Latest trends
February 2021
Shutdowns, and reductions in opening hours, continue to be widely enforced in the hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) sector in most European countries. In addition, all carnival activities have been prohibited, which means a reduction in the consumption of the traditional fish dishes served at these events, such as pickled herring. The result is persisting weak demand in European seafood markets, although the severity of the impact differs between species, with squid, lobster and bivalves particularly affected. Lenten season is normally a major consumption period for seafood, but this year buyers are hesitant to stock up in advance, instead adopting a wait-and-see attitude. While last year saw a pronounced shift in consumer preferences towards more frozen seafood consumption, some interest in traditional fish products is now remerging, with a traditional fish mongers seeing more activity. This trend, if confirmed in the coming months, could mark the start of the recovery of the market for fresh fish from small-scale fisheries, which were badly affected by the pandemic. Overall, fish producers and processors are adapting to the new situation and shocks are becoming less severe, but alternative sales channels such as e-commerce are still less developed in Europe than in China and other Asian countries.
1
Index for prices Groundfish
9
Flatfish
10
Tuna
11
Small Pelagics
11
Cephalopods
12
Crustaceans
15
Bivalves
15
Salmon
15
Trout
16
Freshwater fish
16
Non Traditional Species
16
Seabass-SeabreamMeagre
17
The European Fish Price Report, based on information supplied by industry correspondents, aims to provide guidance on broad price trends. Price information is indicative and should be used only for forecasting medium- and long-term trends. FAO is not responsible for any errors or omissions.