Fish farming (aquaculture)
The report primarily describes the data for 2024 but generally applies to previously published data as well.
Contacts
Contact organisation: Statistics Estonia
Contact organisation unit: Economic and Environmental Statistics Department
Contact name: Anton Kardakov
Contact person function: Agricultural and Technology Statistics Service Team, Leading Analyst
Contact mail address: Tatari 51, 10134 Tallinn, Estonia
Contact email address: anton.kardakov@stat.ee
Contact phone number: +372 5334 5697
Metadata last certified 05/05/2026
Metadata last update 05/05/2026
PURPOSE
The aim of the statistical activity is to collect and publish data on the Estonian aquaculture sector. Aquaculture data are used to manage the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and to monitor and evaluate the aquaculture market. The CFP helps to ensure that both fishing and aquaculture are sustainable, well managed, and contribute to food security in the long term.
STATISTICAL PRESENTATION
Data description
(S.3.1)
Quantity of sold fish and crayfish by farmed species, salinity of water and by type of facility; value of sold catch by farmed species;
sale of fish roe (for consumption) and value of sold catch;
production of hatcheries and nurseries for release into the wild or a controlled environment by farmed species and age group;
quantity of fish and crayfish collected from the wild and purchased by species; value by species;
area and volume of waterbody used for fish and crayfish farming by type of facility, incl. waterbodies with fresh water and sea water (every three years).
The quantity and value of production are based on live weight.
sale of fish roe (for consumption) and value of sold catch;
production of hatcheries and nurseries for release into the wild or a controlled environment by farmed species and age group;
quantity of fish and crayfish collected from the wild and purchased by species; value by species;
area and volume of waterbody used for fish and crayfish farming by type of facility, incl. waterbodies with fresh water and sea water (every three years).
The quantity and value of production are based on live weight.
Classification system
(S.3.2)
Age group of fish and crayfish;
classification of fish farming facilities;
classification of fish by species;
aquatic environment
classification of fish farming facilities;
classification of fish by species;
aquatic environment
Sector coverage
(S.3.3)
The data cover aquaculture.
The Classification of Economic Activities in Estonia (EMTAK) based on NACE Rev. 2:
03211 Marine aquaculture;
03221 Freshwater aquaculture.
The Classification of Economic Activities in Estonia (EMTAK) based on NACE Rev. 2:
03211 Marine aquaculture;
03221 Freshwater aquaculture.
Statistical concepts and definitions
(S.3.4)
Cage – a net structure with floats placed in the sea or in a natural freshwater body
Enclosure with water recirculation system – artificial structure where water is re-used after bio-filtering
Hatchery and nursery – artificial structure where eggs and juveniles are bred, hatched and reared
Pond and tank – a natural structure or a structure with artificial walls and bottom where water interchange takes place up to 10 times a day
Raceway – an artificial structure with high water turnover rate (more than 10 times a day) without water recirculation
Sale of commercial fish – fish farming production sold as commercial fish to Estonia and foreign countries in the current year
Enclosure with water recirculation system – artificial structure where water is re-used after bio-filtering
Hatchery and nursery – artificial structure where eggs and juveniles are bred, hatched and reared
Pond and tank – a natural structure or a structure with artificial walls and bottom where water interchange takes place up to 10 times a day
Raceway – an artificial structure with high water turnover rate (more than 10 times a day) without water recirculation
Sale of commercial fish – fish farming production sold as commercial fish to Estonia and foreign countries in the current year
Statistical unit
(S.3.5)
Enterprise
Statistical population
(S.3.6)
Aquaculture enterprises
Reference area
(S.3.7)
Estonia as a whole
Time coverage
(S.3.8)
1992–…
Data for the previous year are published. The data released in 2025 refer to the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
Data for the previous year are published. The data released in 2025 refer to the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
Base period
(S.3.9)
Not applicable
INSTITUTIONAL MANDATE
Legal acts and other agreements
(S.6.1)
Official Statistics Act;
Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 788/96 (Text with EEA relevance)
Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 788/96 (Text with EEA relevance)
Data sharing
(S.6.2)
None
Accessibility and clarity
News release
(S.10.1)
The news can be viewed on Statistics Estonia's website in the section News.
A news release based on data from this statistical activity is published once a year in May. The news release published on 23 May 2025 can be found here: "A record quantity of fish roe was sold last year".
A news release based on data from this statistical activity is published once a year in May. The news release published on 23 May 2025 can be found here: "A record quantity of fish roe was sold last year".
Publications
(S.10.2)
Not published
On-line database
(S.10.3)
Data are published in the statistical database at under the subject area Economy/Fishing in the following table:
KA40: Commercial catch and realisation in fish farms by species.
KA40: Commercial catch and realisation in fish farms by species.
Data tables - consultations (S.10.3.1)
The database table related to the statistical process was viewed 350 times in 2024, 438 times in 2023, 258 times in 2022, 297 times in 2021, 709 times in 2020.
Each table view is counted as a separate viewing. This is based on the database URLs, which show that the data have been selected and the table formed.
Each table view is counted as a separate viewing. This is based on the database URLs, which show that the data have been selected and the table formed.
