to €38.3 billion.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Fishing in Europe key trends

Wild fish consumption sinks, but high prices keep revenue afloat.

 

Europeans are cutting down on fresh seafood consumption at home due to rising seafood prices and persistent inflationary pressures

Aquaculture companies are threatening traditional fishermen.

 

Aquaculture products tend to be cheaper alternatives to wild fish, so consumers have opted to make savings and switch.

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Fishing in Europe

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Fishing in Europe market size (2020-2025)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €38.3bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Wild fish consumption sinks, but high prices keep revenue afloat

  • Europeans are cutting down on fresh seafood consumption at home due to rising seafood prices and persistent inflationary pressures. According to the European Commission, while fresh seafood consumption at home hiked between 2019 and 2021, owing to the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant and hotel sector, this trend has reverted and in 2023, household consumption of fresh seafood sank to its lowest recorded level, at around 10.48 million tonnes.

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Fishing in Europe outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Growing competition from aquaculture threatens fishermen’s revenue

  • Competition from aquaculture has crept up in Europe, threatening fishermen’s revenue as farmed seafood is generally cheaper than wild-caught. This long-term trend is likely to continue, especially as many countries increase investment to support production, making farmed seafood even more affordable as production costs fall in line with wider industry development. According to the European Commission, consumption of farmed seafood in the EU reached a decade-long high in 2022 at around 6.82 kilograms per capita. This is also in line with a 13% increase in aquaculture production volume in the EU between 2013 and 2022, according to Eurostat data. At the same time, consumption of wild-caught seafood sank to an average of 16.7 kilograms per person in the EU in 2022, the lowest level in a decade.

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Revenue

€38.3bn

2020-2025 1.6 %
2025-2030 X.X %

Employees

254k

2020-2025 0.3 %
2025-2030 X.X %

Wages

€X.Xbn

2020-2025 X.X %
2025-2030 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 0.3 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

    Bottom 5 Countries

      * CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.

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      Biggest companies in the Fishing in Europe

      Company
      Market Share (%)
      2025
      Revenue (€m)
      2025
      Profit (€m)
      2025
      Profit Margin (%)
      2025
      Austevoll Seafood ASA
      3,151.1
      576.4
      18.3
      Bolton Group International Srl
      3,247.8
      181.5
      5.6
      Nueva Pescanova SL
      1,291.2
      44.5
      3.4

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      Fishing in Europe

      Products & Services Segmentation

      Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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      Top Questions Answered in this Report

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      What is the market size of the Fishing industry in Europe in 2025?

      The market size of the Fishing industry in Europe is €38.3bn in 2025.

      How many businesses are there in the Fishing industry in Europe in 2025?

      There are 141k businesses in the Fishing industry in Europe, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

      Has the Fishing industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?

      The market size of the Fishing industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

      What is the forecast growth of the Fishing industry in Europe over the next 5 years?

      Over the next five years, the Fishing industry in Europe is expected to grow.

      What does the Fishing industry in Europe include?

      Demersal fish and Pelagic Fish are part of the Fishing industry in Europe.

      How competitive is the Fishing industry in Europe?

      The level of competition is high and steady in the Fishing industry in Europe.

      Related Industries

      This industry is covered in 37 countries

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      Table of Contents

      About this industry

      Industry definition

      Companies in this industry fish for wild seafood in oceanic and coastal waters. A range of gear is used to carry out these activities, including nets, lines and stationary traps.

      Related Terms

      DEMERSAL FISHPELAGIC FISHSHELLFISH

      What's included in this industry?

      Demersal fishPelagic FishShellfish

      Companies

      Austevoll Seafood ASABolton Group International SrlNueva Pescanova SL

      Industry Code

      ISIC 2006

      031 - Fishing in Europe

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      Performance

      Key Takeaways

      Wild fish consumption sinks, but high prices keep revenue afloat

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      Revenue Highlights

      Trends
      • Revenue
      • 2025 Revenue Growth
      • Revenue Volatility

      Employment Highlights

      Trends
      • Employees
      • Employees per Business
      • Revenue per Employee

      Business Highlights

      Trends
      • Businesses
      • Employees per Business
      • Revenue per Business

      Profit Highlights

      Trends
      • Total Profit
      • Profit Margin
      • Profit per Business

      Current Performance

      Charts
      • Revenue in the Fishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
      • Employees in the Fishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
      • Business in the Fishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
      • Profit in the Fishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
      Analysis

      What's driving current industry performance in the Fishing in Europe industry?


      Outlook

      Analysis

      What's driving the Fishing in Europe industry outlook?


      Volatility

      Analysis

      What influences volatility in the Fishing in Europe industry?

