A Seafood Snapshot
€1.26bn
GDP of Irish Seafood
16,647
Working in Seafood
1,993
Registered Fishing Vessels
319
No. of Aquaculture units
160
No. of Seafood processors
€233m
Government Investment
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Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and the additional impacts of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement agreed between the EU and the UK, 2021 saw the Irish seafood industry recover from the trading difficulties experienced in 2020.
Overall, the value of the sector to the economy rose to €1.26 billion, up from €1.09 billion in 2020. This is the highest value on record and represents a growth in GDP of 15.3% compared to 2020.
The main driver of growth was from exports with an increase in value of 11% to €674 million in 2021.
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In 2021, exports grew by 10% in volume and 11% in value, led by increased volumes of Irish organic salmon, mackerel and Dublin Bay prawns.
Exports to Asia grew by 48% in value terms, while exports to the EU grew in volume and price terms leading to strong value growth of 17%.
Exports to the UK, fell by 13% in volume and value terms. Generally there was a shift away from exporting to the UK with increased export volumes to Europe, Asia and Africa.
For a full overview of 2021 you can download The Business of Seafood 2021 here
