The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a long and storied fishing tradition, with its surrounding seas—such as the North Sea, English Channel, and the Irish Sea—providing rich fishing grounds. The UK fishing industry has historically been a vital part of coastal communities, peaking in the 19th and early 20th centuries with large fleets operating from ports like Grimsby and Hull. Today, the industry is smaller but remains significant, focusing on both wild-caught and aquaculture products. The top fish catches include Atlantic mackerel, herring, cod, haddock, and plaice, with shellfish such as Nephrops (Norway lobster) and scallops also representing a substantial share of landings. The industry has faced challenges from overfishing, changing regulations, and Brexit-related shifts in quota allocations, but it continues to adapt, balancing sustainability with economic needs.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic mackerel | 197,003 |
| 2 | Atlantic herring | 100,469 |
| 3 | Blue whiting(=Poutassou) | 50,142 |
| 4 | Haddock | 33,222 |
| 5 | Norway lobster | 28,946 |
| 6 | Great Atlantic scallop | 26,651 |
| 7 | Edible crab | 22,284 |
| 8 | Angler(=Monk) | 18,528 |
| 9 | Atlantic cod | 15,611 |
| 10 | Whelk | 14,091 |
| 11 | Whiting | 11,758 |
| 12 | Saithe(=Pollock) | 9,610 |
| 13 | European pilchard(=Sardine) | 8,569 |
| 14 | European hake | 8,199 |
| 15 | Jack and horse mackerels nei | 6,930 |
| 16 | Common edible cockle | 6,108 |
| 17 | European plaice | 5,841 |
| 18 | Ling | 5,444 |
| 19 | Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei | 4,127 |
| 20 | Megrims nei | 3,907 |
| 21 | European lobster | 3,215 |
| 22 | Queen scallop | 3,125 |
| 23 | Common squids nei | 3,027 |
| 24 | Blue ling | 2,141 |
| 25 | Common sole | 2,130 |
| 26 | Velvet swimcrab | 1,809 |
| 27 | Patagonian toothfish | 1,592 |
| 28 | Small-spotted catshark | 1,305 |
| 29 | Lemon sole | 1,294 |
| 30 | Pollack | 1,242 |
| 31 | Boarfish | 1,154 |
| 32 | Thornback ray | 1,135 |
| 33 | Witch flounder | 1,081 |
| 34 | Gurnards, searobins nei | 1,040 |
| 35 | Surmullet | 918 |
| 36 | Solen razor clams nei | 816 |
| 37 | Blonde ray | 760 |
| 38 | European sprat | 697 |
| 39 | Pouting(=Bib) | 624 |
| 40 | European seabass | 619 |
| 41 | Turbot | 579 |
| 42 | Tub gurnard | 571 |
| 43 | Greenland halibut | 540 |
| 44 | Blue mussel | 536 |
| 45 | Spinous spider crab | 457 |
| 46 | Smooth-hound | 452 |
| 47 | Grey gurnard | 393 |
| 48 | Wolffishes(=Catfishes) nei | 351 |
| 49 | Common dab | 340 |
| 50 | Red gurnard | 312 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.