The Dutch marine fisheries sector achieved a net profit of around 17 million euros in 2025. This made 2025 the second consecutive year with a positive result. However, conditions remain uncertain, according to researcher Marc Robert: "For both marine fisheries and mussel farming, limited financial headroom and uncertainty about fishing opportunities and the long-term business model make it difficult to invest in innovation, sustainability, modernisation and fleet renewal."
In the annual Fisheries in Figures study by Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the economic results of the Dutch marine fisheries sector and shellfish farming are estimated and interpreted. These include net results, revenues, costs and fish prices. The study also presents import and export figures for the fish trade.
Cutter fisheries 2025: lower revenues, but also lower costs
The Dutch cutter fleet ended 2025 with a preliminary estimated net result of around 15 million euros. This is slightly higher than in 2024, when a profit of almost 13 million euros was recorded. Although revenues fell by 4%, costs decreased more sharply, by 6%. This made 2025 the second profitable year in a row.
The beam trawl fishery generated a profit of almost 5 million euros, the shrimp fishery more than 8 million euros and the flyshoot fishery almost 4 million euros. Only the otter trawl fishery ended the year with a loss of just over 1 million euros. The net results of the individual fisheries do not add up to the total for the entire cutter fleet because of rounding.
There are concerns about the age of vessels: the cutter fleet has become very old, with an average hull age of almost 40 years. "Many vessels now hardly depreciate at all," says Robert. "At the same time, major replacement investments will be needed in the longer term." After the five loss-making or only very marginally profitable years that preceded them, the positive results in 2024 and 2025 provide too little financial headroom to make these investments in the short term.
Average revenues lower
The cutter fleet generated total revenues of around 196 million euros in 2025, a decrease of 4% compared with 2024 (204 million euros). Of all fleet segments in the cutter fishery, revenues increased only in the flyshoot fishery, rising by 20% to 39 million euros. Revenues in the otter trawl fishery fell most sharply, by almost 18 million euros: a decrease of 18% compared with 2024. Revenues in the shrimp fishery and beam trawl fishery amounted to 64 million euros (down 8%) and 76 million euros (down 6%) respectively.
Fish landings increased
Total landings by the cutter fleet, measured in live weight, rose by 5% to 38 million kilos in 2025 compared with the previous year. Only the otter trawl fishery recorded a decline in landings, to almost 4 million kg (down 13%). Landings in the flyshoot fishery increased most strongly, by 22%, to more than 9 million kilos. Landings in the beam trawl fishery increased to more than 12 million kilos (up 3%), and in the shrimp fishery to almost 13 million kilos (up 4%).
Fish landings per horsepower-day, meaning sea days multiplied by engine power, have risen slightly again in recent years. In 2025, this amounted to 1.7 kg per horsepower-day, 8% higher than in 2024 and 14% higher than the average for 2020-2024, but still lower than in the years before 2020. In the shrimp fishery, landings per horsepower-day have been increasing since 2023 (2.8 kg per horsepower-day in 2025). In the shrimp fishery, however, this varies strongly from year to year.
Fleet size down slightly
The number of cutters declined slightly further to 208 vessels (2024: 212), while engine power decreased by 3,000 hp to a total of 132,000 hp in 2025. Twenty years ago, the fleet still comprised 342 active cutters.
More effort in flyshoot fishery
The cutter fleet's fishing effort amounted to 23 million horsepower-days in 2025, slightly less than in 2024 (23.5 million). In the flyshoot fishery, effort increased from 2.6 million to 2.8 million horsepower-days (up 6%), while in the beam trawl fishery effort remained constant at 13.7 million horsepower-days. By contrast, effort in the shrimp fishery declined to 4.5 million horsepower-days (down 3%), and in the otter trawl fishery to 2.0 million horsepower-days (down 20%).
Cutter fisheries January-May 2026: lower effort, higher landings per horsepower-day
From January to May 2026, landings by the cutter fishery totalled almost 11 million kilos, with a value of 56 million euros. This is 6% and 10% lower respectively than in the same period in 2025. However, the number of horsepower-days fell even more sharply, by 17%, which meant that landings per horsepower-day increased by 14% to 1.39 kg.
