The European Union imports the majority of seafood consumed in the EU.

Omissions

• The most recent official data available at the time of the claim (May 2026) is from 2023, published in the EU Fish Market 2025 report (December 2025). The MEP did not specify that the figure refers to 2023 data, using the vague term 'today'.
• The claim does not distinguish between wild-caught and aquaculture products, nor does it note that import dependence varies significantly by species — for example, self-sufficiency for cod was only 5% in 2023, while some species have higher self-sufficiency.
• The EU self-sufficiency rate of 38.1% in 2023 actually represented the first increase since 2018, driven by declining imports, indicating the trend may be shifting slightly.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA) — European CommissionFor the first time since 2018, the EU's self-sufficiency rate rose, reaching 38.1%. This means import dependence for fishery and aquaculture products is approximately 61.9%, confirming that the majority of seafood consumed in the EU is imported.
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament — Study: Assessing the impact of seafood imports on EU self-sufficiencyAccording to the EU Seafood Supply Synopsis 2024, the minimum EU import dependence rate for 2023 was approximately 62% of total supply. EU seafood self-sufficiency has declined steadily, reaching 37.5% in 2022.
• SecondaryAIPCE-CEP — EU Seafood Supply Synopsis 2024The minimum EU import dependence rate for 2023 was approximately 62% of total supply. The EU market is heavily reliant on imports.