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Facts and Figures

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

Business of Seafood, 2021

The Irish Seafood Economy

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.

Top Ten Export Markets

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