GLOBEFISH RESEARCH PROGRAMME · 2018. 1. 11. · Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) totalled 3.38...

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFish Products and Industry Division

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla00153 Rome, Italy

Tel.: +39 06 5705 5074Fax: +39 06 5705 5188

www.globefish.org

Volume 95

GLOBEFISH RESEARCH PROGRAMME

The Seafood Markets in Southern EU:Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia

The Seafood Markets in Southern EU: (Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia)

by

Camillo Catarci

(July 2008)

The GLOBEFISH Research Programme is an activity initiated by FAO's Fish Utilisation and Marketing

Service, Rome, Italy and financed jointly by:

- NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service), Washington, DC, USA

- FROM, Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, Madrid, Spain

- Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Copenhagen, Denmark

- European Commission, Directorate General for Fisheries, Brussels, EU

- Norwegian Seafood Export Council, Tromsoe, Norway

- OFIMER (Office National Interprofessionnel des Produits de la Mer et de

l’Aquaculture), Paris, France

- ASMI (Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute), USA - DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans), Canada - SSA (Seafood Services Australia), Australia - Ministry of Fisheries, New Zealand

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, GLOBEFISH, Fish Products and Industry Division

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153Rome, Italy – Tel.: (39) 06570 56313

E-mail: [email protected] - Fax: (39) 0657055188 – http//:www.globefish.org

ii

The designation employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Camillo Catarci; THE SEAFOOD MARKETS IN SOUTHERN EU: CYPRUS, MALTA AND SLOVENIA. GLOBEFISH Research Programme, Vol.95 Rome, FAO. 2008. p. 46.

The Research Programme gives a summary on seafood markets in

three Mediterranean countries:

Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia.

The market structure in these countries is very simple, relying mainly

on domestic production. The main product form is fresh fish and

crustaceans.

Acknowledgement : Karine Boisset, FAO; Maria Teresa Farrugia;

Eddie Gerald; Richard Grainger, FAO; Leen Hemlink; Gary

Hudson, Antique Atlas; Helga Josupeit, FAO; Gabriella

Laurenti, FAO; Paolo Manzoni, National Health Service, Italy

Gerry O’Sullivan, FAO; Sachiko Tsuji, FAO; Stefania

Vannuccini, FAO; Christina Vella Tomlin, FAO; Rainer Voigt,

Garwood & Voigt;

The report layout was prepared by Tony Piccolo FAO - GLOBEFISH.

Cover Photo: by Eddie Gerald

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted in any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the

prior permission of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of

the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Information

Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di

Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.

© FAO 2008

iii

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1

1.1. Seafood imports into southern europe............................................................................2

1.2. How to export seafood to Southern EU countiries: a guide for developing countries...5

1.2.1. Trade and development ............................................................................................5

1.2.2. The Bilateral level ....................................................................................................5

1.2.3. Autonomous measures ..............................................................................................7

1.2.4. Health and safety requirements................................................................................8

2. CYPRUS ..................................................................................................................................9

2.1. Executive Summary .......................................................................................................9

2.2. Seafood consumption in Cyprus ..................................................................................10

2.3. The industry..................................................................................................................11

2.3.1. Total production .....................................................................................................11

2.3.2. International trade .................................................................................................16

2.3.3. Processing ..............................................................................................................21

2.3.4. Marketing and distribution systems .......................................................................21

3. MALTA..................................................................................................................................22

3.1. Executive summary ......................................................................................................22

3.2. Seafood consumption in Malta.....................................................................................22

3.3. The industry..................................................................................................................24


3.3.2. International trade .................................................................................................28

3.3.3. Processing ..............................................................................................................32

3.3.4. Marketing and distribution systems .......................................................................32

4. SLOVENIA............................................................................................................................33

4.1. Executive summary ......................................................................................................33

4.2. Seafood consumption in Slovenia ................................................................................33

4.3. The industry..................................................................................................................34


43.2. International trade .................................................................................................35

43.3. Processing ..............................................................................................................38

43.4. Marketing and distribution systems .......................................................................39

5. SEAFOOD RECIPES ............................................................................................................40

5.1. Cyprus ..........................................................................................................................40

5.2. Malta.............................................................................................................................41

5.3. Slovenia........................................................................................................................42

6. REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................45

iv

TABLES

TABLE 1: MAIN DEVLOPING COUNTRIES EXPORTING TO THE SOUTHERN EU

REGION (1 000 TONNES) .............................................................................................................3

TABLE 2: MAIN COMMODITIES IMPORTED INTO THE SOUTHERN EU REGION

FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (1 000 TONNES) ...............................................................4

TABLE 3: SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION IN CYPRUS BY GROUP OF COMMODITIES,

1993-2003 (KG/PC ........................................................................................................................10

TABLE 4: COMPOSITION OF THE CYPRIOT CATCH, 1950-2005 (TONNES) ..................13

TABLE 5: COMPOSITION OF THE CYPRIOT AQUACULTURE OUTPUT, 1950-2005

(TONNES) .....................................................................................................................................15

TABLE 6: CYPRIOT SEAFOOD IMPORTS BY GROUP OF COMMODITIES (TONNES) ..16

TABLE 7: CYPRIOT SEAFOOD IMPORT QUANTITIES, VALUES AND UNIT

VALUES BY MAIN COMMODITY............................................................................................18

TABLE 8: CYPRIOT SEAFOOD IMPORTS BY MAIN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, 1995-

2006 (TONNES) ............................................................................................................................19

TABLE 9: CYPRIOT SEAFOOD EXPORTS BY MAIN COUNTRY OF DESTINATION,

1999-2006 (TONNES) ...................................................................................................................20

TABLE 10: CYPRIOT SEAFOOD EXPORT QUANTITIES, VALUES AND UNIT


TABLE 11: SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION IN MALTA BY GROUP OF COMMODITIES,

1993-2003 (KG/PC) .......................................................................................................................24

TABLE 12: MALTESE SEAFOOD IMPORTS BY GROUP OF COMMODITIES

(TONNES) .....................................................................................................................................29

TABLE 13: MALTESE SEAFOOD IMPORT QUANTITIES, VALUES AND UNIT


TABLE 14: MALTESE SEAFOOD IMPORTS BY MAIN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, 1995-

2006 (TONNES) ............................................................................................................................30

TABLE15: MALTESE SEAFOOD EXPORTS BY MAIN COUNTRY OF DESTINATION,

1999-2006 (TONNES) ...................................................................................................................31

TABLE 16: MALTESE SEAFOOD EXPORT QUANTITIES, VALUES AND UNIT


TABLE 17: SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION IN SLOVENIA BY GROUP OF

COMMODITIES, 1993-2003 (KG/PC).........................................................................................34

TABLE 18: SLOVENIAN SEAFOOD IMPORTS BY GROUP OF COMMODITIES

(TONNES) .....................................................................................................................................36

TABLE 19: SLOVENIAN SEAFOOD IMPORT QUANTITIES, VALUES AND UNIT


TABLE 20: SLOVENIAN SEAFOOD IMPORTS BY MAIN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN,

1999-2006 (TONNES) ...................................................................................................................37

v

TABLE 21: SLOVENIAN SEAFOOD EXPORTS BY MAIN COUNTRY OF

DESTINATION, 1999-2006 (TONNES) ......................................................................................38

TABLE 22: SLOVENIAN SEAFOOD EXPORT QUANTITIES, VALUES AND UNIT


FIGURES:

FIGURE 1: SOUTHERN EU IMPORTS OF SEAFOOD: A BREAKDOWN BY ECONOMIC

GROUP OF COUNTRIES, 2006 .........................................................................................................2

FIGURE 2: SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION IN CYPRUS, 1961-2003 ..........................................10

FIGURE 3: TOTAL FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN CYPRUS,

1950 - 2005.....................................................................................................................................11

FIGURE 4: TOTAL PRODUCTION IN CYPRUS (EXCLIDING DISTANT WATER

FLEETS), 1950 - 2005 ...................................................................................................................12

FIGURE 5: FISHERY CAPTURES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BY CYPRUS,

1950 - 2005.....................................................................................................................................13

FIGURE 6: AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN CYPRUS, 1984 - 2005 ................................15

FIGURE 7: SEAFOOD IMPORTS INTO CYPRUS, 1976 - 2006 ...............................................16

FIGURE 8: SEAFOOD EXPORTS BY CYPRUS, 1988 - 2006...................................................20

FIGURE 9: SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION IN MALTA, 1961 - 2003 ..........................................23

FIGURE 10: TOTAL FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN MALTA,

1950 - 2005.....................................................................................................................................24

