Press release: 12.403-243/20

Food fish production from domestic aquaculture increased in 2019 by 4%

Vienna, 2020-12-18 – In 2019, a total of 4 250 tonnes of food fish was produced in Austria by 500 active fish farms, representing an increase of 4.1% compared to 2018. As Statistics Austria further reports, the number of food fish producers rose slightly, by eight companies to 500.

Sales volumes increased for rainbow and salmon trout (+4.3% to 1 417 tonnes), brook trout (+10.0% to 562 tonnes), brown and lake trout (+2.2% to 471 tonnes), african catfish (+8.9% to 458 tonnes) as well as elsaesser char (+9.9% to 329 tonnes), while declines were recorded for common carp (-4.4% to 619 tonnes) and arctic char (-2.1% to 266 tonnes).

The production in hatcheries and nurseries amounted to 20.4 million eggs (+9.0%) and 21.1 million juveniles of all ages (+1.8%) in 2019. Among juvenile fish, salmonids were most represented – with rainbow and salmon trout (2.5 million eggs and 4.9 million juveniles), brown and lake trout (4.2 million eggs and 3.3 million juveniles) as well as brook trout (2.5 million eggs and 1.8 million juveniles).

Food fish producers mentioned as the primary cause of high product losses in 2019, predators such as otters, herons and cormorants as well as the lack of water due to high temperatures and low water intake and flooding.

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 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 2017 to 2019
YearSalmonidaeCyprinidaeOthersTotal production
Austria 20193 058.1691.6500.34 250.0
Austria 20182 912.9713.2458.34 084.3
Austria 20172 708.3680.9476.53 865.7
S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Aquaculture production. – Compiled on 18 December 2020. – 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 2017 to 2019
YearSalmonidaeCyprinidaeOthersTotal production
Austria 201919 100.81 085.0180.020 365.8
Austria 201817 361.71 077.0242.318 681.0
Austria 201714 750.7785.0247.715 783.4
S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Aquaculture production. – Compiled on 18 December 2020. – Rounding differences are not equalised.
Table 3: Production of juvenile fish in 1 000 pieces 2017 to 2019
YearSalmonidaeCyprinidaeOthersTotal production
Austria 201918 798.11 108.81 147.521 054.4
Austria 201819 444.6908.9331.520 685.0
Austria 201718 579.21 131.9364.320 075.5
S: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Aquaculture production. – Compiled on 18 December 2020. – Rounding differences are not equalised.

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