Italy’s fishing industry has deep historical roots, dating back to Roman times when fish was a staple of the Mediterranean diet. Today, Italy’s top fish catches include anchovies (acciughe), sardines (sarde), mackerel (sgombro), European hake (nasello), and cuttlefish (seppia), primarily harvested from the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. The country’s fishing fleet is made up mostly of small-scale, family-run boats, though industrial trawlers also operate, especially in the south. Overfishing and environmental regulations have shaped the industry’s modern landscape, leading to a focus on sustainable practices and the protection of local fish stocks. Italian fisheries remain vital for regional economies and are renowned for supplying fresh seafood to the country’s celebrated culinary traditions.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European anchovy | 24,223 |
| 2 | Striped venus | 17,266 |
| 3 | European pilchard(=Sardine) | 13,052 |
| 4 | Skipjack tuna | 6,688 |
| 5 | European hake | 6,290 |
| 6 | Deep-water rose shrimp | 6,186 |
| 7 | Atlantic bluefin tuna | 4,727 |
| 8 | Spottail mantis squillid | 3,746 |
| 9 | Common octopus | 3,478 |
| 10 | Common cuttlefish | 3,349 |
| 11 | Red mullet | 3,042 |
| 12 | Freshwater fishes nei | 2,750 |
| 13 | Scomber mackerels nei | 2,573 |
| 14 | Yellowfin tuna | 2,371 |
| 15 | Swordfish | 2,079 |
| 16 | Giant red shrimp | 1,896 |
| 17 | Mullets nei | 1,856 |
| 18 | Common sole | 1,558 |
| 19 | Surmullet | 1,299 |
| 20 | Smooth callista | 1,213 |
| 21 | Common dolphinfish | 1,174 |
| 22 | Caramote prawn | 1,168 |
| 23 | Albacore | 1,155 |
| 24 | Changeable nassa | 1,134 |
| 25 | Purple dye murex | 1,074 |
| 26 | Atlantic horse mackerel | 1,015 |
| 27 | Angler(=Monk) | 857 |
| 28 | Broadtail shortfin squid | 817 |
| 29 | Green seaweeds | 800 |
| 30 | Bogue | 778 |
| 31 | Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj) | 767 |
| 32 | Scorpionfishes, rockfishes nei | 727 |
| 33 | Musky octopus | 705 |
| 34 | Salmonoids nei | 650 |
| 35 | Norway lobster | 610 |
| 36 | Horned octopus | 608 |
| 37 | Blue and red shrimp | 563 |
| 38 | Atlantic chub mackerel | 542 |
| 39 | Shortnose greeneye | 514 |
| 40 | Round sardinella | 494 |
| 41 | Sargo breams nei | 490 |
| 42 | Atlantic bonito | 480 |
| 43 | Donax clams | 477 |
| 44 | Frigate and bullet tunas | 465 |
| 45 | Whiting | 459 |
| 46 | Gilthead seabream | 453 |
| 47 | European squid | 443 |
| 48 | Blotched picarel | 438 |
| 49 | Atlantic mackerel | 433 |
| 50 | Marine crabs nei | 428 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.