Europeans are eating less fish as inflation, higher prices and changing lifestyles reshape seafood consumption. Although household spending on fish and aquaculture products increased in 2024, the rise was mainly driven by higher prices rather than higher purchasing volumes.
Consumer preferences are also evolving. Busy lifestyles and the demand for convenience are boosting sales of frozen, canned and ready-to-cook seafood products, while fresh fish continues to lose ground. At the same time, other protein sources remain strong competitors in household food spending.
Despite the overall decline, some countries continue to stand out. Portugal remains the EU leader in per capita spending on seafood, while Spain became the Union’s largest market by total spending on fish and aquaculture products in 2024.
The industry now faces the challenge of encouraging consumers to return to seafood by developing more convenient products, promoting innovation and highlighting the nutritional benefits of fish as part of a healthy diet.
