Press release: 12.693-284/21

Food fish production from domestic aquaculture increased in 2020 by 6.5%

Vienna, 2021-12-17 – In 2020, a total of 4 527 tonnes of food fish was produced in Austria, representing an increase of 6.5% compared to 2019. As Statistics Austria further reports, the number of food fish producers rose by 5.2% to 526 companies.

Compared to 2019, for the most important fish species the following increases in sales volumes were recorded: rainbow and salmon trout (+7.5% to 1 524 tonnes), common carp (+0.3% to 621 tonnes), brook trout (+9.8% to 617 tonnes), african catfish (+8.9% to 499 tonnes), brown and lake trout (+2.8% to 484 tonnes), elsaesser char (+11.1% to 365 tonnes) as well as arctic char (+1.1% to 269 tonnes).

The production in hatcheries and nurseries amounted to 23.4 million eggs (+14.7%) and 21.2 million juveniles of all ages (+0.7%) in 2020. Among juvenile fish, salmonids were most represented – with rainbow and salmon trout (2.3 million eggs and 4.7 million juveniles), brown and lake trout (3.9 million eggs and 2.9 million juveniles) as well as brook trout (3.0 million eggs and 1.9 million juveniles).

Food fish producers mentioned as the primary cause of high product losses in 2020, predators such as otters, herons and cormorants as well as the lack of water, flooding and sales difficulties due to Corona restrictions.

For more detailed results and further information concerning statistics of aquaculture please refer to our website.

Information on methods, definitions: The survey on aquaculture production is based on Ordinance Federal Law Gazette II No. 344/2012 (available in German only) issued by the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management. Within the survey on aquaculture production, the annual production of edible and stocking fish, crayfish and shrimp is determined. Respondents needed to specify the quantity that originated from their own aquaculture facility and was marketed in the reporting period. Fish bought in from other facilities, income from sea fishing and stocking fish produced for use in the respondent's own business were not included.

 

Table 1: Food fish production1) in tonnes 2018 to 2020
YearSalmonidaeCyprinidaeOthersTotal production
Austria 20203 271.8687.1568.04 526.9
Austria 20193 058.1691.6500.34 250.0
Austria 20182 912.9713.2458.34 084.3
S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Aquaculture production. – Compiled on 17 December 2021. – Rounding differences are not equalised. – 1) Meaning of "ready-to-eat", under market conditions, independent of the actual further use; in live weight.
Table 2: Production of fish eggs in 1 000 pieces 2018 to 2020
YearSalmonidaeCyprinidaeOthersTotal production
Austria 202018 505.5778.14 085.423 369.0
Austria 201919 100.81 085.0180.020 365.8
Austria 201817 361.71 077.0242.318 681.0
S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Aquaculture production. – Compiled on 17 December 2021. – Rounding differences are not equalised.
Table 3: Production of juvenile fish in 1 000 pieces 2018 to 2020
YearSalmonidaeCyprinidaeOthersTotal production
Austria 202018 502.21 460.61 241.921 204.6
Austria 201918 798.11 108.81 147.521 054.4
Austria 201819 444.6908.9331.520 685.0
S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Aquaculture production. – Compiled on 17 December 2021. – Rounding differences are not equalised.

For further inquiries please contact Directorate Spatial Statistics, Statistics Austria:  
Martina WIESINGER, Tel. +43 1 71128-7959 resp. martina.wiesinger@statistik.gv.at and 
Franz NEUMANN, Tel. +43 1 71128-7120 resp. franz.neumann@statistik.gv.at

Media owner, producer and publisher: 
STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Federal Institution under Public Law 
1110 Vienna, Austria, Guglgasse 13, Tel.: +43 1 71128-7777 
presse@statistik.gv.at  
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