Spain is opening a new era in Europe’s fisheries sector
Leading the way in aquaculture
From this point of view, Spain is the largest aquaculture producer in Europe, followed by the United Kingdom and France. Spain produces over 1.2 million tonnes of fisheries products per annum, more than any other EU country. 70 % comes from sea fishing, 29 % from aquaculture and a mere 1 % from inland fishing. 90% of the Spanish aquaculture
is represented by marine farming, the other 10% consisting in inland aquaculture, mostly trout.
In 2015, the total number of aquaculture production enterprises was 5,057, including 4,906 marine farms and 151 freshwater farms. Small firms with less than 5 employees dominate the Spanish aquaculture sector, representing 74 % of the total number of farms in the country. Thanks to investments made in the diversification of the species produced in the marine farms, businesses in the sector are focusing now on high added value species like meagre, tuna and yellowtail.
A big consumer of fish Fish consumption in Spain placed the country as the third biggest consumer in the EU-28 area, lagging only behind Portugal and Lithuania. 69% of the Spaniards are eating fish and seafood at least twice a
week reaching an annual consumption per capita of 46.2 kg. That can explain why the domestic production does not
stand for self-sufficiency, in the last two years Spain’s total fish and seafood imports reaching $6.3 billion, with Morroco being the main supplier from outside EU for seafood like octopus and squid with EUR481.5 million ($591 million) in products delivered that year. Other non-EU big suppliers of fish and seafoodare Argentina, China, Vietnam
and United States. Fish imports from the EU Member States are coming from France, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden or UK.
The domestic production is estimated to EUR4.2 billion ($5.2 billion) for this year, maintaining the same level reached in 2017.
The market size for this year is expected to stay about EUR6.8 billion ($8.35 billion). Spanish fish exports have
surpassed EUR2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) in 2016 and 2017 and are expected to remain steady for 2018. About two-thirds of Spain’s fish and seafood exports are directed inside EU, Italy, Portugal and France being the main importers. Other big markets are represented by the US and Japan.
The biggest producer of fish and seafood in EU, Spain, is also that country that opened the path to a transformation in this sector by successfully implementing a range of programs meant to promote a new way to innovative businesses in
aquaculture. A similar campaign is now underway in Ireland and Lithuania, announced recently Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
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