Brussels, 27/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - Last week, the European Commission adopted its proposals on guiding prices for fresh and frozen fish products for 2003, which are rising for the fifth year running. These prices had been fixed before this date by the Member States on the basis of an unofficial working document. The Committee of Permanent Representatives of Member States at the EU (Coreper) decided to fix the price for a tonne of fresh sardines at EUR 569 in 2003, that is, 2% up on the current year (the Commission proposed a 1% increase). The tonne of fresh anchovies was fixed at EUR 1215 (+0.5%, whereas the Commission proposed no change). Furthermore, the Commission provides for an increase of 2.5% in the prices of cod (1,631 euro la tonne) and whiting (952 euro a tonne) and a reduction of 1% in the price of haddock to 1,062 euro a tonne.
Regarding processed frozen products, Member States decided to increase by 3.5% the price of octopus (compared to +3% foreseen by the Commission) to EUR 2,056.5 a tonne. The Council moderated the reductions for hake and sword fish. One tonne of hake will cost EUR 1,270.5 in 2003 (as opposed to EUR 1,264 proposed by the Commission) while the tonne of swordfish will go from EUR 4,080 to 4,060 a tonne in 2003 (the Commission had recommended a fall of 1.5% to EUR 4;019). The Member States did not follow the Commission concerning the price of yellowfin tuna intended for the processing industry, which will increase by 3% in 2003 to EUR 1,207 a tonne (the Commission proposed a limited rise to 1%).
The above prices, which come in a context of declining stocks and increased consumer demand, will be formally adopted at the Fisheries Council on 18 and 19 December.