FIGURE 11: TOTAL FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN MALTA

(EXCLUDING DISTANT WATER FLEETS), 1950 - 2005 ........................................................25

FIGURE 12: TOTAL FISHERY PRODUCTION IN MALTA BY MAIN SPECIES

(EXCLUDING DISTANT WATER FLEETS), 1950 - 2005 ........................................................26

FIGURE 13: TOTAL AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN MALTA BY MAIN SPECIES

(EXCLUDING ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA), 1950 - 2005......................................................28

FIGURE 14: SEAFOOD IMPORTS INTO MALTA, 1976 - 2006 ..............................................29

FIGURE 15: SEAFOOD EXPORTS BY MALTA, 1980 - 2006 ..................................................31

FIGURE 16: SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION IN SLOVENIA, 1992 - 2003 ..................................33

FIGURE 17: TOTAL FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN SLOVENIA

BY MAIN SPECIES, 1992 - 2003.................................................................................................34

FIGURE 18: SEAFOOD IMPORTS INTO SLOVENIA, 1992 - 2006.........................................35

FIGURE 19: SEAFOOD EXPORTS FROM SLOVENIA, 1992 - 2006 ......................................37

FIGURE 20: SEAFOOD PROCESSING IN SLOVENIA, 1992 - 2005.......................................38

1

1. INTRODUCTION

The European Union (EU) is composed of 27 Member States:

• Founding members (1951) Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands;

• Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom, which joined in 1973;

• Greece, which joined in 1981;

• Portugal and Spain, which joined in 1986;

• Austria, Finland and Sweden, which joined in 1995;

• Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia which joined in 2004;

• Bulgaria and Romania which joined in 2007.

The EU is the top world importer of seafood. In 2006, the Union imported 5.71 million tonnes

of seafood, whereas Japan imported 3.02 million tonnes of seafood and the United States

imported 2.45 million tonnes of seafood.

Within the Union, there are three macro-areas of seafood consumption. The Northern EU

sub-region (Austria, Benelux, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, the United

Kingdom) is more price-conscious and dominated by relatively cheap fish preparations.

Consumption of fish in the Central and Eastern EU sub-region (Bulgaria, the Czech

Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) has been, traditionally,

very low. However, social and economic development of the area is resulting in changing

food habits and increasing seafood consumption. Instead, Southern EU sub-region (Cyprus,

France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) is the EU sub-region

with the highest fish consumption patterns, due to its geographical position and cultural habits

of its inhabitants1.

The sources utilized for this report have been seafood marketing reports (including online

reports), the GLOBEFISH databank, personal contacts and statistical databases, mainly

EUROSTAT and FAO Fishstat Plus. The global fishery statistics of production in capture and

aquaculture and trade are mostly collected by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Information and

Statistics Service, FIES, of FAO, and made available through yearbook publications, web

sites and the Fishstat Plus database. National reports are the main, but not the only source of

data used by FAO to maintain its fishery statistics database. In cases where data are missing

or are considered unreliable, FAO includes estimates based on the best available information

from any qualified sources including EUROSTAT and various Regional Fishery Management

Organizations. A comprehensive network of regional intergovernmental institutions created

by FAO, the FISH INFOnetwork, also provides supplemental information on international

trade.

FAO’s fishery statistics are global in coverage, have complete time series since 1950 for

production and since 1976 for trade and are regularly updated. During the last decade,

financial support for the development and maintenance of individual national fishery

1 It has to be highlighted that the partition between the three regions is extremely loose. In fact, there are several

differences in seafood consumption habits within sub-regions and some countries may share the seafood

consumption habits of two sub-regions. For instance, France can be placed in the middle between Northern and

Southern Europe and Slovenia can be placed in the middle between Southern and Eastern Europe in terms of

seafood consumption habits.

2

statistical systems has decreased sharply, while supporting efforts have shifted toward

improvement of data collection and monitoring capacity at regional and sub-regional level. At

the same time, information needs have been increasing dramatically. In general, the global

trends are probably reliably reflected by the FAO statistics but the individual figures and the

assessments involve a certain degree of uncertainty.

1.1. Seafood imports into Southern Europe

In 2006, combined imports of the seven Southern EU countries (Cyprus, France, Greece Italy,

Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) totalled 3.38 million tonnes, of which 59 percent came

from developing countries, 31 percent from other EU countries and only 10 percent came

from non-EU developing countries2 (Figure 1).

Fig. 1. Southern EU imports of seafood:

a breakdown by economic group of

countries, 2006

Developing

countries

59%

Other EU

countries

31%

Other

developed

countries

10%

Imports of seafood from developing countries into the Southern EU region increased from

726 200 tonnes in 1995 to 1.99 million tonnes in 2006, equivalent to a growth rate of

10 percent/year. The main suppliers of seafood to the Southern EU region among developing

countries are Argentina, Morocco, Peru, China, Chile, Ecuador, India, Thailand, Vietnam and

Namibia.

The ten major exporting countries represent nearly 50 percent of total Southern EU imports of

seafood from developing countries. Every country experienced positive annual growth rate,

with the exception of Namibia, whose exports to Southern Europe increased from 1995 to

2003, to decline in the years that followed, reaching in 2006 the same levels of 1995 (Table 1)

due to a decline in exports of fresh hake3.

2 However, due to the frequent misreporting of imports from non-EU countries as imports from the Netherlands

(in fact, Rotterdam is often the first point of entry of seafood imported into the EU) the share of developing

countries in total Southern EU exports might be even higher. 3 Hakes (whether M. capensis or M. paradoxus) are the main fish species the EU imports from Namibia.

3

Table 1. Main developing countries exporting to the Southern EU region (1 000 tonnes).

Country 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Argentina 126.51 145.50 172.91 196.39 188.93 152.75 184.62 168.05 175.78 143.89 133.32 216.18

Morocco 89.25 96.90 118.00 107.35 123.70 158.43 176.42 159.22 144.61 142.62 152.91 169.57

Peru 102.82 102.65 146.08 49.34 116.98 131.68 180.57 137.13 164.00 154.63 175.86 156.54

China 23.87 20.34 36.16 55.73 61.27 78.33 94.83 44.02 64.12 81.54 121.15 149.40

Chile 103.81 76.55 84.63 82.01 66.24 78.86 108.75 103.61 126.15 136.29 138.70 138.18

Ecuador 52.30 50.21 57.94 67.30 87.28 59.31 56.67 53.68 78.57 71.30 98.19 123.51

India 53.99 43.13 32.15 28.47 44.13 47.71 60.16 60.83 65.27 74.25 86.36 97.36

Thailand 51.41 49.80 45.57 69.46 59.87 52.71 52.78 59.42 71.19 68.73 75.74 92.01

Vietnam 1.29 1.83 6.70 7.75 8.77 10.16 15.02 17.38 23.26 32.06 50.34 82.41

Namibia 63.56 58.79 61.45 83.54 88.96 85.62 93.88 79.95 90.14 85.09 70.15 66.34

TOTAL

(inc. others) 726.24 780.52 1226.28 1293.59 1342.81 1379.59 1596.23 1555.84 1703.58 1661.48 1821.94 1993.70

(source: EUROSTAT).

Argentina is the top developing country exporter of seafood to Southern Europe, with

216 200 tonnes of seafood supplied to the area in 2006 (Table 1). More than 70 percent of

Argentine exports of seafood to the Southern EU region go to Spain. In fact, several frozen

seafood producing companies in Argentina have been set up through Spanish funding.

Argentina supplies Spain with frozen Illex squid, frozen shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) and

frozen Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fillets.

Also in the case of Morocco, 65 percent of its seafood exports to the Southern EU region go

to Spain. Spain imports from Morocco mostly octopus, snails and unidentified fresh saltwater

fish. Most of the remainder of Moroccan exports is shared between France and Italy. Italy

imports mostly frozen octopus, whereas France imports canned sardines (mostly European

pilchard or sardine, Sardina pilchardus), fish oil, canned anchovies (Engraulis spp.) and

frozen sardines.

The main exports of Peru to Southern Europe are fish meal, frozen molluscs and fish oil. The

trend of exports of fish meal and fish oil is discontinuous as these products are linked to the

cyclical abundance of small pelagics in the Pacific Ocean. Fish meal is also the main exported

commodity from Chile, together with fresh southern hake Merluccius australis.

Imports of seafood from China to the Southern EU region increased from 23 900 tonnes in

1995 to 149 400 tonnes in 2006, equivalent to an annual growth rate of 18 percent (Table 1).

