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Seriola and Sole: Two Species Under the Spotlight in Spanish Aquaculture

Madrid, 1 April 2025 | These two species reflect the Spanish sector’s ambition to adapt, diversify, and strengthen its role as a leading aquaculture nation

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Investment over the coming years is set to focus heavily on boosting production volumes of Seriola dumerili and sole (Solea senegalensis), two species that have captured the attention of Spain’s aquaculture sector-albeit for very different reasons.

As Spanish aquaculture moves into 2025 with measured optimism, two species stand out. On one hand, Seriola dumerili-a relative newcomer with high commercial potential-is making its mark as an up-and-coming contender. On the other, sole is reasserting its position as a flagship species following a dip in production during 2023.

This evolution reflects the Spanish sector’s ambition to adopt, diversify, and strengthen its role, even amid ongoing challenges such as global market uncertainty and regulatory hurdles.

With just 44 tonnes produced in 2023, Seriola dumerili was still a niche player. But recent figures indicate production may have doubled in 2024, reaching 100 tonnes-a symbolic milestone that suggest the beginning of a new phase.

Thanks to substantial investment in the world’s only active hatchery for the species, the outlook for 2025 is even more promising, with projections pointing to sustained growth. Driving this trend are ambitious land-based-growth-out systems and an unmet international demand for juveniles, which Spanish producers are now well placed to supply.

Meanwhile, sole has become something of a “Made in Spain” signature product, supported by two major production hubs in Galicia and Andalusia. Despite a sharp decline in 2023-down 11,9% to 1,077 tonnes-production rebounded in 2024 to nearly 1,500 tonnes.

Juvenile output is also on the rise, with estimates suggesting it has reached around 16.5 million units.

Looking ahead, steady expansion of sole production is expected, thanks to significant investment by the sector’s leading players: Stole Sea Farm, CUPIMAR and Sea Eight.

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