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The main branches of commercial fishing in the Netherlands are sea fisheries (plaice, sole, cod, whiting, haddock and shrimp) and coastal fisheries (mussels, oysters and cockles). There is also inland fisheries and fish farming. The Netherlands is an important distributor of fish. The main outlet is the European market, with Germany, France, Belgium and Italy as the biggest customers. Exports mainly consist of processed and deep-frozen fish.
The Dutch fisheries sector is becoming more international. Dutch shipping companies are owners or co-owners of German, French or British trawler fleets. Dutch shipowners are also very active in countries outside the European Union ( EU). The cutter sector has business interests in many EU member states.
In the context of the Common Fisheries Policy of the EUannual catch quotas are allocated to prevent stocks from being depleted. The Dutch policy aims to improve a responsible fisheries based on sustainability. In implementing this policy the focus is on the distribution of responsibilities in fisheries between the industry and the government and on the relation between fisheries and nature.
