The 2026 edition of the annual report showed that the UK “remains a country that buys the bulk of its seafood”, importing 1,180,000 tonnes last year, with both value (6%) and volume (1%) increasing year-on-year.
Export values from the UK in 2025 reached £2 billion, as 483,001 tonnes were exported. Compared to 2024, export value increased by 1% while export volume decreased by 2%, equivalent to around 10,000 fewer tonnes of seafood. A total of £810 million was exported to France, and the highest export species in both volume and value was salmon.
The report found that China was the UK’s largest source of imported seafood by volume, at 189,067 tonnes, up 4% from the previous report. Imports of seafood from Ecuador reached 86,410 tonnes, up 23% year-on-year, with tuna the most imported species at 235,120 tonnes.
Looking at the processing sector, there were 336 processing sites and 18,600 full-time equivalent jobs, with 5,482 of those within East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
Data looking at consumer habits found that UK consumers purchased more than 411,500 tonnes of seafood through retail outlets, worth £4.85 billion. Compared with the previous year, this represented a 4.2% increase in value and a 0.3% increase in volume. In 2025, UK consumers ate more than 141,000 tonnes of seafood outside the home worth £7.7 billion, representing a 19.6% increase in value and a 2.6% decrease in volume.
The UK fishing fleet landed 461,197 tonnes of fish and shellfish into UK ports in 2025 at a total value of £883 million. Seafish’s report found that the top five species landed in terms of volume were mackerel, herring, haddock, scallops and blue whiting. The UK fleet currently has 3,731 active vessels with 6,154 full-time equivalent jobs, a total turnover of £1,142 million and an operating profit of £296 million.
“Having access to reliable, up-to-date industry data is essential for businesses, policymakers and others working across the supply chain.”
Jennifer Robson, Seafish head of insights and supply chain intelligence, stated: “By bringing together data from across the supply chain, Seafood in Numbers helps us build a clearer picture of how the sector is performing, where changes are taking place and the factors shaping the market.
“The latest figures highlight the significant role international trade continues to play in supplying the UK with seafood, while also demonstrating the value of our domestic fishing and processing sectors.
“Having access to reliable, up-to-date industry data is essential for businesses, policymakers and others working across the supply chain. It helps inform decision-making, identify emerging trends and support a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.”