The lower quantities imported between 2002 and (to a lesser extent) 2004 are due to the EU

ban on seafood from China on the grounds of evidences of potentially risky chloramphenicol

residues found in samples of shrimps and prawns imported from China in January 2002. The

ban was lifted more than two years later. The main commodities imported by Southern EU

countries from China are frozen pre-cooked shrimps and prawns, frozen Alaska Pollack

Theragra chalcogramma, frozen monk Lophius spp. and surimi preparations.

Exports from Ecuador increased from 52 300 tonnes in 1995 to 123 500 tonnes in 2006

(Table 1). The main commodities are frozen pre-cooked Penaeus shrimp, frozen pre-cooked

tuna loins for canning and canned tuna. Ecuador hosts several shrimp farming facilities, the

main species produced being the whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) and the blue shrimp

(Penaeus stylirostris). Ecuador is also a large producer of canned tuna and tuna loins, with

processing facilities belonging to (or affiliated with) tuna companies from Spain and the

United States, as well as to the international tuna loins’ producing company Tri-Marine.

4

Imports from India are dominated by molluscs and crustaceans, especially cephalopods

(Loligo squid, cuttlefish and octopus) and frozen pre-cooked shrimps. Frozen Loligo squid is

also the main product imported from Thailand, followed by frozen yellowfin tuna (Thunnus

albacares) for canning, canned tuna and surimi preparations. Canned tuna from Thailand is

gradually entering the otherwise conservative and quality conscious Southern EU tuna

market4 while frozen shrimp imports appear to be increasing.

Imports of seafood from Vietnam increased from 1 300 tonnes in 1995 to 82 400 tonnes in

2006, equivalent to an annual growth rate of 46 percent (Table 1). Imports from Vietnam are

dominated by frozen fillets of freshwater fish, e.g. Pangasius catfish, which is largely

consumed as a cheaper alternative to traditional whitefish species such as Northern cods

(Gadus spp.) and hakes (Merluccius spp.). Other significant imports from Vietnam include

frozen cephalopods, frozen pre-cooked Penaeus shrimps and frozen Venus clams.

Overall, the main commodities imported from developing countries are frozen shrimp, fish

meal, frozen cephalopods and tunas (Table 2). In terms of value, the most important

commodities include shrimp and canned tuna.

Table 2. Main commodities imported into the Southern EU region from developing

countries (1 000 tonnes).

Commodity 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Frozen pre-

cooked

Penaeus

shrimps 0 0 68.70 86.33 80.68 80.59 97.18 103.05 133.19 137.81 150.42 194.28

Fish meal 142.51 133.94 174.13 90.12 123.48 162.79 179.21 133.91 165.70 150.79 147.86 128.58

Frozen

Loligo squid 35.55 43.82 39.37 67.26 60.55 84.89 97.09 82.71 100.14 93.41 106.13 106.23

Frozen Illex

squid 26.74 33.54 65.86 73.49 86.89 80.78 93.00 69.19 75.32 44.91 66.66 101.61

Frozen

Octopus

spp. 39.20 37.89 50.43 54.90 87.66 64.78 78.29 86.57 84.46 75.10 82.42 88.79

Canned tuna

not in oil 58.39 61.85 61.19 66.04 50.82 61.21 58.72 72.52 76.79 82.65 76.66 88.12

Frozen pre-

cooked tuna

loins 27.19 31.17 38.32 47.48 52.50 51.30 44.24 55.91 77.74 66.01 77.65 82.16

Frozen

molluscs nei 8.07 10.46 14.04 7.08 10.07 13.90 18.85 26.85 27.98 50.09 52.75 76.37

Frozen

cuttlefish 40.95 40.82 53.53 63.92 54.91 64.57 79.96 78.74 78.73 74.90 75.46 68.91

Frozen pre-

cooked

shrimps and

prawns nei 0 0 34.85 51.73 44.42 58.67 63.60 46.82 49.22 50.86 64.30 66.64

TOTAL 726.24 780.52 1226.28 1293.59 1342.81 1379.59 1596.23 1555.84 1703.58 1661.48 1821.94 1993.70

(source: EUROSTAT).

Large-sized shrimps and prawns, mainly warmwater species, are extremely appreciated in

Southern Europe. They are mainly consumed grilled but also as an ingredient in pasta and rice

dishes. Depending on the year, the main wild species is the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus

muelleri, which is a large-sizes coldwater shrimp. The trends in captures of Pleoticus muelleri

4 Also through the help of a progressive tariff reduction, as the general 24 percent tariff applied by the EU to

third countries exporting canned tuna has been gradually lowered to a 20.5 percent Generalised System of

Preference with a 12 percent special tariff applied to an yearly quota.

5

and other wild species are often discontinuous, whilst warmwater shrimp farming ensures a

steady supply of these appreciated crustaceans to the European market.

The EU imports farmed warmwater shrimps and prawns in frozen form from Ecuador, India,

China, Brazil and Bangladesh. The species favoured by the EU are the whiteleg shrimp,

produced in China, Brazil and Ecuador, and the giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon,

produced in India, China and Bangladesh.

Tuna is a staple food in the Mediterranean diet. It is normally eaten in a sandwich, with salad

or mixed with pasta sauces. Canned tuna is mostly imported from developing countries such

as Seychelles and Côte d’Ivoire where substantial EU investments facilitated the setting up of

state of the art processing units. Those countries belong to the group of ex-European colonies

from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions. On the other hand, frozen pre-cooked

tuna loins are really semi-processed commodities aimed at the canning industries of Italy,

France, Spain and to a lesser extent Portugal. The processing of raw materials into loins in

developing countries benefits from the cheaper labour costs in those countries. At the same

time, undertaking the final canning stage in investor countries enables the partial protection of

employment in their canneries.

1.2. How to export seafood to Southern EU countries: a guide for developing countries

1.2.1. Trade and Development

International trade can become a factor for development and growth if accompanied by the

proper support policies and if used correctly. Thus, development is a fundamental principle of

the EU trade strategy. The EU trade policy aims to contribute to a more equitable integration

of developing countries into the international trading system through action on the

multilateral5 level, the bilateral level and through autonomous measures. The focus of this

chapter will be on the bilateral level and autonomous measures.

1.2.2. The Bilateral level

Traditionally, countries from the Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) region have been

benefiting from zero tariffs applied to their EU exports through a non reciprocal system of

trade preferences under the framework of the Lomé Convention. As the non reciprocal system

was declared incompatible under the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s rules, in 2002 the

ACP States and the EU decided to overhaul their previous trade relations.

The Parties agreed to enter into economic integration agreements (the Economic Partnership

Agreements, EPAs) concluding new WTO-compatible trading arrangements, setting up a free

trade area between the EU and the ACP and enhancing cooperation in all areas related to

trade. These agreements are aimed at fostering development by strengthening regional

5 The World Trade Organisation's fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha (Qatar) in November 2001 resulted in,

inter alia, the launch of a new round of trade negotiations, the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). The DDA

aims at improving market access and establishing rules that help foster development and increase developing

countries’ opportunities to benefit from further trade liberalisation. The EU proposes advancing meaningful

liberalisation across all non-agricultural products (including fishery products), which represent over 70 percent

of developing country exports, by eliminating tariff peaks and high tariffs, and significantly reducing tariff

escalation. The EU intends to fulfil the promise of the Doha Mandate in these non-agricultural products by

establishing real new market access for all, with the largest opportunities for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

through tariff and quota-free access offered by both developed and if possible most advanced developing

countries. Despite its importance, the multilateral level of negotiations is outside the scope of this report. For

more information, please check http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/newround/doha_da/index_en.htm and

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/global/development/index_en.htm.

6

integration and improving the business environment in a sustainable way. The agreements

have been negotiated since 2002; they entered into force in January 2008, therefore replacing

the old Lomé system.

There are four pillars to the EPAs:

Partnership: EPAs entail rights and obligations for both sides. While the Union will be

prepared to further open up its market to ACP products and tackle all other trade barriers, the

ACP States must be prepared to implement appropriate policies to strengthen their supply

capacity and to reduce transaction costs.

Regional integration: the implementation of EPAs will sustain the integration process within

the ACP.

Development: EPAs have been designed with all the flexibility required to take account of

the economic, social and environmental constraints of the ACP countries and of their capacity

to adapt to the new trading environment. On the other hand, they must be integrated into the

development policy of the ACP countries and into the support strategies of the EU.

Link to WTO: Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are intended to act as a stepping

stone to the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy and WTO led

trade liberalization. However, EPAs are also defining more specific and more operational,

bilateral trade related provisions, for example in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary

standards. These are intended to tackle non-tariff barriers to trade between the ACP countries

themselves and between the ACP and the EU. This process will be supported through EU

trade related assistance.

