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The severe El Niño conditions forecast earlier in the year have been downgraded to neutral/weak for the Pacific basin and northern hemisphere winter of 2012-2013. However, reduced quotas and poor weather conditions for Peruvian fleets, combined with strong demand across the market, are likely to put upward pressure on fishmeal prices. Meanwhile, fish oil supply continues to stagnate, and soymeal and oilseed markets remain volatile.

Campaigns to increase seafood consumption in Peru, Brazil and Chile are expected to have a positive effect on artisanal fishermen and local communities who make a living from catching bivalve molluscs and in small-scale aquaculture and fisheries. They will also benefit aquaculture producers who are facing declining exports to the EU market.

The European fish processing industry is heavily reliant on raw materials imported from third countries. Almost two thirds of the total supply of fish to the EU is imported and for whitefish this figure is estimated to be close to 90%, according to the latest edition of the Finfish Study* produced by AIPCE-CEP, the European Fish Processors and Traders Association. The study analyses the importance of imported seafood for the European processing industry, showing how supply trends reflect increasing demand for value-added seafood in the EU.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other bodies have recently launched a campaign to reduce the estimated 1.3bn tonnes of food that is lost or wasted each year around the globe. The campaign Think.Eat.Save. Reduce your Foodprint. seeks to reduce waste all along the food production and consumption chain.

January / February 2013 EM 1 Country profiles: Italy and Germany Technology: Packaging gets greener Fisheries: The mackerel war continues  …