Flemish fish auction reports recovery in landings and turnover in 2025
The Flemish Fish Auction (Vlaamse Visveiling) has reported a strong recovery in both fish landings and turnover in 2025, following a weaker year for the Belgian fishing fleet. The rebound is attributed in part to the restoration of sole quotas in the Irish Sea in September 2024, which significantly improved fleet profitability.
In 2025, a total of 11,995,437 kilograms of fish were traded through the Flemish Fish Auction, generating 72.7 million euros in revenue. This compares with 11,808,949 kilograms and 68 million euros in 2024. According to the auction house, the improved sole quotas had a “clear positive impact” on the economic performance of Flemish vessels.
Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook is described as cautiously positive. Higher quotas are expected in the North Sea, while quotas in western waters are set to decline, likely pushing vessels to focus more heavily on North Sea fisheries. Tom Premereur, managing director of the Flemish Fish Auction, also urged consumers to diversify their choices. He encouraged buyers to move beyond salmon and cod and opt instead for locally caught species such as cuttlefish, squid and red gurnard, which are increasingly landed by Flemish fishers and are often cheaper.
The Flemish Fish Auction is a private company operating auction sites in the ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend, linking supply and demand for fresh fish and shellfish through a real-time online auction system connecting Zeebrugge, Ostend and Nieuwpoort. The professional Flemish fishing sector remains heavily dependent on the North Sea, with plaice and sole accounting for nearly half of total catches.
However, it faces mounting challenges, including proposed new marine protected areas in UK waters. The United Kingdom plans to designate 42 new protected zones in the North Sea, 36 of which would ban bottom trawling. This is the primary fishing method used by the Flemish fleet. While scientists recommend less damaging gear such as twinrig trawls, these are unsuitable for catching high-value sole, making adaptation difficult for fishers without alternative quotas.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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