True to the principle of regionalism, ACP countries were encouraged to enter the EPAs in

regional groupings. Agreements with the following regional groups were concluded:

• EU and West Africa (Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS6, and Mauritania);

• EU and Central Africa (Communauté Economique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale, CEMAC

7 and São Tomé and Príncipe);

• EU and Eastern and Southern Africa (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA

8);

• EU and Southern African Development Community (SADC)9;

• EU and the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM10);

6 Its members being Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea

Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Of these countries, only Côte d’Ivoire,

Ghana and Nigeria are not among the group of the Least Developed Countries (LDC), which, from a tariff point

of view, benefit from tariff exemption from all products excluding weapons (the “Everything But Arms”, EBA

clause). 7 Its members being Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea

and Gabon. The Central African Republic, Chad and Equatorial Guinea are LDCs (see previous footnote). 8 Its members who decided to negotiate the EPA with the EU are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,

Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Burundi,

Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia are LDCs (see

previous footnote). 9 Its members who decided to negotiated the EPA with the EU are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique,

Namibia, Swaziland and Tanzania. Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania are LDCs (see previous

footnote).

7

• EU and the Pacific Region11.

A six year-long period of negotiations (2002-2008) resulted in the entry into force of the

EPAs for the EU and 35 ACP States12

through the adoption of Council Regulation 1528/2007.

The Regulation has been in force since 1 January 2008.

The regulation confirms the elimination of all import duties for fish and fishery products,

which is particularly important for prepared and preserved products under the code 1604 and

1605, usually subject to higher tariffs13

. In turn, most tariffs on fresh and frozen fish may have

been eliminated already for all third countries, or may be very low.

Regulation 1528/2007 includes strict provisions on rules of origin. A product imported by the

EU is to be considered as originating in the ACP States if it has been:

• wholly obtained in the ACP States; or

• obtained in the ACP States incorporating materials which have not been wholly obtained there, provided that such materials have undergone sufficient working or

processing in the ACP States.

Regulation 1528/2007 is available online from the EUROPA server at:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:348:0001:0154:en:PDF.

1.2.3. Autonomous measures

For many years the EU has been operating unilateral preferential market access schemes

under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). There are currently three types of GSP in

force in the EU:

• The general arrangement for all beneficiary countries;

• The special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (the “GSP Plus”) provides additional benefits for countries implementing certain

international standards in human and labour rights, environmental protection, the fight

against drugs, and good governance. In particular, the special arrangements to fight

drug production and trafficking provide duty free market access for all industrial

products, which enables large canned tuna and tuna loins producers like Colombia

Ecuador to export their products duty-free to the Union;

• The special incentive arrangement for Least Developing Countries, that are allowed to export duty-free “Everything But Arms” (EBA) to the EU.

Rules of origin also apply to country benefiting from the GSP system according to Council

Regulation 2454/93. The product should be either “wholly obtained” in the beneficiary

10

Its ACP members being Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican

Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,

Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Haiti is an LDC (see previous footnote). 11

Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau,

Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and

Vanuatu are LDCs (see previous footnote). 12

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire,

Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar,

Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the

Grenadines, Seychelles, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 13

The so-called “tariff escalation”: the higher degree of processing, the higher the tariff.

8

country (or countries14

), or undergo a series of operations in the beneficiary country/ies

conferring to the product the origin from the beneficiary country/ies.

Details on the Generalised System of Preferences are available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/global/gsp/legis/index_en.htm, whilst the webpage “The

Integrated Tariff of the Community” (TARIC) is extremely useful to find out quickly the

EU’s tariff regime by product and country

(http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/tarhome_en.htm). The texts to the basic European

Union legislation relating to GSP, tariffs, trade and development are to be found through

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/.

1.2.4. Health and safety requirements

As import duties of fish in general have been much reduced, remaining barriers to developing

countries’ exports often relate to health and safety. The EU requirements on the health and

safety of seafood (http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s84000.htm) are particularly stringent.

The official certification of imports from non-EU countries is based on the recognition of the

competent authority of the non-EU country by the Commission. This is a necessary pre-

requisite for the country to export to the Union. National competent authorities must ensure

credible inspection and controls throughout the whole production chain. All relevant issues

concerning imports of fishery products must be undertaken by the national competent

authority. As a first step, companies wishing to export seafood or other fishery products to the

EU should contact the relevant national authorities in their country to become authorised.

For all fishery products, countries of origin must be on a positive list of eligible countries for

the relevant product. The eligibility criteria are:

• the presence, in the third country, of a competent authority which is empowered, structured and resourced to implement effective inspection and guarantee credible

public health and animal health attestations in the certificate to accompany fishery

products that are destined for the EU.

• Live fish, their eggs and gametes intended for breeding and live bivalve molluscs must fulfil the relevant animal health standards. Therefore, the veterinary services

must ensure effective enforcement of all necessary health controls and monitoring

programmes.

• The national authorities must also guarantee that the relevant hygiene15 and public health requirements are met.

• List I (fish and fishery products): Imports are only authorised from approved vessels and establishments which have been inspected by the competent authority of the

exporting country and found to meet EU requirements. The authority provides the

necessary guarantees and is obliged to carry out regular inspections and take

corrective action, if necessary. A list of such approved establishments is available at:

http://circa.europa.eu/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/listes/ffp.html.

• List I (live bivalve molluscs): Specific conditions apply for imports of live or processed bivalve molluscs, echinoderms or marine gastropods. These imports are

14

If there is cumulation of origin, e.g inputs from other countries are considered as originating in the exporting

country. Provisions on cumulation thus extend the possibilities for producers in beneficiary countries to use such

inputs. More details on rules of origin can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/publications/info_docs/customs/index_en.htm 15

The hygiene legislation contains specific requirements on the structure of vessels, landing sites, processing

establishments and on operational processes, freezing and storage.

9

allowed only if they come from approved and listed production areas

(http://circa.europa.eu/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/listes/lbm.html)16

.

• In the case of aquaculture products, a control plan on heavy metals, contaminants, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs must be in place to verify compliance with

EU rules.

• A control plan must be designed by the competent authority and submitted to the European Commission for initial approval and yearly renewal.

• Inspections by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office are necessary to confirm compliance with the above requirements.

Imports of fishery products from non-EU countries must enter the EU via an approved

Border Inspection Post under the authority of an official veterinarian. Each consignment is

subject to a systematic documentary check, identity check and, as appropriate, a physical

check. which are found not to be compliant with Community (EU) legislation shall either be

destroyed or, under certain conditions, re-dispatched within 60 days.

The European Commission provides training, technical assistance and facilities for

institutional capacity building to help developing countries comply with EU rules

(http://ec.europa.eu/food/training/index_en.htm). Furthermore, national and regional

development programmes of the European Union are available in individual countries, as

well as bilateral aid projects of the Member States. The delegations of the European Union

(http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/delegations/intro/web.htm) can provide detailed

information on these programmes.

2. CYPRUS

2.1. Executive summary

Consumption of fish, crustaceans and molluscs in Cyprus increased from 5.7 kg/pc in 1961 to

23.2 kg/pc in 2003. Total fishery and aquaculture production in Cyprus excluding distant

water fleets increased from 500 tonnes in 1950 to more than 4 200 tonnes in 2005. At present,

aquaculture contributes to nearly 60 percent of total production of fish, crustaceans and

molluscs in Cyprus. The main farmed commercial species are gilthead seabream (Sparus

aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus

thynnus).

Seafood imports increased from 1 700 tonnes in 1976 to 18 600 tonnes in 2006, the main

products being frozen fish, molluscs (fresh, chilled, frozen and cured) and canned tuna in oil.

Exports of seafood reached an average of 2 800 tonnes/year between 2004 and 2006 mainly

through the increase of farmed Atlantic bluefin tuna exports.

16

However, there is an opportunity to enter EU markets on the basis of bilateral agreements (the so-called “List

II”). List II countries are non-EU countries that are either those that have not yet been visited by EU Commission

inspectors or those still subject to some outstanding hygiene requirements. To facilitate the continuation of trade

until an inspection visit has taken place or compliance guarantees received, provision has been made for an EU

Member State to establish bilateral agreements with those List II countries wanting to export to their country.

Any non-EU country entering into such an agreement must provide the Member State with a list of their

approved establishments or production areas and guarantees that these meet equivalent EU hygiene controls.

Non-EU countries which do not appear on one of the authorised lists, or that are on List II but do not have a

bilateral agreement with an EU country, cannot export fishery products or bivalve molluscs to the EU.

