Sea fishing

Sole is the most landed fish in Belgium

Agriculture & fishery
Sole is the most landed fish in Belgium

In September 2023, 819 tonnes of fish were landed by Belgian vessels and sold in Belgian ports.

As in previous months, sole remains the most important fish of the Belgian sea fishing industry. With landings of 161 tonnes, this species accounts for 20% of the total landings and 53% of the total value of fish landed and sold in Belgium.

Landings of ray and plaice amounted to 140 and 117 tonnes respectively, accounting for 17% and 14% of total landings.

Cuttlefish catches, which peaked in the winter months, are down, with 37 tonnes landed in September.

The landings of shrimps remained limited to 17 tonnes.

Megrim, showcased as fish species of the year 2023 by VLAM, shows total landings of 48 tonnes in September.

Table 1
Content

Fish landed by Belgian ships and sold in Belgium

Fish landed by Belgian ships and sold in Belgium 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Evolution 2022/2021
Quantity of fish sold (in tonnes) 17,469 18,786 15,548 18,158 14,766 13,659 12,588 11,901 13,217 11.1%
Value of fish sold (in million euros) 63 78 65 67 63 59 56 61 80 30.8%
* Source: Statbel (Directorate-General Statistics - Statistics Belgium) based on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Flemish public authority, AVKD.
Table 2
Content
Traded quantity (in tonnes) 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Evolution 2022/2021
Codfish 1,697 1,589 588 1,068 429 353 264 220 82 -62.7%
Whiting 424 298 237 252 195 165 198 179 152 -15.1%
Plaice 4,929 4,123 3,835 5,842 4,548 3,630 2,162 2,005 1,574 -21.5%
Sole 3,488 3,854 3,419 2,734 1,825 2,041 2,399 2,318 2,261 -2.5%
Turbot 284 297 272 360 316 267 242 220 178 -19.1%
Lemon sole 640 1,040 532 706 489 448 348 381 319 -16.3%
Ray 1,114 1,810 1,253 1,205 1,022 1,254 1,395 1,157 1,394 20.5%
Shrimps 325 436 611 325 830 509 312 362 855 136.2%
* Source: Statbel (Directorate-General Statistics - Statistics Belgium) based on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Flemish public authority, AVKD.
Table 3
Content
Average price in EUR/kg 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Evolution 2022/2021
Codfish 2.6 2.6 3.3 2.7 2.7 3.2 2.9 3.4 4.0 15.7%
Whiting 1.0 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.3 28.2%
Plaice 1.7 1.9 1.2 1.5 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.4 3.0 27.7%
Sole 8.3 10.1 10.5 10.4 12.1 12.7 11.8 13.2 17.4 32.2%
Turbot 9.6 11.6 11.0 10.3 11.2 11.5 10.2 13.2 16.3 22.7%
Lemon sole 4.2 4.0 4.4 5.7 4.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 4.5 20.4%
Ray 1.9 1.7 2.2 2.1 2.2 1.9 1.8 2.6 2.5 -3.9%
Shrimps 4.4 3.0 2.5 5.0 3.8 3.5 5.2 5.3 5.4 1.9%
* Source: Statbel (Directorate-General Statistics - Statistics Belgium) based on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Flemish public authority, AVKD.

Purpose and brief description

Quantity and value of the fish landed and traded in Belgium. Distribution according to the ports of supply and the fish species

Population

All sea fishing boats

Frequency

Monthly

Timing publication

Results available 3 months after the reference period.

Definitions

Total amount kg : Quantity of fish supplied and traded

Total value EUR : Value of fish supplied and traded

Metadata