Division 03: Fishing and aquaculture

Section A, Agriculture, forestry and fishing. 7 subcategories with ISTAT's explanatory notes and the ATECO 2022 codes they come from.

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  1. 03Fishing and aquaculture

    This division includes capture fishery and aquaculture which are characterised by the gathering of marine, brackish or freshwater fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other organisms and products (for example, aquatic plants, pearls, sponges).

    The division also includes service activities incidental to marine or freshwater fishery or aquaculture.

    This division also includes aquaponics. The term 'aquaponics' cannot therefore be automatically assimilated to division 01 or division 03 because they generate two products: plants (01) and fishes (03). Therefore for the classification of aquaponics, the value added principle should be applied. If included in division 03, the activity should be classified in group 03.2.

    Excludes

    • processing of fish, crustaceans or molluscs, whether at land-based plants or on factory ships, see 10.2010.20
    • building and repairing of ships and boats, see 30.11, 30.13, 33.15, 33.1830.1130.1333.1533.18
    • sport or recreational fishing activities, see 93.1993.19
  2. 03.1Fishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This group includes capture fishery, in other words, the harvesting, collecting and gathering activities directed at removing or collecting live wild aquatic organisms (predominantly fish, molluscs and crustaceans), including plants from the oceanic, coastal or inland waters for human consumption and other purposes by hand or more usually by various types of fishing gear (for example, nets, lines, stationary traps). Such activities can be conducted on the intertidal zones (for example, the collection of molluscs, such as mussels, oysters), coastal waters or offshore waters. These activities also include fishing in restocked water bodies.

  3. 03.11Marine fishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • capturing of marine mammals apart from whales (e.g. seals, walruses), see 01.7001.70
    • processing of whales on factory ships, see 10.1110.11
    • processing of fish, crustaceans and molluscs on factory ships or in factories ashore, see 10.2010.20
    • rental of pleasure boats with crew for sea and coastal water transport (e.g. for fishing trips), see 50.1050.10
    • fishing inspection, protection and patrol services, see 84.2484.24
    • fishing practiced for sport or recreation and related services, see 93.1993.19
    • operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.1993.19
  4. 03.11.0Marine fishing
  5. 03.11.00Marine fishing
    From ATECO 2022: 03.11.00 Pesca in acque marine e lagunari e servizi connessi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • fishing on a commercial basis in ocean and coastal waters
    • taking of marine crustaceans and molluscs
    • whaling
    • taking of marine aquatic animals (e.g. turtles, sea squirts, tunicates, sea urchins)

    Also includes

    • gathering of other marine organisms and materials (e.g. natural pearls, sponges, coral, seaweed, algae)
    • processing and preserving of fish on vessels engaged in fishing
  6. 03.12Freshwater fishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • catching of frogs or collection of snails in the wild, see 01.7001.70
    • collecting wild plants (e.g. reeds, sedges), see 02.3002.30
    • processing of fish, crustaceans and molluscs on factory ships or in factories ashore, see 10.2010.20
    • fishing inspection, protection and patrol services, see 84.2484.24
    • fishing practiced for sport or recreation and related services, see 93.1993.19
    • operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.1993.19
  7. 03.12.0Freshwater fishing
  8. 03.12.00Freshwater fishing
    From ATECO 2022: 03.12.00 Pesca in acque dolci e servizi connessi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • fishing on a commercial basis in inland waters
    • taking of freshwater crustaceans and molluscs
    • taking of freshwater aquatic animals

    Also includes

    • gathering of freshwater materials
    • gathering of other freshwater organisms: seaweed and algae
  9. 03.2Aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This group includes aquaculture (or aquafarming), in other words, the production process involving the culturing or farming (including harvesting) of aquatic organisms (for example, fish, molluscs, crustaceans, plants, amphibians) using techniques designed to increase the production of the organisms in question beyond the natural capacity of the environment (for example, regular stocking, feeding and protection from predators). Aquaculture also encompasses individual, corporate or state ownership of the individual organisms throughout the rearing or culture stage, up to and including harvesting.

    Culturing/farming refers to the rearing up to their juvenile and/or adult phase under captive conditions of the above organisms.

    This group also includes breeding/farming of fry and adults under artificial conditions.

