European Union (EU) citizens on average consume about 24 kg of seafood per year.[1] The EU accounts for about 3.3 % of global fisheries and aquaculture production. [2] It is the fifth largest producer worldwide. At the EU level, 80 % of the production comes from fisheries and 20 % from aquaculture. Fishing plays a crucial role in employment and economic activity in several EU regions and aquaculture employs about 75,000 people.[2] The processing industry consists of approximately 3,500 companies.[2] EU production mainly concerns canned products and ready meals consisting of fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
The European Farm to Fork Strategy, a key component of the Green Deal, aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the food system and strengthen its resilience, ensure food security in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss and lead a global transition towards competitive sustainability from farm and sea to fork, tapping into new opportunities. The strategy will address each and every step of the food chain, from production and processing, to distribution, marketing, consumption and international trade.[1] Stakeholders in all related sectors are key in this transition. For example, through FARNET, Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), public authorities, citizens and experts from across the EU can work together on the sustainable development of fisheries and coastal areas.
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The data in this map are provided by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs.
[2] https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/sites/fisheries/files/docs/body/pcp_en.pdf