Seafood suppliers, buyers and products in Ireland

A small-boat fleet and a pelagic giant

The Irish fishing fleet had 2,019 vessels in 2024. In 2023, fishing employed 1,743 people in full-time equivalents, more than half of them (56%) on boats under 12 metres. Ireland has 172 registered fishing ports.

Landings are almost entirely fresh whole or gutted fish for human consumption. By value, mackerel and Norway lobster (langoustine, also known as Dublin Bay prawn) lead the landings.

Key ports: Killybegs and the south-east

In 2025, first sales totalled 171,610 tonnes and €241 million. One port dominates:

• Killybegs (County Donegal): 141,258 tonnes and €107 million, mainly mackerel, blue whiting and Atlantic horse mackerel. EUMOFA ranks it among the top five places of first sale in the EU by value.
• Kilmore Quay (County Wexford): 7,688 tonnes and €28 million (Norway lobster, other molluscs and invertebrates, monkfish).
• Clogherhead (County Louth): 1,414 tonnes and €13 million (Norway lobster, clams, monkfish).

Together, these three ports handled 81% of first-sale volume.

Aquaculture: salmon, oysters and mussels

Almost all Irish aquaculture takes place at sea: 59% of production is suspended culture, 28% in sea cages and 12% bottom culture. By value, salmon comes first, followed by oysters and mussels.

Processing and wholesale

The Irish fish processing industry employed 2,483 people in 2023. In 2024, its 118 companies had a turnover of about €600 million. The main products are frozen whole sea fish and fresh or chilled fillets.

There are no structured wholesale markets in Ireland. According to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), about 80% of the market is controlled by six wholesale distributors, and most of what they sell is imported.

What buyers look for

• Fresh and frozen fish: mackerel, blue whiting, horse mackerel, herring, hake, monkfish, haddock, whiting, megrim, salmon.
• Shellfish: Dublin Bay prawns (langoustine), brown crab, lobster, oysters, mussels, clams, scallops, whelks.
• Processed products: smoked salmon, frozen pelagic fish, fresh fillets.

Ireland in international trade

By value, salmon, mackerel, Norway lobster, crab and oysters lead Irish exports. Salmon and shrimp are the leading imports (EUMOFA, 2024). The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark are the main origins; France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain the main destinations (EUMOFA, 2023).

How to find seafood suppliers, buyers and products in Ireland

SeaMatch presents 139 Irish seafood companies listed in the SeaMatch public directory from public sources. SeaMatch serves suppliers, buyers, importers and distributors looking for seafood products. The sector includes: fish wholesalers, processors, exporters, shellfish and salmon farmers, and frozen fish suppliers. The public directory shows each company's name and city, and with a free account, you can filter companies by province. With a free account, you can contact the companies registered on SeaMatch.

Frequently asked questions