10

The marketing of fish products in Cyprus follows traditional channels, with the majority of

fishers and fish farmers selling their catch to small fish retail shops. However, the role of

supermarket and hypermarket chains is growing.

2.2. Seafood consumption in Cyprus

Seafood is hardly a staple foodstuff in Cyprus, the traditional cuisine of this island being

predominantly meat-based. Nevertheless, consumption of fish, molluscs and crustaceans in

Cyprus increased from 5.7 kg/pc in 1961 to 23.2 kg/pc in 2003, equivalent to a growth rate of

3 percent/year (Figure 2).

Fig. 2. Seafood consumption in Cyprus, 1961-

2003

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

1961

1964

1967

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

year

kg

/pc

(source: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Information and Statistics Service, FIES).

Reflecting the two dominant populations, Cypriot cuisine has evolved as a fusion of Greek

and Turkish cuisine. The main seafood dishes include deep-fried, battered squid, octopus in

red wine, red mullet (Mullus barbatus), seabream and seabass. Pelagic fishes are the main

seafood commodity consumed, followed by demersal species. Consumption of all commodity

groups is increasing, with the significant exception of pelagics and freshwater species

(Table 3).

Table 3. Seafood consumption in Cyprus by group of commodities, 1993-2003 (kg/pc)

Species 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

All 18.74 20.75 23.22 21.2 21.24 23.26 23.34 23.09 24.19 22.41 23.24

Pelagic 4.43 5.84 7.08 5.36 5.63 6.94 6.47 5.86 6.29 6.8 7.55

Demersal 6.37 6.55 7.48 7.63 6.81 7.24 7.11 7.4 7.54 5.94 5.5

Cephalopods 2.88 3.86 3.29 3.51 3.4 3.91 4.25 4.17 3.96 3.8 3.83

Marine 2.85 2.33 2.74 2.69 3.04 2.96 3.03 3.26 3.44 3.13 3.48

Crustaceans 0.97 1.03 1.14 0.97 0.95 1.08 1.11 1.11 1.58 1.07 1.5

Molluscs 0.52 0.63 0.78 0.52 0.94 0.7 0.84 0.87 0.82 1.03 0.95

Freshwater 0.72 0.49 0.7 0.52 0.46 0.43 0.53 0.42 0.56 0.64 0.39

Other aquatic animals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.04

(source: FAO FIES).

11

2.3. The industry

The fishery sector in Cyprus encompasses mainly marine capture fishery and both marine and

freshwater aquaculture.

2.3.1 Total production

Seafood production in Cyprus has always been relatively low with the exception of the 1992-

2001 period, when fish captures increased from 9 300 to 81 100 tonnes due to a sudden

increase in the captures of yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the

Pacific and of unidentified marine fish in the Eastern Central Atlantic which took place

between 1992 and 1997, followed by an increase in the captures of small pelagics in the

Eastern Central Atlantic which took place between 1998 and 2001. These oceanic species

were captured by distant-water fishing vessels flying the Cypriot flag. Captures went back to

normal levels in 2002; when the distant water fleet catch stopped. According to the last

available data from 2005, fishery production amounts to 1 900 tonnes only. Instead,

aquaculture production is slightly higher at 2 300 tonnes (Figure 3).

Fig. 3. Total fishery and aquaculture production in

Cyprus, 1950-2005

5 000

10 000

15 000

20 000

25 000

30 000

35 000

40 000

45 000

50 000

55 000

60 000

65 000

70 000

75 000

80 000

85 000

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

year

ton

nes

Capture (Distant Water Fleets)

Capture (Mediterranean and

inland w aters)

Aquaculture

(source: FAO FISHSTAT Plus).

Figure 4 shows the total fishery and aquaculture production in Cyprus excluding distant water

fleets. It increased from 500 tonnes in 1950 to more than 4 200 tonnes in 2005.

12

Fig. 4. Total production in Cyprus (excl. distant water

fleets), 1950-2005

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 500

3 000

3 500

4 000

4 500

5 000

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

year

ton

nes

Capture (Mediterranean and

inland w aters)

Aquaculture


Capture fisheries

Segments of the marine capture fishery are the inshore fishery, the trawl fishery and the

multipurpose fishery. There is also one purse seiner operating in Cypriot waters. The inshore

fishery uses small wooden boats of 6 to 12 m, which mainly utilize bottom set nets, longlines

and fish traps. In 2003, 677 people were employed as full time fishers in 500 licensed boats.

The trawl fishery consists of 22 bottom fishing trawlers of 21 to 27 m with 220–750 hp diesel

engines. Eight trawlers are licensed to operate in the waters of Cyprus, and the others operate

exclusively in international waters in the Mediterranean. In 2003, 144 fishermen were fully

employed on these 22 trawlers. The multipurpose fishery operates with boats of

approximately 16 m in the waters of Cyprus and in international waters in the Mediterranean.

They use nets and longlines. In 2003, 105 fishermen were employed full time on 38 boats

licensed for multipurpose fishing.

Cypriot fishery captures in the Mediterranean17

increased from 500 tonnes in 1950 to

2 800 tonnes in 1994. However, they started declining between the mid-nineties and the mid-

two thousands. Between 2002 and 2005, Cypriot fishery captures fell below the threshold of

2 000 tonnes/year (Figure 5). The overexploitation of the main stocks, the narrow continental

shelf and the oligotrophic18

ecosystem are some major constraints faced by the fishery sector

of Cyprus.

17

Including inland waters. 18

Nutrient-poor.

13

Fig. 5. Fishery captures in the Mediterranean by

Cyprus, 1950-2005

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 500

3 000

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

year

ton

nes


The main resources exploited are demersals and large pelagics (Table 4). The demersal

species are caught by the inshore and the trawl fishery and include picarel (Spicara smaris),

bogue (Boops boops), surmullet (Mullus surmuletus), red mullet, octopus, and molluscs.

Large pelagic species are targeted by the multipurpose fishery in national and international

waters of the eastern Mediterranean, and include Atlantic bluefin tuna, swordfish (Xiphias

gladius) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga).

Table 4. Composition of the Cypriot catch, 1950-2005 (tonnes).

Species 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975

Albacore 0 0 0 0 0 0

Picarels nei 0 100 100 0 270 266

Bogue 0 0 0 0 18 52

Marine fishes nei 500 400 300 0 91 60

Atlantic bluefin tuna 0 0 0 0 0 0

Octopuses, etc. nei 0 0 0 0 60 44

Surmullet 0 100 100 500 105 83

TOTAL

(inc. others) 500 600 500 1 006 1 363 919

Species 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Albacore 0 0 0 0 6 425

Picarels nei 372 750 793 711 533 250

Bogue 139 413 283 290 354 214

Marine fishes nei 113 211 342 322 266 161

Atlantic bluefin tuna 10 10 10 10 61 149

Octopuses, etc. nei 58 101 208 300 166 121

Surmullet 63 140 233 215 159 106

TOTAL

(inc. others) 1 308 2 381 2 584 2 570 2 313 1 916


14

Fisheries management is regulated through the EU Common Fisheries Policy and the National

Fisheries Law. The aim is to achieve the socio-economic enhancement of the sector as well as

the rational and sustainable management of marine resources.

In the trawl fishery, limitations are in place on vessel numbers and size. Mesh size is 40 mm,

the minimum depth of fishing is 50 m, and the fishing season lasts from 7th

November to 31st

May. It is forbidden to tow beyond 1000 m depth. In the inshore fishery, the number of

licensed boats is capped by law at 500. Trammel nets must have a minimum stretched mesh

size of 32 mm. The time of day for setting nets is also regulated. Fishing licence limitations

also control the multipurpose fishery. The fishing season for large pelagics lasts between

spring and autumn. Furthermore, the minimum size of fish caught is defined for all fisheries.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture in Cyprus started in 1969 by setting up the first trout farms in the Troodos

mountain range. The first attempts at marine aquaculture were made in 1972 with the setting

up by the government of a marine research station on the east coast of Cyprus, near

Famagusta. The first private commercial marine fish hatchery became operational in 1986,

producing fingerlings of gilthead seabream and European seabass. The first seabass and

seabream farming unit, which relied on land-based coastal installations, was established in

1988, whilst the first commercial open sea cage farm was established in 1989. By 1997 a total

of eight open sea cage farms were operational on the south coast of the island.

In 2004 four private marine fish

hatcheries, one land-based shrimp

hatchery and farm as well as six

private offshore cage farms were

operational. In order to diversify

aquaculture, a license for the

fattening Atlantic bluefin tuna was

provided in 2003. At present, three

bluefin tuna fattening units

operate in the country.