Micro-data access
(S.10.4)
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in §§ 33, 34, 35, 36, and 38 of the Official Statistics Act. Access to microdata and anonymisation of microdata are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes.
Other
(S.10.5)
The data serve as input for the statistical activities 10601 “Material flow accounts” and 10106 “Environmental goods and services sector accounts”.
The data on the previous year are submitted to Eurostat once a year via EDAMIS on 30 December the latest. The following data are submitted to Eurostat annually: quantity of sold fish, crayfish and fish roe (separately for marine and freshwater aquaculture), quantity of fish and crayfish collected from the wild or a controlled environment (and taken to hatcheries and nurseries), and quantity of fish released (or sold for release) into the wild or a controlled environment. Data on the area of waterbodies used for aquaculture are submitted every three years.
Together with the data, a detailed quality and methodology report is also submitted to Eurostat via the Metadata Handler, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The sold quantities of farmed fish are submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) annually; data on the area of waterbodies used for aquaculture are sent when collected (every three years).
The data on the previous year are submitted to Eurostat once a year via EDAMIS on 30 December the latest. The following data are submitted to Eurostat annually: quantity of sold fish, crayfish and fish roe (separately for marine and freshwater aquaculture), quantity of fish and crayfish collected from the wild or a controlled environment (and taken to hatcheries and nurseries), and quantity of fish released (or sold for release) into the wild or a controlled environment. Data on the area of waterbodies used for aquaculture are submitted every three years.
Together with the data, a detailed quality and methodology report is also submitted to Eurostat via the Metadata Handler, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The sold quantities of farmed fish are submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) annually; data on the area of waterbodies used for aquaculture are sent when collected (every three years).
Metadata - consultations (S.10.5.1)
The metadata related to the statistical process were viewed 46 times (1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025) and 19 times (1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024). These figures do not represent the number of viewers, as the metadata may have been viewed multiple times by a single user.
Documentation on methodology
(S.10.6)
The methodology used is based on Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 and on Eurostat's Aquaculture Statistics Handbook and other materials of Eurostat’s working party on fishery statistics.
The methodology applied in Estonia is described in quality reports submitted to Eurostat.
The methodology applied in Estonia is described in quality reports submitted to Eurostat.
Quality documentation
(S.10.7)
This statistical activity is guided by the European Statistics Code of Practice.
A quality report is submitted annually to Eurostat, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008.
A quality report is submitted annually to Eurostat, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008.
STATISTICAL PROCESSING
Source data
(S.18.1)
The total population is 49 units. A census survey is used, which means that all enterprises whose main or secondary activity is aquaculture are included in the survey population.
The sample includes enterprises registered with the Agriculture and Food Board and engaged in aquaculture (EMTAK 3221 and EMTAK 3211) as the main or secondary activity.
Enterprises farming aquarium and ornamental species are excluded from the sample.
The sample includes enterprises registered with the Agriculture and Food Board and engaged in aquaculture (EMTAK 3221 and EMTAK 3211) as the main or secondary activity.
Enterprises farming aquarium and ornamental species are excluded from the sample.
Frequency of data collection
(S.18.2)
Year
Data collection
(S.18.3)
Data are collected and the submission of questionnaires is monitored through the self-service environment. The questionnaires have been designed for independent completion in the self-service environment and include instructions and checks. The questionnaires and information about data submission are available on Statistics Estonia's website in the section Questionnaires.
Data are collected with the annual official statistics questionnaire “Fish and crayfish farming”; all enterprises engaged in aquaculture are surveyed.
If the respondents have any questions about the questionnaire, they can contact customer support.
Data are collected with the annual official statistics questionnaire “Fish and crayfish farming”; all enterprises engaged in aquaculture are surveyed.
If the respondents have any questions about the questionnaire, they can contact customer support.
Data validation
(S.18.4)
The input data are checked and, if necessary, corrected according to specified rules. The compliance of output data with the quality requirements is checked, including comparison with data for previous periods (input quantities, values, distribution (by species)), checking the reasons for non-response in the previous year (activities suspended or terminated or paused for a year), and checking the coverage of the population and the response rate.
Data compilation
(S.18.5)
Imputation is mostly not used, as the data are collected as a census. However, if necessary, missing values are replaced with the same entity's data for the previous period.
Variables which were not collected but which are necessary for producing the output are calculated. New variables are calculated by applying arithmetic conversion to already existing variables. This may be done repeatedly; the derived variable may, in turn, be based on previously derived new variables.
Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes aggregating the data according to the classification and calculating various statistical indicators.
Variables which were not collected but which are necessary for producing the output are calculated. New variables are calculated by applying arithmetic conversion to already existing variables. This may be done repeatedly; the derived variable may, in turn, be based on previously derived new variables.
Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes aggregating the data according to the classification and calculating various statistical indicators.
Imputation - rate (S.18.5.1)
The imputation rate shows the share of imputed values among all values.
In this statistical process, data values are not imputed.
In this statistical process, data values are not imputed.
Adjustment
(S.18.6)
Not applied
Seasonal adjustment (S.18.6.1)
Not applicable as the reference period is one year.