As mentioned on the introductory page, European aquaculture and its related activities employ about 80,000 people (54,000 full time equivalents) throughout the European Union. This equates to about 20% of the total European fisheries sector (including fisheries, aquaculture and processing) and 3.3 per 10,000 of the European workforce. It is the declared strategy of the European Commission to increase the number employed in aquaculture with between 8,000 and 10,000 full-time job equivalents between 2003 and 2008.  

Figure 1 shows the number of employed in European aquaculture by country.

As the chart shows, more than half (54%) occupied in European aquaculture are in France or Spain (mostly in the shellfish sector). The European average is 3,759 employed per Member State.

Figure 2 shows the number of employed in aquaculture per million inhabitants.

Source: European Commission and McCormick:"The European Union - Policies and Politics". Figures for 1997.

Ireland is the country in the European Union with the largest employment in aquaculture relative to population size. This is almost twice as many as the second highest country rating (Spain) and more that twice as much as Greece. The average number employed in aquaculture per million inhabitants is 166.

It is notable that the Danish and Finnish aquaculture sectors are relatively bigger than Italy and the United Kingdom. (These figures were calculated relative to the total population rather than the active population).    

Aquaculture ensures financial income to many people and most aquaculture activities are taking place in rural areas, where job opportunities are increasingly limited. This means that aquaculture can provide an important part of the job opportunities in these areas; this has been highly important in the coastal areas of Greece, Scotland, Ireland and Spain. French oyster production, one of the most prized seafood products in Europe, is a prime example of this.

The potential for full-time employment is an important component of the profile of professional aquaculture. Nonetheless, for many people aquaculture is also a part time job that provides a supplement to their traditional employment e.g. in traditional fisheries. It is has therefore become an important factor in improving standards of living and enabling people to stay in their home area, even though the numbers of employees in traditional fisheries are declining.

Summing up, it can be said that aquaculture today, in certain areas and countries, is an important and growing source of employment. The future prospects for aquaculture, both shellfish and fish farming, indicate that the importance of the sector will grow and, with this, the job opportunities related to the profession and its linked activities.