In this issue
Pelagic POs come together in fishmeal venture Fisheries and aquaculture production in Estonia continues its gently rising trend in most of the subsectors. The distant-water fleet, Baltic Sea trawler fleet, inland water capture fishermen, and aquaculture industries also recorded increases in production, while catches from the coastal fleet showed a slight decline. In some parts of Estonia, Fisheries Local Action Groups which invariably to include representatives from coastal fishermen are implementing projects that will benefit coastal fishers. These include the construction or renovation of ports and the provision of ice that will facilitate the unloading and distribution of fish while improving its quality and shelf life. Fresh locally caught fish is in demand at local supermarkets several of which would like to be able to offer local fish alongside the assortment of imported products. Locally caught pelagic species have now another market in Estonia, as the three pelagic producer organisations have united behind the construction of a new fishmeal and fish oil factory. The idea is to create competition for small pelagic supplies and thereby boost prices. Investors are also showing marked interest in marine aquaculture and together with scientists are conducting experiments to establish the feasibility of such a venture. In short, the signs from the sector are encouraging. Read more on page 26 Fish feeds: Marine aquaculture in Europe which accounts for four fifths of the total farmed fish and seafood production on the continent is dominated by carnivorous species of finfish. These require complex extruded feeds based on fishmeal and fish oil for healthy growth. Fishmeal and fish oil are also used in the production of animal and poultry feed, but some three quarters of the global production of fish oil is an ingredient in fish feeds. Fishmeal and oil are produced from wild stocks of small pelagic fish, volumes of which depend on nature. Other sources are the leftovers from processing operations and discards. Despite the different sources, global production of fish oil has stagnated at about 1m tonnes, which is a constraint on the growth of the aquaculture industry. Fish oil is an important constituent of fish feed because it contains omega-3 fatty acids. However, other sources of these vital fatty acids also exist, such as microalgae, and techniques have now been established that allow the large scale production of algae and the extraction of their omega-3 fatty acids. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article on page 21 Increasing seafood consumption in Russia: Consumption of fish and seafood in Russia was 21.5 kg per capita in 2017, a figure the authorities would like to increase. A conference held last year in St. Petersburg brought experts together to share knowledge about consumers’ habits, the products available on the market, the role of mass media, and ways to boost demand. The results of a consumer survey were also presented at the event to give a picture of the average consumer, her preferences, criteria for selecting fish products, frequency of consumption and other details. The results of the study will be taken into consideration by the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries in its marketing and promotion activities for fish and seafood which will hinge on emphasising Russia’s historic ties with fish and seafood, information and dissemination activities aimed at consumers, and promotion of products in the retail and food service sectors. The archive photograph shows consumers indulging in a fish soup produced at an event promoting the consumption of domesticallyproduced fish. Read more on page 48 Direct sales of fish and seafood is becoming increasingly popular. While the tradition of selling directly from the fishing vessel is an old one in many countries, it appears to be gaining ground in others as the advantages become apparent and technologies such as social media, which are convenient for marketing, and cashless payments, become widespread. The advantages of direct sales are many. Consumers can get the freshest possible product at a price more reasonable than they would find at a retail outlet, while for the fisherman too the price is probably better than that he or she would get from a wholesaler, retailer, or other intermediary. Fish farmers too often have direct sales outlets at or near their premises and often also restaurants where the fish that is cultivated is served. Some farms also have their own processing operations, typically smokehouses, so that they can offer both fresh and processed fish. Some process both their own farmed fish and other fish, some of which may be imported, to be able to offer their customers a wider range of products. Read more on page 50
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