Italy is a peninsula situated in Southern Europe which projects into the central Mediterranean Sea covering an area of 301 230 square kilometres. The territorial waters are extended up to 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the coastline. Italy has a population of about 58 million of inhabitants. Fishing activity takes place along the entire coastline. Adriatic waters of Italy lie in the FAO-GFCM Geographical Sub Area 17 and 18.
The Italian fishery sector presents the following characteristics: predominance of small and relatively old vessels, wide distribution of the fleet along the coastline, fragmentation of landing sites and sales, high degree of polyvalent techniques.
The Italian aquaculture output in 2006 amounted to 173 000 tonnes with a total value of over 500 million EUR. Mollusc production accounts for over 69 percent of the total, made up of 62 000 tonnes of mussels and 57 000 tonnes of Manila clams (FAO, 2008).
Italy’s domestic fisheries production in 2006 was approximately 488 519 tonnes of which 315 436 tonnes from capture fisheries and 173 083 tonnes from aquaculture.
In addition, fishery imports in 2003-2005 totalled an average of about 1 162 234 tonnes in live weight, while fish exports stood at 177 778 tonnes. In 2003-2005, average per capita supply was 4.5 kg/year. (FAO, 2008).

Fishery imports in 2006 totalled about 4 716 917 (1 000 USD) while exports stood at 714 760 (1 000 USD) with a net balance of -4 002 157 (1 000 USD).
In 2003-2005, average per capita supply was estimated at being 24.1 kg/year. (FAO- Yearbook of Fishery Statistics, 2009)
Italy has a fishing fleet of about 13 816 boats with total GRT of 194 820 distributed along the Italian coast (source MIPAAF, 2009).
In 2003 imports totalled 817 000 tonnes, 73 percent of which constituted fresh or frozen products (601 000 tonnes for a value of 2 194 millions EUR), 216 000 tonnes of processed products for a value of 902 millions EUR. Exports amounted to 114 000 tonnes, 78 percent of which were fresh products (89 500 tonnes for a value of 281 millions EUR), 25 000 tonnes of processed products (166 mln millions EUR) (source ANCIT, 2003).