The European Union’s dependence on imported seafood products continues to worsen, according to a study commissioned by European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, scheduled to discuss the study on 25 February.
The EU’s self-sufficiency rate was 37.5% in 2022, falling to 14.2% if exports are excluded, which means that more than 80% of the products consumed are imported, according to the authors.
This average masks major disparities between species. Tuna, most of which is fished outside European waters, now has a self-sufficiency rate of just 29%. Only 20% of groundfish (cod, hake, Alaskan pollock) are produced in the EU, with landings having fallen by 43% since 2020.
Almost all salmon is imported, mainly from Norway and Chile, while the majority of trout is still produced in the EU.
Small pelagic fishing, once nearly self-sufficient, is in decline. Blue whiting exports and increased dependence on sardine and anchovy imports are upsetting the balance, according to the authors.
The EU’s self-sufficiency in shellfish is at around 12%.
European aquaculture production is stagnating, held back by high costs, complex regulations and limited access to production sites.
Faced with international competition based on lower labour and energy costs, the authors call for greater innovation, investment and sustainability requirements in trade to strengthen food security and the sector’s resilience in Europe.
Link to the study: https://aeur.eu/f/ks9 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)