Ireland’s seafood sector saw a sharp contraction in landing volumes in 2025 but continued to deliver growth in value, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). This demonstrated “strong global demand even as supply tightened”, its latest Business of Seafood report says.
Landing volumes declined by 11 per cent last year, while the value of those landings rose by 7 per cent to €346 million, the report says. BIM said the divergence reflects sustained market demand against increasingly constrained supply. Quota reductions agreed for 2026 saw volumes fall by 28 per cent, and the value of pelagic quotas fall by 37 per cent, it notes.
Continued favourable pricing, alongside investment, innovation and access to imported raw material, will be critical to sustaining the sector, it says.
Aquaculture and processing businesses are adapting but remain under pressure, the report says. Irish organic salmon recorded continued value growth, while many shellfish producers struggled with weaker prices. The processing sector expanded steadily, supported by EU and Government investment, but is expected to rely increasingly on international sourcing as domestic quotas tighten.
The report also points to strong demand trends, internationally and at home. Seafood trade reached record levels in 2025, while Irish consumers increased their seafood consumption for the second consecutive year.
Total exports rose to €758 million, with Irish seafood sold across a wide range of markets, including France, the UK, China and Nigeria. Imports also grew sharply, with volumes up 37 per cent but values increasing by just 11 per cent, indicating improved efficiency among processors in sourcing raw materials.
Domestically, consumer spending on seafood climbed to €557 million, while foodservice sales exceeded €200 million for the first time. Growth has been driven by salmon, convenience products and frozen seafood formats.
The report identifies “aquatech” as an emerging strength within the wider seafood economy. This sector now comprises 90 companies with a combined turnover of €182 million, up 16 per cent in 2024, and is expanding faster than the industry overall, with increasing export potential in global aquaculture markets, the report notes.
Despite structural challenges, seafood continues to play a central role in Ireland’s coastal economy. The industry directly employs 7,509 people and supports close to 16,000 jobs when upstream activity is included, accounting for around 6 per cent of employment in coastal regions, the report says.
Newly appointed BIM chief executive Richard Donnelly said the findings “reflect the resilience of the sector and the scale of the challenges ahead”.
“This year’s report highlights a sector operating in an increasingly difficult trading environment, with significant quota reductions and ongoing cost pressures creating real challenges for our fishing, aquaculture and processing businesses,” he said.
“At the same time, there are important grounds for cautious optimism. Strong global demand, record export performance and continued growth in domestic consumption demonstrate the enduring value of Irish seafood. Investment in processing capacity and the rapid development of Ireland’s aquatech sector also point to new opportunities for growth.”
“The priority now is to support the industry in adapting to reduced domestic supply while continuing to build competitiveness, innovation and market reach. The resilience shown to date gives confidence that the sector can navigate the period ahead,” Donnelly said.
BIM said the coming year will be “pivotal” as the industry adjusts to structural changes in supply while seeking to maintain growth across international markets and domestic consumption. The full report is available on bim.ie
