Challenges Facing Italy’s Seafood Sector: Rising Imports and Industry Crisis

Italy relies heavily on seafood imports, accounting for about 80% of its consumption, a figure that has risen due to a crisis in the domestic fishing sector. The Italian fishing fleet has decreased by nearly 20% in recent years, and few workers remain in the industry. European regulations and Italian institutions are working to address challenges in the maritime and fishing sectors, including outdated fishing vessels and competition with other European economies. As a result, Italian seafood companies may increasingly turn to imports due to cost concerns. Within five years, it's projected that 9 out of 10 seafood products consumed in Italy could be imports. This trend raises concerns in the Italian seafood sector, especially amid recent crises like the one affecting blue shrimp in northern regions, which further hampers local sales growth.