Furthermore, six small trout farms

and two small farms for the

culture of ornamental freshwater

fish are also operational.

The small size of marine fish

farms in Cyprus entails relatively

high production costs. The lack of

economies of scale makes them

less competitive internationally, even though some vertical integration of marine fish farming

units has recently taken place.

Total employment in the aquaculture sector in 2004 was 206 farmers. The majority are

employed in the marine aquaculture sector (179) and a smaller number in the freshwater

sector (27). Employment includes both full-time and part-time and covers production,

administration and marketing.

Aquaculture production has been increasing in recent years through the development of

gilthead seabream and European seabass farming. In 1998, Cypriot aquaculture managed to

Picture credits: Paolo Manzoni.

15

produce more than 1 000 tonnes and in 2004 it peaked at 2 400 tonnes. In 2005, it declined

slightly to 2 300 tonnes (Figure 6).

Fig. 6. Aquaculture production in Cyprus, 1984-2005

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 5001984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

year

ton

nes


The main farmed commercial species are gilthead seabream, European seabass and bluefin

tuna (Table 5). Other species such as sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo), Shi drum

(Umbrina cirrosa), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and Indian white prawn (Penaues indicus) are

also produced in small quantities. The only freshwater fish cultured in Cyprus on a

commercial basis is the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Table 5. Composition of the Cypriot aquaculture output, 1950-2005 (tonnes).

Species 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Gilthead seabream 527 769 827 986 1 384 1 278 1 266 1 182 1 356 1 465

European seabass 100 57 205 298 299 383 422 448 698 583

Atlantic bluefin tuna 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 193

TOTAL

(inc. others) 787 969 1 178 1 422 1 878 1 883 1 862 1 821 2 425 2 333


The Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, through the Department of

Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) is in charge of the management of aquaculture

operations in Cyprus. Technical and financial support is granted to aquaculture farmers

through EU channels. The EU strategy for aquaculture in Cyprus is focused on the

modernization of the facilities, the setting up of new farms and the improvement of

processing and marketing.

16

2.3.2. International Trade

Imports

Cypriot seafood imports increased from 1 700 tonnes in 1976 to 18 600 tonnes in 2006

(Figure 7). After fish meal and fish oil, the main group of commodities imported by Cyprus

are frozen fish, molluscs (fresh, chilled, frozen and cured) and prepared/preserved fish.

Fig. 7. Seafood imports into Cyprus, 1976-2006

5 000

10 000

15 000

20 000

25 000

1976

1981

1986

1991

1996

2001

2006

year

ton

ne

s

(sources: FAO FISHSTAT Plus -1976 to 2005- and EUROSTAT – 2006-).

Frozen fish imports increased from 1 100 tonnes in 1999 to 3 900 tonnes in 2006. The main

frozen seafood category imported by Cyprus is that of small pelagics. Imports of molluscs

increased from 2 350 tonnes in 1999 to 3 300 tonnes in 2006, the main commodities being

frozen octopus and frozen squid of the genera Nototodarus spp. and Ommastrephes spp.

Imports of canned fish are dominated by canned tuna (Table 6).

Table 6. Cypriot seafood imports by group of commodities (tonnes).

Product type 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Meals and Oils 6 962 7 886 9 205 8 132 7 236 7 968 6 484 4 624

Frozen fish 1 142 1 125 1 308 1 112 2 791 4 503 12 744 3 908

Molluscs, fresh chilled

frozen and cured 2 347 2 269 2 363 2 580 2 741 3 001 2 655 3 265

Prepared and preserved fish 2 909 2 757 3 106 3 282 2 604 3 022 3 467 3 229

Fish fillets, fish meat, surimi 1 057 1 179 1 271 1 070 1 010 1 345 1 455 1 535

Crustaceans, live, fresh,

frozen, cured 457 436 506 411 421 538 728 844

Fresh fish 72 113 124 158 283 1 953 2 078 736

Prepared and preserved

molluscs and crustaceans 49 66 140 106 152 281 244 298

Cured fish 106 150 90 89 74 171 134 131

Live fish 19 12 15 16 19 22 30 48

TOTAL 15 119 15 992 18 129 16 956 17 331 22 804 30 018 18 617

(source: EUROSTAT).

17

Excluding fish meal and fish oil, imports of very few commodities amount to more than

1 000 tonnes/year. Canned tuna is a remunerative product with a relatively good market in

Cyprus, its imports averaging approximately 1 200 tonnes/year between 1999 and 2006

(Table 7). Cypriot imports of canned tuna in oil are dominated (more than 80 percent in 2006)

by Thailand. Small quantities are also imported from Vietnam.

The most remunerative commodities are fresh and chilled edible saltwater fish, its unit value

being EUR8.43/kg in 2006, and frozen Penaeus shrimp, its unit value being EUR6.20/kg in

2006. However, imports of fresh saltwater fish totalled only 400 tonnes and frozen Penaeus

shrimp totalled merely 600 tonnes in 2006 (Table 7). The main suppliers of frozen Penaeus

shrimp are Thailand, India and Malaysia, whilst fresh saltwater fish comes from Greece,

Egypt and Tunisia.

The imports of frozen cephalopods are also relatively important. The main supplying

countries of frozen octopus to Cyprus are India, Egypt and Greece. Instead, China is almost

the unique supplier of frozen Nototodarus spp. and Sepioteuthis spp. squid to Cyprus

(Table 7).

18

Table 7. Cypriot seafood import quantities, values and unit values by main commodity.

Commodity 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

MT 6 845 7 663 8 823 7 890 6 929 6 929 5 195 3 052

€1 000 3 719 4 279 5 588 6 160 4 944 5 094 3 541 2 192

23012000 – Fish meal

(flours, meals and pellets)

€/kg 0.54 0.56 0.63 0.78 0.71 0.74 0.68 0.72

MT 0 4 21 2 164 53 11 1 525

€1 000 0 5 30 2 125 42 22 894

03035000 – Frozen herring

Clupea harengus C. pallasii

€/kg 0.00 1.29 1.42 1.12 0.76 0.80 2.04 0.59

MT 0 1 22 47 23 658 937 1 366

€1 000 0 16 33 27 519 771 966 23099010 – Fish meal (solubles)

€/kg 0.00 0.83 0.74 0.70 1.19 0.79 0.82 0.71

MT 1 244 1 133 1 104 1 499 1 066 1 088 1 460 1 325

€1 000 3 543 3 220 3 269 4 312 2 590 2 489 3 743 3 276 16041411 – Canned tuna in oil

€/kg 2.85 2.84 2.96 2.88 2.43 2.29 2.56 2.47

MT 671 622 494 623 849 838 643 807

€1 000 1 719 1 525 1 218 1 794 2 403 2 589 1 932 2 482 03075910 – Frozen Octopus spp.

€/kg 2.56 2.45 2.47 2.88 2.83 3.09 3.00 3.08

MT 1 2 4 4 4 106 0 782

€1 000 2 1 3 5 5 80 0 506

03037130 – Frozen sardines

(Sardinops spp. and Sardinella spp.)

€/kg 1.77 0.82 0.74 1.16 1.22 0.76 0.00 0.65

MT 64 29 41 55 151 275 430 565

€1 000 405 158 262 318 892 1 614 2 404 3 500 03061350 – Frozen Penaeus shrimp

€/kg 6.33 5.38 6.34 5.79 5.89 5.87 5.59 6.20

MT 68 106 0 144 259 1 888 344 434

€1 000 845 1 285 0 1 021 1 498 5 428 2 564 3 659

03026999 – Fresh or chilled

edible saltwater fish

€/kg 12.48 12.17 0.00 7.08 5.79 2.88 7.46 8.43

MT 327 252 285 597 641 756 316 420

€1 000 824 764 757 1 356 1 450 1 447 797 856

03074959 – Frozen Nototodarus spp.

and Sepioteuthis spp. squid

€/kg 2.52 3.03 2.65 2.27 2.26 1.91 2.52 2.04

MT 19 9 28 86 135 129 193 387

€1 000 52 43 100 323 436 334 663 1 212

03042019 – Frozen fillets

of freshwater fish

€/kg 2.78 4.81 3.54 3.76 3.22 2.60 3.43 3.13

MT 15 119 15 992 18 129 16 956 17 331 22 804 30 018 18 617

€1 000 29 554 31 754 36 652 34 858 32 107 42 064 54 232 45 824 TOTAL (inc. others)

€/kg 1.95 1.99 2.02 2.06 1.85 1.84 1.81 2.46

(source: EUROSTAT).