      Charts
      • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

      Life Cycle

      Analysis

      What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Fishing in Europe industry?

      Charts
      • Industry Life Cycle Matrix

      Products and Markets

      Highlights

      Trends
      • Largest Market
      • Product Innovation

      Key Takeaways

      Shellfish command higher prices. As shellfish command a premium, they account for a significant share of revenue by value, despite being the species caught in the lowest volume.

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      Products and Services

      Charts
      • Products and Services Segmentation
      Analysis

      How are the Fishing in Europe industry's products and services performing?

      Analysis

      What are innovations in the Fishing in Europe industry's products and services?


      Major Markets

      Charts
      • Major Market Segmentation
      Analysis

      What influences demand in the Fishing in Europe industry?


      International Trade

      Highlights

      • Total Imports into Europe
      • Total Exports into Europe
      Heat maps
      • Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
      • Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
      Data Tables

      Value and annual change (%) included

      • Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)

      Geographic Breakdown

      Business Locations

      Heat maps
      • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
      • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
      • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
      • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)

      Industry Geographic Breakdown

      Data Tables

      Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

      • Revenue (2025)
      • IVA (2025)
      • Enterprises (2025)
      • Employment (2025)
      • Exports (2025)
      • Imports (2025)

      Competitive Forces

      Highlights

      Trends
      • Concentration
      • Competition
      • Barriers to Entry
      • Substitutes
      • Buyer Power
      • Supplier Power

      Key Takeaways

      The industry is comprised of many small-scale fishermen. Although larger fishing companies do operate in the industry, many fishermen operate on a small scale, keeping the industry fragmented.

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      Supply Chain

      Charts

      Buyer and supply industries

      Companies

      Market Share

      Charts
      • Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)

      Companies

      Data Tables

      Top 8 companies by market share:

      • Market share (2025)
      • Revenue (2025)
      • Profit (2025)
      • Profit Margin (2025)

      Data Tables
      • Countries of operation for Austevoll Seafood ASA
      • Countries of operation for Bolton Group International Srl
      • Countries of operation for Nueva Pescanova SL
      • Countries of operation for Leroy Seafood Group ASA
      • Countries of operation for Cornelis Vrolijk BV
      • Countries of operation for Sildarvinnslan HF
      • Countries of operation for Mascato SA
      • Countries of operation for Macduff Shellfish (Scotland) Ltd

      External Environment

      Highlights

      Trends
      • Regulation & Policy
      • Assistance

      Key Takeaways

      Fishermen must comply with strict regulations. Fishing in European waters is regulated by the EU and other countries, with quotas set for the amount of fish can be caught, depending on these species and even size.

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      External Drivers

      Analysis

      What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Fishing in Europe industry?

      Financial Benchmarks

      Highlights

      Trends
      • Profit Margin
      • Average Wage
      • Largest Cost

      Key Takeaways

      Owner-operated businesses lead to inflated profit. Fishermen who own and work on their vessels tend to draw remuneration from a share of profits rather than taking a conventional wage, understating wage costs and inflating the industry’s average profit margin.

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      Cost Structure

      Charts
      • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
      • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
        • Marketing
        • Depreciation
        • Profit
        • Purchases
        • Wages
        • Rent
        • Utilities
        • Other
      Analysis

      What trends impact cost in the Fishing in Europe industry?


      Key Ratios

      Data tables
      • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
      • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
      • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
      • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
      • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
      • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
      • Average Wage (2015-2030)

      Country Benchmarks

      European Leaders & Laggards

      Data Tables

      Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

      • Revenue Growth (2025)
      • Business Growth (2025)
      • Job Growth (2025)

      European Country Performance

      Data Tables

      Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

      • IVA/Revenue (2025)
      • Imports/Demand (2025)
      • Exports/Revenue (2025)
      • Revenue per Employee (2025)
      • Wages/Revenue (2025)
      • Employees per Establishment (2025)
      • Average Wage (2025)

      Structural Comparison

      Data Tables

      Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

      • Concentration
      • Competition
      • Barriers to Entry
      • Buyer Power
      • Supplier Power
      • Volatility
      • Capital Intensity
      • Innovation
      • Life Cycle

      Key Statistics

      Industry Data

      Data Tables

      Including values and annual change:

      • Revenue (2015-2030)
      • IVA (2015-2030)
      • Establishments (2015-2030)
      • Enterprises (2015-2030)
      • Employment (2015-2030)
      • Exports (2015-2030)
      • Imports (2015-2030)
      • Wages (2015-2030)

      Methodology

      Where does IBISWorld source its data?

      IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

      Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

      IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

      To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.