Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The total value of fishery products landed in the European Union last year reached €5.5 billion. The EU's total catch was estimated at 3.2 million tons, drawn from the seven maritime regions covered by EU statistics.

Spain recorded the highest value of fish landings, accounting for 30% of the total EU catch, followed by France at 16%, and Denmark at 13%.

In terms of weight, the top three countries remained unchanged. The Spanish fishing fleet captured 21% of the total fish mass, ahead of France (15%) and Denmark (14%). These figures were released by Eurostat, the European statistical office in Brussels, which also indicated EU catches in the Northeast Atlantic. The majority of the EU fishing fleet's catch (71%) was concentrated in the Northeast Atlantic. The main species caught in this region were herring (19%), bluefin tuna (17%), sprat (13%), and mackerel (10%).

Nine percent of the EU's total catch was caught in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, with sardines and anchovies being the two main species caught there (18% each).
Another 7% of the EU's total catch was caught in the East Central Atlantic. The most important species caught in this region were yellowfin tuna and horse mackerel (representing 27% and 25% of the total catch, respectively). Other main species caught included skipjack (9%) and mackerel (8%). The Western Indian Ocean contributed 6% of the EU's total catch, with three tuna species dominating the catch (representing 94% of the total). These species were skipjack (54%), yellowfin tuna (33%), and bigeye tuna (7%).

Another 5% of the EU catch came from the Southwest Atlantic, consisting mainly of hake (72%) and squid (17%).

The remaining 2% of the total catch was caught in the Northwest and Southeast Atlantic. This article commemorates World Fisheries Day, which is observed on November 21.