Robert: "This increase is mainly due to high shrimp landings in the first months of 2026. Landings per horsepower-day also increased in the flyshoot fishery." Despite the high gas oil price, the net margin (revenues minus operating costs) per sea day in 2026 up to and including May was almost 1,800 euros. In the same period in 2024 and 2025, it was around 1,900 euros, and in 2023 it was 1,400 euros.
Large-scale sea fisheries break even
Large-scale sea fisheries are fisheries that use trawlers to catch pelagic fish species, such as herring, mackerel and whiting. In 2025, their net result was close to break-even. In 2024, a profit of 4 million euros was still achieved. The weaker result was mainly due to a 6% fall in revenues to 105 million euros and a 7% fall in landings to 219 million kilos.
Fishing effort, measured in sea days, was almost unchanged from 2024 at nearly 1,700 sea days. Fleet size remained the same, with eight active trawlers. For 2026, catch quotas for all main pelagic fish species have fallen sharply, which means total revenues are also expected to decline.
Revenues from other small-scale sea fisheries declined
The category "other small-scale sea fisheries" consists of a range of vessels and fishing methods that differ widely from one another. Because the number of vessels in some parts of this fleet is too small to report on separately, all these fisheries have been combined into one group.
Other small-scale sea fisheries achieved a positive result of 2 million euros in 2025 (2024: 6 million euros). Revenues fell by 23% to 29 million euros. Landings totalled 16 million kg (down 27%) and consisted mainly of shellfish, sea bass and mullet, and to a lesser extent sole, shrimp, lobster and crab.
At 441 vessels, the size of the fleet remained almost unchanged in 2025. Fishing activity was recorded for 212 vessels. This includes vessels with very few sea days, from one sea day upwards. Total fishing effort increased by 4% to 3,900 sea days.
Losses for mussel and oyster farming, but improvement expected
Mussel farming ended the 2024/2025 season (1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025) with a loss of 3 million euros. Revenues from mussels fell from 54 million euros to 36 million euros, as landings dropped from 33 million kilos to 21 million kilos, the lowest level in recent decades. The average price per kg rose slightly to 1.73 euros/kg.
An improvement in the result is expected for the 2025/2026 season, but it remains uncertain whether a profit will be achieved. Revenues from mussels increased from 36 million euros to 41 million euros, while landings rose from 21 million kilos to 27 million kilos. The average price per kg fell by 12% to 1.52 euros/kg. The number of mussel vessels remained stable at 42.
Oyster farming consists of a limited number of companies of different types. Some of these are integrated businesses that combine oyster farming with other economic activities. It is therefore not possible to determine precise economic results for oyster farming. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 25.2 million Pacific oysters and 2.3 million flat oysters were landed in 2024. In 2023, the figures were 15.4 million and 1.3 million respectively. The fleet consisted of 18 active vessels.
Less import and export, but higher value
In 2025, the export value of fish rose by 7% to 6.8 billion euros, mainly due to higher prices. Export volume, by contrast, decreased slightly, by less than 1%. Import value rose by 6% to 5.4 billion euros, while import volume fell by 5% to 1.1 billion kilos.
"What we are seeing is that landings of fresh North Sea fish from the Netherlands declined until 2024, partly because of a shrinking fleet. As a result, fish imports have increased further, particularly from aquaculture," says researcher Geert Hoekstra. The Dutch fish processing and wholesale fish sector imports fish, crustaceans and shellfish from all over the world.
The European Union remains the most important market, accounting for 81% of exports. Germany, France, Belgium, Spain and Italy are the largest buyers within the EU. Outside the EU, the United States is the most important export destination in terms of value. The Netherlands also remains an important exporter of frozen pelagic fish to African markets.
Major challenges call for investment in the future
The Dutch fisheries sector remains sensitive to international geopolitical tensions, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The sector also faces trade barriers, such as import tariffs in the United States, and fishers are affected by fluctuations in energy and transport costs.
In addition, many fish processing companies face challenges such as labour shortages, rising wage costs and restrictions on the availability of energy and drinking water. To remain competitive, these companies are increasingly investing in automation and robotisation of the processing process.
During the Fisheries in Figures meeting in Scheveningen on Friday 10 July, researchers, representatives of the fisheries sector and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature will discuss the economic feasibility of sustainability in fisheries. Which sustainability measures are technically feasible for the current fleet, and where is fleet renewal or new construction needed? Is there enough financial headroom, and who will pay the bill?
