Brussels, 17/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 16 November, the European Commission tabled its annual proposal on next year's guide prices for fresh and frozen fish products and the EU producer price for tuna for processing. The Commission suggests raising guide prices for most white fish by between 0.5% and 1.5% given rising market prices. The regulation will be adopted by the Council in December.
Before the annual proposal was even considered by the College of Commissioners, the Council's fish working group of EU experts examined the draft proposal on 10 November, agreeing to raise cod prices a little (+1.5% on 2005, to EUR 1639 a tonne, rather than the 1% rise suggested by the Commission) and shrimps and cooked Northern prawn (by +0.5% and +1%, compared with no change and +0.5% in the initial version). They recommended lower price cuts for sardines (-2.5% rather than +3% in the original version), hake (-1.5% rather than -2%), cuttlefish (no change, rather than the Commission's planned -0.5% cut) and frozen octopus (keeping the current EUR 2140 a tonne price, rather than the Commissions' suggested 0.5% cut).
The Commission is suggesting the following prices for other species:
Fresh fish. For benthic and flat fish, the Commission suggests raising the price of sole and monkfish (without head) by 1% (+0.5% for whole monkfish), by 1.5% for haddock and 0.5% for dab. It recommends price cuts for common flounder (-2%), saithe (-0.5%) and plaice (-1% from May to December). The Commission suggests keeping current (2005) prices for whiting and ling.
For pelagic fish, the Commission recommends increasing prices by 3% for anchovies (to 1308 euros/t) and mackerel and by 2% for herring. It suggests cutting the price of Spanish mackerel (-3%), whole albacore tuna (-1%) and gutted albacore (-1.5%). It suggests slight reductions for most crustaceans (-0.5%) like fresh Northern prawn, cuttlefish, edible crab and Norway lobster.
Frozen fish. The Commission suggests raising the price of swordfish (+1.5%), ilex (+1%) and prawns (+2%). No changes are recommended in the price of sea bream, cuttlefish, squid (loligo) and squid. The Commission suggests cutting the price of Greenland halibut (-2%) and hake (-1%).
Tuna for the processing industry. The Commission suggests keeping the EUR 1207 euros/t price for yellowfin tuna.
The guide prices are used to fix the selling price of fish products withdrawn from the market when they reach a certain minimum price. The withdrawals are managed by fishing industry organisations. Fishermen belonging to these organisations receive compensation for the withdrawn products, refunding by the EU budget.