The seafood industry in Northern Ireland employs about 1646 people both full time and part time: 598 in the catching sector, 878 in processing & marketing and 170 in other areas including harbor services, boat repairs and chandlery supplies. The fleet depends mainly on fishing opportunities in the Irish Sea and North Channel and is the main United Kingdom fishery interest in the Irish Sea.

The estimated value of fish landed by Northern Ireland vessels in Northern Ireland and ports elsewhere in 2002 was £ 25.6million, which is around 4.5% of the total landings of the UK fleet of £574.4 million. The value of Pelagic species landed Into Northern Ireland in 2002 was £1.3m, whilst the value of Demesal species was £7.2m and shellfish was £9.7m

The 3 main ports of landing in Northern Ireland are Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie. Some fish landings, mainly by part-time fishermen, are also made at various small ports around the coastline of Counties Down, Antrim and Derry. The table below indicates the landings in the three main ports: