Portugal has a rich and storied fishing tradition, deeply woven into its coastal culture and economy. The Portuguese fishing industry is renowned for its catches of sardines, cod (bacalhau), mackerel, horse mackerel, and octopus, with sardines being especially iconic in Portuguese cuisine and festivals. Historically, Portuguese fishermen ventured as far as Newfoundland in search of cod, developing advanced seafaring skills during the Age of Discovery. Today, the industry remains vital, with modern fleets operating in both Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, though it faces challenges from overfishing and European Union regulations. Despite these pressures, Portugal continues to be one of Europe’s leading fish-consuming and exporting nations, celebrated for the quality and variety of its seafood.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European pilchard(=Sardine) | 25,517 |
| 2 | Atlantic chub mackerel | 20,672 |
| 3 | Atlantic horse mackerel | 17,602 |
| 4 | Atlantic redfishes nei | 13,003 |
| 5 | Blue shark | 10,335 |
| 6 | Common octopus | 7,170 |
| 7 | Atlantic cod | 5,270 |
| 8 | Black scabbardfish | 4,320 |
| 9 | Skipjack tuna | 4,223 |
| 10 | European anchovy | 3,608 |
| 11 | Atlantic mackerel | 3,589 |
| 12 | Bigeye tuna | 3,228 |
| 13 | Blue jack mackerel | 2,951 |
| 14 | Greenland halibut | 2,457 |
| 15 | Swordfish | 2,408 |
| 16 | Blue whiting(=Poutassou) | 2,283 |
| 17 | European hake | 1,817 |
| 18 | Solid surf clam | 1,401 |
| 19 | Pouting(=Bib) | 1,207 |
| 19 | Red seaweeds | 1,207 |
| 21 | Deep-water rose shrimp | 1,153 |
| 22 | Common cuttlefish | 1,090 |
| 23 | Thornback ray | 969 |
| 24 | Northern shortfin squid | 936 |
| 25 | Neon flying squid | 918 |
| 26 | European conger | 904 |
| 27 | Common edible cockle | 881 |
| 28 | European squid | 865 |
| 29 | Veined squid | 597 |
| 30 | Atlantic bluefin tuna | 583 |
| 31 | Nursehound | 558 |
| 32 | Blackspot seabream | 531 |
| 33 | Bogue | 507 |
| 34 | European seabass | 477 |
| 35 | Shortfin mako | 449 |
| 36 | Beaked redfish | 429 |
| 37 | Green crab | 415 |
| 38 | Axillary seabream | 401 |
| 39 | Jack and horse mackerels nei | 391 |
| 40 | John dory | 365 |
| 41 | Blackbellied angler | 361 |
| 41 | Forkbeard | 361 |
| 43 | Horned octopus | 330 |
| 44 | Donax clams | 329 |
| 45 | Grey triggerfish | 326 |
| 46 | Common sole | 323 |
| 47 | Meagre | 314 |
| 48 | Venus clams nei | 303 |
| 49 | Salema | 298 |
| 49 | White seabream | 298 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.