    Excludes

    • breeding and raising of reptiles, see 01.4801.48
    • breeding and raising of snakes and turtles, see 01.4801.48
    • production of bird skins from ranching operations or skins from farming reptiles (e.g. snakes and turtles), see 01.4801.48
  10. 03.21Marine aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • frog farming, see 03.2203.22
    • operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.1993.19
  11. 03.21.0Marine aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Implementation rule

    • Activities of marine aquaculture are subdivided in cultivation of marine algae and other activities of marine aquaculture.
  12. 03.21.01Marine algae cultivation
    From ATECO 2022: 03.21.00 Acquacoltura in acqua di mare, salmastra o lagunare e servizi connessi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • growing of seaweed and algae

    Also includes

    • marine microalgae cultivation
  13. 03.21.09Other activities of marine aquaculture
    From ATECO 2022: 03.21.00 Acquacoltura in acqua di mare, salmastra o lagunare e servizi connessi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • fish farming in sea water including farming of marine ornamental fish
    • production of bivalve spat (e.g. oyster mussel etc.), lobsterlings, shrimp post-larvae, fish fry and fingerlings
    • culture of crustaceans, bivalves, other molluscs and other aquatic animals in sea water

    Also includes

    • aquaculture activities in brackish waters
    • land-based aquaculture activities in salt water filled tanks and reservoirs
    • operation of marine fish hatcheries and marine worm farms
  14. 03.22Freshwater aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • aquaculture activities in salt water filled tanks and reservoirs, see 03.2103.21
    • operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.1993.19
  15. 03.22.0Freshwater aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Implementation rule

    • Activities of freshwater aquaculture are subdivided in cultivation freshwater algae and other activities of freshwater aquaculture.
  16. 03.22.01Freshwater algae cultivation
    From ATECO 2022: 03.22.00 Acquacoltura in acque dolci e servizi connessi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • growing of seaweed and algae (edible or not)

    Also includes

    • freshwater microalgae cultivation
  17. 03.22.09Other activities of freshwater aquaculture
    From ATECO 2022: 03.22.00 Acquacoltura in acque dolci e servizi connessi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • fish farming in freshwater, including farming of freshwater ornamental fish
    • culture of freshwater crustaceans, bivalves, other molluscs and other aquatic animals
    • operation of fish hatcheries (freshwater)
    • farming of frogs
    • culture of fish and other aquatic animals in freshwater by aquaponics processes
  18. 03.3Support activities for fishing and aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This group includes service activities incidental to marine or freshwater fishery or aquaculture.

  19. 03.30Support activities for fishing and aquaculture
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • fishing and aquaculture activities, see 03.1, 03.203.103.2
    • processing of fish and aquaculture products on factory ships or in factories ashore, see 10.2010.20
    • processing of fish, crustaceans and molluscs, see 10.2010.20
    • activities related to the servicing of equipment and/or vessels, see division 3333
    • distribution of fisheries and aquaculture products, see divisions 46, 47, 52464752
    • fishing practiced for sport or recreation and related services, see 93.1993.19
    • operation of sport fishing preserves, see 93.1993.19
  20. 03.30.0Support activities for fishing and aquaculture
  21. 03.30.00Support activities for fishing and aquaculture
    From ATECO 2022: 03.11.00 Pesca in acque marine e lagunari e servizi connessi (in part) · 03.12.00 Pesca in acque dolci e servizi connessi (in part) · 03.21.00 Acquacoltura in acqua di mare, salmastra o lagunare e servizi connessi (in part) · 03.22.00 Acquacoltura in acque dolci e servizi connessi (in part) · 33.11.09 Riparazione e manutenzione di altri prodotti in metallo (in part)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • service activities incidental to marine or freshwater fishery or aquaculture, e.g.:
      • diving services for aquaculture
      • remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) services for aquaculture
      • repair and maintenance services for fish cages
      • other support activities on fishing and aquaculture n.e.c.

    Also includes

    • restoration of marine ecosystems
    • fishery (fishery guard) and aquaculture control

Source and disclaimer

The code you find here has no legal value, like the one from ISTAT's own navigator. You can use it as a reference when you register or change a VAT number with the Business Register or the Italian Revenue Agency. If in doubt, ask your accountant. ISTAT's official ATECO navigator.

Data: ISTAT, ATECO 2025 classification, CC BY 4.0 licence. We reorganised the files for search without changing the text of codes and notes, except for the capitalisation of section titles. CC BY 4.0

ISTAT files used

ATECO documentation on istat.it