Brussels, 03/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Three countries - Latvia, Norway and the UK - saw first-sales value and volume increase in January 2016 over January 2015, according to the latest report of the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products published on Monday 2 May.
In Belgium, in January 2016, increased first-sales value of cuttlefish (threefold), plaice (+41%), and monk (+10%) did not offset the lower first-sales value of sole (-15%), ray (-29%), and turbot (-4%). In Denmark, in January 2016, the first-sales value was €22.65 million (+9%), and the first-sales volume was 13,652 tonnes (-34%). In France, in January 2016, first sales decreased in both value (-7%) and volume (-6%). Latvia experienced increased first-sales value and volume in January 2016 over January 2015, thanks to sprat (+103% volume, +76% value) and cod (+177% volume, +118% value).
In Portugal, first-sales value in January 2016 was €11.59 million, a 4% increase over January 2015. First sales volume decreased 15%, to 4,403 tonnes. This was caused by higher first-sales prices for horse mackerel (+32%) and mackerel (+88%). Spain landed 11,525 tonnes of fresh fish in January 2016, 10% less than in January 2015. Landings increased in 7 ports, remained stable in 1 port, and decreased in 14 ports, relative to the same period last year. Vigo registered the highest volume at 4.435 tonnes (+5%). In Sweden, January 2016 first-sales value was €6.96 million, a 7% decrease from January 2015. The first-sales volume was 15,017 tonnes (-14%). This was caused mainly by smaller landings of groundfish, including cod (-15%), saithe (-51%), and sprat (-28%). In the UK, the increase of first-sales value in January 2016 was due mainly to Norway lobster (+37%), monk (+57%) and mackerel (+23%). A significant decrease of haddock value (-32%) did not offset the overall increase of first sales.
In Norway, first-sales value in January 2016 was €187 million, a 24% increase over January 2015.
The report also shows that the first-sales price for scallops in France has increased by 20% over the course of the last three years. In January 2016, scallop was the third highest species in first-sales value, behind sole and hake.
Sardine. The sardine-fishing season has begun for the Atlantic fleet and will run until 30 November. The 2016 limit for Spanish and Portuguese fishermen is 14,000 tonnes in Iberian waters - 26% lower than last year. The reduced supply of fresh sardine, contributed to a significant price increase of +53% in Portugal between 2013 and 2015. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)