The 2024 edition of EUMOFA yearly report The EU Fish market reported that, in 2022, EU aquaculture production reached 1,09 million tonnes with a total value of EUR 4.87 billion. This represented a 4% or 40,486 tonne drop in volume from 2021, but a notable 16% or EUR 668 million increase in value. It also was the second consecutive year of growth in production value. Mussels remained the top species by volume, while trout led in value, though they saw declines of 9% and 7%, respectively, which significantly impacted total production volume. Spain, France, Greece and Italy together produced more than two-thirds of the EU's aquaculture output volume in 2022.
Taken from the longer-decade perspective, EU aquaculture production grew by 123,879 tonnes or 13%, from 2013 to 2022, while its value surged an impressive EUR 1.27 billion or 42% in real terms.
In 2022, the positive trend in value continued, reaching its highest point in a decade, even as production volumes began to decline again. The overall increase in value was primarily driven by significant price hikes across most major species, including trout, European seabass, gilthead seabream, oyster, clam and bluefin tuna. At the same time, production dropped for most of these species, with the exception of gilthead seabream and tuna.
Apparent consumption: Aquaculture products gain ground
The apparent consumption (the sum of catches, aquaculture production and imports minus exports) in 2022 saw an increase in aquaculture products. 2022 registered consumption of about 6.82 kilograms of farmed seafood per person, which is the highest in the past decade. For the same period, consumption of wild products was 16.70 kilograms per person, which is the least in the past decade. Furthermore, the apparent consumption of fishery and aquaculture products was 1% lower than in 2021.
Europeans eat less fresh seafood at home
According to the report, 2023 saw a decrease in at-home fresh seafood consumption due to rising prices. From 2019 to 2022, EU consumers have eaten more fresh seafood products at home, mostly due to the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant and hotel sector. That positive trend is now over, and by 2023, household consumption of fresh fish had plummeted to its lowest level. This downward trend in household consumption can largely be attributed to the current economic and geopolitical climate, which has led to an increase in inflation, weighing heavily on consumers' purchasing power at the retail level. Because of rising prices, household spending on fresh fishery and aquaculture products rose by 6% over 2022, continuing the upward trend that began in 2018.
Download the report here.