19

Fellow EU members like Denmark, Greece and Portugal remain the principal suppliers of

seafood into Cyprus (Table 8). Imports of seafood from developing countries averaged

7 000 tonnes/year between 1999 and 2006, approximately 50 percent of this amount coming

from Thailand and China. Canned tuna is the main product imported from Thailand, whilst

frozen and dried-salted squid, as well as surimi preparations, are the main products imported

from China.

Table 8. Cypriot seafood imports by main country of origin, 1995-2006 (tonnes).

Country 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Denmark 3 762 3 958 6 798 7 714 5 128 6 157 5 355 3 324

Thailand 1 783 1 809 1 832 2 006 1 670 2 109 1 926 2 249

Greece 345 427 437 442 571 1 432 1 835 1 659

Netherlands 858 425 263 279 303 260 314 1 490

Portugal 174 161 226 189 220 190 221 1 249

China 93 149 249 161 61 307 601 1 084

Spain 381 248 285 468 1 907 4 936 13 296 937

Lebanon 4 1 1 11 0 0 11 781

New Zealand 344 562 545 479 618 968 598 597

India 636 660 550 501 523 544 421 593

United

Kingdom 531 531 806 520 483 695 594 574

Germany 402 235 89 121 67 347 561 493

Vietnam 11 0 69 172 145 157 350 470

Egypt 209 180 253 387 536 194 297 345

Malaysia 61 202 231 215 173 123 107 262

France 38 59 14 39 98 227 127 240

Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 130 175 228

Taiwan PC 798 781 989 694 780 424 321 202

Norway 520 457 432 375 325 102 221 196

Israel 43 38 2 1 102 490 822 183

Italy 81 21 38 63 83 373 155 164

Belgium 27 61 22 38 45 46 83 117

Indonesia 229 69 251 157 154 63 207 106 TOTAL

(inc. others) 15 119 15 992 18 129 16 956 17 331 22 804 30 018 18 617

(source: EUROSTAT).

Exports

Up to 2003, seafood exported by Cyprus used to be, on average, far below 1 000 tonnes/year.

Further to the setting up of fattening units aimed at supplying the Japanese market with

bluefin tuna, exports of seafood by Cyprus increased to an average of 2 800 tonnes/year

between 2004 and 2006 (Figure 8).

20

Fig. 8. Seafood exports by Cyprus, 1988-2006

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 500

3 000

3 500

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

year

ton

nes

(source: FAO FISHSTAT Plus -1988 to 2005- and EUROSTAT -2006-).

Nearly all exports from Cyprus are aimed at supplying Japan, Russia, Spain and Israel

(Table 9). Cyprus supplies Japan with frozen bluefin tuna fillets, whereas the Russian

Federation is supplied with fresh European seabass, fresh unidentified saltwater fishes and

fresh seabream belonging to the species Dentex dentex and to the genus Pagellus. Fresh and

chilled bluefin is the main export to Spain, supposedly at a farm-to-farm level. Israel is

supplied with fresh and chilled bluefin and fresh unidentified saltwater fish.

Table 9. Cypriot seafood exports by main country of destination, 1999-2006 (tonnes).

Country 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Japan 0.9 3.7 11 11.3 12 960.8 1479.7 1028.9

Russia 0 4.9 41.8 138.7 239.7 302.5 495.9 764.2

Spain 0 10.6 1.7 2.3 2 238.1 396.2 417.1

Israel 4.1 1.7 1.9 84.9 135.7 240 234.7 360.9 TOTAL

(inc.

others) 329.3 735.2 755.2 756.3 563.5 2566.7 3110.1 2752.5

(source: EUROSTAT).

Remunerative fish farming products such as bluefin tuna, seabass and seabream represent the

greater part of seafood exports from Cyprus (Table 10).

21

Table 10. Cypriot seafood export quantities, values and unit values by main commodity.

Commodity 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

MT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 033

€1 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 797

03042045 – Frozen Thunnus spp. and

Euthynnus spp. fillets

€/kg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.42

MT 15 65 157 146 112 252 291 465

€1 000 87 354 866 793 552 1573 1767 2801

3026994 – Fresh or chilled seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax

€/kg 5.79 5.45 5.53 5.43 4.94 6.25 6.07 6.02

MT 0 7 10 1 0 1 31 407

€1 000 1 39 52 4 0 4 195 2167

3026995 – Fresh or chilled saltwater

fish not identified

€/kg 4.52 5.61 5.01 5.16 0.00 5.67 6.32 5.33

MT 0 0 0 0 0 0 294 400

€1 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 783 1 217

3023690 – Fresh or chilled bluefin tuna

€/kg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.67 3.05

MT 122 425 270 198 207 342 553 330

€1 000 669 2 294 1 408 811 660 1 106 2 609 1 308

3026961 – Fresh and chilled sea bream

Dentex dentex and Pagellus spp.

€/kg

5.49 5.39 5.22 4.09 3.19 3.24 4.71 3.96

MT 329 735 755 756 564 2567 3110 2753

€1 000 4 052 6 602 7 122 5 517 3 932 22 342 24 894 20 071 TOTAL (inc. others)

€/kg 12.31 8.98 9.43 7.29 6.98 8.70 8.00 7.29

(source: EUROSTAT).

2.3.3. Processing

The fish captured by Cypriot fishermen are all aimed at human consumption in fresh form.

Tunas from fattening pens are sold in whole or filleted form to Japanese buyers.

2.3.4. Marketing and distribution systems

The marketing of fish products in Cyprus follow traditional channels, with the majority of

fishers and fish farmers selling their catch to small fish retail shops. Prices are fixed and there

is no auction system. However, the ongoing purchasing and upgrading of retail fish shops by

fish farming companies may improve marketing as well as increase the quantity of

aquaculture products sold locally. Another factor of modernization is the growth of the market

share of supermarkets.

The main supermarket and hypermarket chains are Carrefour, Alpha Mega, Orphanides and

ESEL-SPOLP (E&S) superstores. Following the merger with Chris Cash & Carry, Carrefour

Cyprus now has nine stores (five hypermarkets and four supermarkets) in Limassol, Paphos

and Paralimni, and it is setting up two more big supermarkets in Nicosia. Alpha Mega is a

hypermarket chain selling fresh whole or filleted fish. Orphanides is the only major food

retailer in Cyprus trading island-wide. Orphanides’s food range (including fish) is currently

obtained primarily through domestic sources. ESEL-SPOLP resulted from the merging of

supermarket chains ESEL (for food and garments) and SPOLP (for household goods). ESEL-

SPOLP currently owns ten shops in the areas of Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos and Polis. Fresh

seafood is marketed in the seven shops belonging to the sub-group “E&S Supermarkets”.

22

3. MALTA

3.1. Executive summary

Seafood consumption in Malta increased from 10.8 kg/pc in 1961 to 30.8 kg/pc in 2003.

However, data should be weighed against the large influx of tourists visiting Malta every

year.

Maltese captures increased from 1 000 tonnes in 1950 to 1 400 tonnes in 2005, peaking in

1985 at 2 600 tonnes. Catches are dominated by common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus),

swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). European seabass

(Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) represent 100 percent of

Maltese full-cycle aquaculture production, which increased from 200 tonnes in 1991 to

2000 tonnes in 1999. In the years that followed, aquaculture production of seabass and

seabream declined until it reached 700 tonnes in 2005. According to ICCAT data, seven tuna

fattening facilities are registered in Maltese waters, equivalent to a combined capacity of

nearly 10 000 tonnes/year. Overall, Maltese exports of bluefin tuna to Japan increased from

30 tonnes in 1999 to 3 700 tonnes in 2006, the latter figure being composed by 99 percent

fattened product.

Imports of seafood increased from less than 2 000 tonnes in 1976 to 14 300 tonnes in 2006.

The main imported products are fish meal, frozen small pelagics and canned tuna in oil. Spain

is the main supplier of seafood to Malta.

Exports of seafood consist mostly in Atlantic bluefin tuna shipped to Japan. They increased

from less than 2 000 tonnes in 1999 to nearly 5 000 tonnes in 2006.

While aquaculture products (tuna, seabass, seabream) are generally shipped abroad, capture

fishery products are sold through the wholesale fish market in Valletta, by public auction

carried out by few intermediaries. Government representatives then collect the monies due to

the fishers. The fish are marketed by about 150 registered fish vendors, each of them with an

exclusive marketing zone. Fresh fish in Malta is almost exclusively sold by fishmongers.

