Austria

Type of species farmed 

With no direct access to the sea, aquaculture activity in Austria is limited to freshwater farming.  

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), brown trout or sea trout (Salmo trutta), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

^{Source: 2025, STECF; 2026, EUMOFA Country profiles}

Type of production method 

Carp is produced in pond farms (covering 1,804 hectares) and trout is produced in raceways, following a flow-through systems (296,601 cubic meters) and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) (3,900 square meters).

^{Source: 2025, STECF; 2026, EUMOFA Country Profiles}

^{Source: 2025, EUMOFA & STECF}

Trends (past and future)

Other innovative aquaculture products in Austria include caviar, algae, crab and shrimp. The aquaculture products fish have been increasingly filleted (convenience products), grafted and sold at farm level in recent years.

^{Source: MNSPA}

Impact of aquaculture in the country’s economy, food market and labour market

• Other innovative aquaculture products in Austria include caviar, algae, crab and shrimp. The aquaculture products fish have been increasingly filleted (convenience products), grafted and sold at farm level in recent years.
• Aquaculture is small-scale in Austria and comprises 542 farms, many of which focus on direct marketing to local restaurants and hotels.
• Rainbow trout continues to dominate the Austrian aquaculture sector, accounting for 36% of the total production weight and 35% of the total production value in 2022. Other notable species include brook trout, which represents 14% of both the total weight and value, and sea trout, comprising 11% of the weight and value. Additionally, common carp contributes 12% to both the weight and value of production.
• Aquaculture prices between 2017 and 2022 remained generally stable, with a notable peak in 2019. Arctic char reached the highest value, with a sharp price increase in 2019 before returning to more typical levels by 2022.
• In contrast, sea trout and brook trout experienced price drops in 2019 and then stabilized in the following years, while common carp consistently remained the lowest-priced species throughout the period.
• Aquaculture production was largely unaffected by COVID-19, but sales initially declined due to restaurant and hotel closures. This impact was offset by increased household demand, which boosted direct and domestic retail sales, preventing major losses. Employment remained stable, although the sector already has a very small workforce.

^{Source: 2025, STECF}

Challenges and opportunities

• Increasing the annual production volume of freshwater fish.
• Promoting new aquaculture species. Increasing the quality of domestic products and regional added value from aquaculture.
• Improving the competitiveness of the domestic aquaculture sector and reducing the administrative procedures.
• Setting up new aquaculture sites through a coordinated spatial planning. Continue to promote training and advice activities.
• Create a National Producer Organization.
• Promote a sustainable Austrian aquaculture and increased development towards organic production.

^{Source: MNSPA}

Employment and number of enterprises

542 farms

^{Source: 2026, EUMOFA Country Profiles}

• Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management of Republic of Austria (BML)
• Federal Agency for Water Management Office (BAW)
• Federal Government
• Federal Provinces

Sources

• EUMOFA Country Profiles
• EUMOFA “The EU Fish Market” 2025 edition       
• STECF 24-14 - EU Aquaculture