Belgium is largest consumer of North Sea shrimp

Belgium is by far the most important consumer of North Sea, or brown shrimp, even though it only accounts for about 1% of the total catch, according to a trade magazine about the West Flanders economy.

The Belgian market consumes 54% of the brown shrimp caught in the North Sea every year, according to a report by the Flemish information centre for agriculture and horticulture (Vilt). This puts Belgium at the top of the list of the brown shrimp fishery industry's most important consumers, followed by the Netherlands with 20%, and Germany with 15%.

Every year, Belgians consume 90% of the total production of shrimp croquettes.