3.2. Seafood consumption in Malta

According to calculations based on FAO data, the pattern of seafood consumption is Malta

appears to be quite discontinuous. Seafood consumption in Malta has been estimated to have

increased from 10.8 kg/pc in 1961 to 30.8 kg/pc in 2003, with a decline in the mid-eighties,

probably due to problems in reporting customs data rather than to a real drop in seafood

consumption (Figure 9).

23

Fig. 9. Seafood consumption in Malta, 1961-

2003

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

1961

1964

1967

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

year

kg

/pc

(source: FAO FIES).

Traditional Maltese food is rustic and based on the seasons. In the past, as in most southern

Mediterranean diets, meat was scarce therefore fish played a major role. Even today, many

older people follow the Catholic tradition of eating fish on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Maltese cuisine is largely

influenced by Italian and

Moorish cuisine, the traditional

fish recipes being fish soup and

lampuki (common dolphinfish)

which is the island’s favourite

fish, whether oven-baked, pan-

fried or made into fish pies.

Other island’s favourites are

spnotta (bass), cerna (grouper),

dentici (dentex), sargu (bream)

and trill (mullet). Swordfish and

tuna follow later in the season,

around early to late autumn.

Octopus and squid make some

rich stews and pasta sauces.

Consumption of seafood in

Malta is thus dominated by

pelagic species (Table 11). However, data should be weighed against the large influx of

tourists visiting Malta every year, especially in the summer season, who mostly consume

seafood-based dishes.

Picture credits: Eddie Gerald.

24

Table 11. Seafood consumption in Malta by group of commodities, 1993-2003 (kg/pc) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

All 16.85 21.79 25.58 26 28.35 29.95 32.05 29.71 30.07 29.54 30.77

Pelagic 7.63 11.24 12.22 12.36 14.82 14.83 14.59 15.75 11.51 14.24 13.00

Demersal 0.28 1.27 1.3 1.94 3.23 4.64 4.06 2.48 3.23 2.77 4.08

Molluscs 0 0.02 0.1 0.77 0.94 3.21 3.95 3.16 4.02 4.11 3.39

Crustaceans 4.75 4.28 5.45 4.37 5.01 2.02 2.41 2.12 1.97 2.08 3.37

Marine 3.09 3.77 4.35 4.74 2.43 2.19 2.85 2.6 4.29 3.15 3.16

Cephalopods 0.73 0.79 1.88 1.06 1.08 1.06 1.62 1.08 2.42 1.22 2.09

Freshwater 0.37 0.41 0.27 0.76 0.84 1.55 2.2 2.14 2.09 1.68 1.52

Other aquatic animals 0 0 0 0 0 0.45 0.36 0.38 0.53 0.29 0.17

(source: FAO FIES).

3.3. The industry

3.3.1. Total production

The Maltese fisheries and aquaculture output has experienced limited growth since the fifties,

with the exception of 1996 when fishery production surpassed 9 000 tonnes through the

captures of distant water fishing fleets flying Maltese flag (Figure 10).


Malta, 1950-2005

500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000 3 500 4 000 4 500 5 000 5 500 6 000 6 500 7 000 7 500 8 000 8 500 9 000 9 500

10 000 10 500 11 000

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

year

ton

nes

Aquaculture

Capture (Distant Water Fleets)

Capture (Mediterranean and Black

Sea)


Excluding captures by distant water fleets, Maltese fisheries and aquaculture production

increased from 1 000 tonnes in 1950 to a record of 3 200 tonnes in 1999, but declined in the

years that followed to an average slightly above 2 000 tonnes/year (Figure 11).

25


Malta (excluding distant water fleets), 1950-2005

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 500

3 000

3 500

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

year

ton

nes

Aquaculture

Capture (Mediterranean and Black Sea)


Capture fisheries

Maltese fisheries are of a typically Mediterranean artisanal type, e.g. multi-species and multi-

gear. The average Maltese fishing vessel (there were 2 252 registered vessels in 2004) is well

below 10 m, with the exception of the trawlers, which use bottom otter trawls and average

22.5 m. Multi-purpose vessels are a relatively recent addition to the fleet, but represent more

than 35 percent of the fleet. The main gears are various forms of hook-and-line which

represent over 60 percent of the registered fishing gear in Malta. Different types of gillnets

and entangling nets are also popular (20 percent), whilst traps form over ten percent of the

registered gear. The most prevalent method of fishing is set bottom longlining, which is

seasonally operated by over half of the operational vessels. Trammel netting is practised by

27 percent of the fishers, principally those operating smaller craft. A quarter of the fishers use

the hand trolling line locally known as rixa, which consists of a line and artificial lure, mainly

made of hackle and neck feathers, covering different sizes of hooks. The main species

targeted by the rixa is the common dolphinfish.

Even if the output of the Maltese fishing industry is equivalent to about 0.1 percent of the

national GDP, the livelihood of most local fishers depends on the sale of highly-priced

species in upmarket restaurants, whose main clientele is represented by tourists in the summer

months. In 2004, 455 full-time and 848 part-time workers were estimated to be employed in

Maltese fisheries, with women accounting for less than one percent of the total.

26

Maltese captures remained relatively stable over time, increasing from 1 000 tonnes in 1950

to 1 400 tonnes only in 2005, peaking in 1985 at 2 600 tonnes (Figure 12). Catches are

dominated by common dolphinfish, swordfish and Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Fig. 12. Total fishery production in Malta by main

species (excluding distant water fleets), 1950-2005

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 500

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

year

ton

nes

Others

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Sw ordfish

Common dolphinfish


The traditional dolphinfish or lampuki fishery takes place every year between August and

December, but it can be extended to January. Apart from their registered normal fishing

activity, up to 130 vessels of more than 6 m participate in the lampuki fishery. Before the start

of the fishery, a fishing site or rimja is assigned to each vessel after lots are drawn for each

national district. Each licensee must lay at least 35 Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), which

are anchored small floating rafts onto which a few palm fronds are attached, in a straight line

along a given direction. Fishing sites are distributed all around the Maltese archipelago, apart

from the “swordfish corridor”, which is kept free from lampuki FADs so that swordfish

fishing can proceed unhindered. The sites start from 7 miles offshore and FADs are laid at

intervals of one-half to three-quarters of a mile, depending on the district.

Between April and August, the market is dominated by landings of Atlantic bluefin tuna and

swordfish. Both species are caught by pelagic drifting longlines, with tuna longlines being

double in strength than swordfish longlines because Atlantic bluefin tunas are heavier and

stronger than swordfish. On an annual basis, swordfish is the second most landed species in

terms of weight, and it is the only species with landings of more than one tonne in every

month of the year. It is targeted throughout the year, even though its peak season ranges

between May and August.

The Fisheries Conservation and Control Division (FCCD) manages both capture and

aquaculture industries. Since the EU accession in May 2004, Malta has adopted fishery

management measures compliant with the CFP.

27

Aquaculture

Marine farming in floating cages dominates Maltese aquaculture production. The main

aquaculture activities are the fattening in pens of wild-caught Atlantic bluefin tuna, as well as

full-cycle farming of European seabass and gilthead seabream. Atlantic bluefin tuna is

generally shipped to Japan, whereas European seabass and gilthead seabream are exported to

Italy. Approximately 120 full-time workers are employed in the aquaculture sector, along with

64 part-timers. A few women are employed in fish processing activities.

Aquaculture was introduced into Malta following the establishment of the National

Aquaculture Centre (NAC) in 1988. In the early nineties, commercial fish farms started

producing European seabass and gilthead seabream. The NAC developed its own pilot marine

hatchery for the production of gilthead seabream and European seabass fingerlings in 1992.

At the turn of the century, Maltese companies showed interest in farming Atlantic bluefin

tunas in large circular floating offshore cages. At present, more than 3 000 tonnes of farmed

Atlantic bluefin tuna are shipped every year to Japan.

In 2001 the National Aquaculture Centre was re-named the Malta Centre for Fisheries

Sciences (MCFS). The MCFS is now offering expertise to the regulatory bodies and

technical support to the local industry. It operates a pilot marine hatchery focusing on

research into aquaculture species diversification. Malta also participates in co-operative

research and development for the establishment of a long-term and sustainable farming

industry for Atlantic bluefin tuna with the support of the European Commission.

FAO FISHSTAT Plus does not provide any figures on tuna fattening. Therefore, seabass and

seabream represent 100 percent of the production, which increased from 200 tonnes in 1991

to 2000 tonnes in 1999. In the years that followed, aquaculture production of seabass and

seabream declined until it reached 700 tonnes in 2005 (Figure 13). In fact, during the last

decade, there has been a shift in farming between the former species and bluefin tuna.

According to ICCAT data, seven tuna fattening facilities are registered in Maltese

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