Latvia’s fishing industry has long been an integral part of its economy and culture, owing to its extensive Baltic Sea coastline, numerous rivers, and lakes. The top fish catches in Latvia include sprats (Sprattus sprattus), Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras), cod (Gadus morhua), and smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), with sprats and herring dominating both commercial landings and exports. Inland waters yield significant catches of freshwater species such as pike, perch, and bream. Historically, fishing in Latvia dates back centuries, flourishing particularly during the Soviet era when large-scale industrial fishing fleets operated from ports like Liepāja and Ventspils. Since regaining independence in 1991, Latvia has modernized its fishing sector, focusing on sustainability and compliance with European Union regulations, while fish processing and export—especially of canned fish—remain important contributors to the national economy.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European sprat | 30,890 |
| 2 | Atlantic herring | 27,645 |
| 3 | Atlantic cod | 649 |
| 4 | Round goby | 572 |
| 5 | European smelt | 528 |
| 6 | Fourhorn sculpin | 474 |
| 7 | European flounder | 281 |
| 8 | Three-spined stickleback | 115 |
| 9 | Freshwater bream | 80 |
| 10 | Vimba bream | 49 |
| 11 | European perch | 29 |
| 12 | River lamprey | 28 |
| 13 | Tench | 25 |
| 14 | Garfish | 24 |
| 15 | Pike-perch | 21 |
| 16 | Northern pike | 19 |
| 17 | Eelpout | 18 |
| 18 | Roach | 15 |
| 19 | Crucian carp | 9 |
| 19 | Sea trout | 9 |
| 21 | Freshwater fishes nei | 7 |
| 22 | European eel | 6 |
| 22 | Common carp | 6 |
| 24 | European whitefish | 4 |
| 25 | Atlantic salmon | 3 |
| 26 | Turbot | 2 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.