Spain’s aquaculture sector reached a record high in 2025. An industry report presented on 28 October 2026 puts the first-sale value at €883.5 million from a production volume of 274,111 tonnes. The report “La Acuicultura en España 2026” by the industry organisation APROMAR, in cooperation with the Centro Tecnológico de Acuicultura de Andalucía (CTAQUA), describes the figures as a new record and reports growth compared with 2024.
Marine fish are the main drivers of value. The marine aquaculture accounted for 69,089 tonnes and generated around €676 million. The species identified as economically significant include Lubina, Dorada, bluefin tuna and Rodaballo . For Lubina, the report records 30,397 tonnes and a first-sale value of €226.23 million; for bluefin tuna, 10,167 tonnes worth €160.59 million. Inland producers, such as trout farms, remain significant in terms of volume, but contribute much less to the overall value.
According to the organisers, the report’s presentation in Córdoba highlighted the sector’s increasing specialisation, quality and safety standards, and export opportunities in individual market segments. The analysis also identifies outstanding issues: lengthy authorisation procedures, a shortage of new recruits, volatile feed prices and the challenge of strengthening public acceptance, particularly among younger consumers.
The data confirm Spain’s position as one of the European Union’s leading aquaculture centres and underline the shift towards higher-value species with greater revenue potential. This creates further opportunities for jobs and value creation in both coastal and inland regions. At the same time, it increases pressure to streamline administrative procedures, conduct robust research into feed-related cost risks and develop strategies to attract skilled workers. The report does not make claims about what will happen next; however, the 2025 figures presented provide a sound basis for business planning and policy decisions.
The figures, attributions and timing are based on the version of the report “La Acuicultura en España 2026” by APROMAR and CTAQUA presented on 28 October 2026. The immediate occasion is the public presentation of this analysis of market and production data for 2025.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).