Seafish launches Seafood in Numbers 2023, a snapshot of the industry in the UK

Seafish to host webinar, offering stakeholders a chance for direct engagement

Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, has released its latest edition of Seafood in Numbers, which reveals trends on seafood consumption, trade, processing, and fishing for the year 2023.

It is the only annual report offering UK-wide seafood data across the entire supply chain, providing a unique resource for industry insights.

For the second year, the report is hosted on the Seafish website in an interactive, user-friendly format, allowing users to navigate and explore data across all levels and sectors of the supply chain.

In 2023, the UK seafood industry findings reveal:

• Fishing Fleet: The UK fleet caught 680,000 tonnes of seafood, including landings abroad.

• Exports: The UK exported £1,730 million worth of seafood, with the value of exports increasing by £8 million compared with the previous year. France was the largest market by both volume and value.

• Top Species: Mackerel landings by UK vessels grew 20%, consistently holding its place as the top species landed in the UK.

• Retail Sales: UK retail seafood sales grew to £4.3 billion, a 5% uplift from the previous year driven primarily by chilled and frozen seafood categories.

“Seafood in Numbers 2023 serves as a one-stop resource for anyone seeking a clear view of the UK seafood sector,” said Jennifer Robson, Head of Economics, Insight, and Advice at Seafish.  

“This report compiles key figures at a glance, offering valuable insights into the industry. We’re grateful to the industry stakeholders who generously contributed data through our annual surveys, helping us in our mission to be the centre for seafood supply chain analysis and insight.” 

To accompany the launch of this year’s report, Seafish will host a webinar on January 16, 2025. This free event will provide a deeper dive into the findings, valuable for new entrants to the industry and seasoned professionals alike.

The Economics, Insight and Advice team will present key findings of the report, discuss the practical implications of the data for businesses and other industry stakeholders, and offer a “behind the scenes” look at the process of data collection.

While Seafood in Numbers offers a bird’s-eye view of the seafood landscape, Seafish regularly shares updated data in each sector across the supply chain, offering a closer look into landings, processing, and markets. They are also available to produce bespoke analysis upon request.

• Seafood in numbers 2023 is now available on the Seafish website at https://www.seafish.org/seafood-in-numbers

• Register for the webinar at Microsoft Teams Webinars

• To access more in-depth information visit the Seafish website.