Output of fish farms increased, prices remained largely unchanged
According to Statistics Estonia, in 2023, aquaculture enterprises (fish and crayfish farms) sold 918 tonnes of commercial fish and crayfish, for a total of €5.7 million. The sale of fish roe for consumption amounted to nearly 10 tonnes. The sold quantity of fish farming production increased after three years of decline. The amount of fish roe sold was 3.5 times higher than in 2022.
Last year, the quantity of commercial fish sold by fish farming enterprises rose by 118 tonnes compared with 2022. The average price per kilogram of farmed fish was over €6. Sold quantities of fish have increased over the past year, while the average price per kilogram has remained virtually unchanged.
Swen Peterson, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that rainbow trout is still the most farmed and sold fish species in Estonia, and its share has grown in recent years. “In 2023, almost 785 tonnes of rainbow trout was sold, accounting for 87% of the total quantity of farmed fish sold. In monetary terms, this amounts to nearly €4.5 million,” noted Peterson.
0.49 tonnes of crayfish was placed on the market last year, which is 14% less than in 2022. However, the average price of crayfish sold increased by almost 30% year on year. Farmed crayfish sales are down for the fourth year in a row. The largest quantity of crayfish – close to 2 tonnes – was sold in 2009.
Last year, fish roe placed on the market amounted to 10 tonnes. This is nearly 3.5 times more than the year before. However, the quantity of fish roe sold was two times lower than in 2021, similar to the amount sold in 2020. The value of sold fish roe was just over €350,000 in 2023, with the average price per kilogram almost unchanged from the previous year. Most of the fish roe sold for consumption was red fish roe.
In addition to rainbow trout and crayfish, there are other fish species farmed and sold in Estonia, such as tench, European eel, African sharptooth catfish, carp, wels catfish, sturgeon (Siberian and Russian sturgeon), grass carp, etc.
See also the fishing section on our website.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
For further information:
Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)