Fish and seafood in the UK - statistics & facts
The UK is home to many fish species and the industry contributes largely to the economy. Surrounding this island nation is the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and the North Sea on the east. The most commonly landed fish species in the UK are mackerel and herring. The fishing industry, while historically important in the United Kingdom, has faced many challenges in recent years. While fishery and aquaculture feeds a large majority of the world’s population, over-fishing has become increasingly persistent and threatens both the environment and global food supply. In 2023, annual expenditure on fish in the UK amounted to around 4.05 billion British pounds, down from over 4.2 billion British pounds in 2022.
