Latest trends The first months of the year are generally a slow sales period for fishery and aquaculture products in Europe, and 2023 has not been an exception to this rule. Demand was low over the course of February, but prices generally moved up, especially for seabass and seabream and groundfish. In this issue of the European Fish Price Report, some 31 percent of the fish prices moved up, 27 percent moved down, while 41 percent stayed stable. The European Union concluded an agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 2023 fishing opportunities for fish stocks shared bilaterally in the Northeast Atlantic. The agreement will contribute to the sustainable management of jointly managed fish stocks present in both parties' waters, as well as provide stability and predictability for fleets and operators. It applies to more than 74 stocks and secures fishing opportunities of over 350 000 tonnes for the EU fleet, estimated to be worth around EUR 1 billion based on historic landing prices, adjusted for inflation. The deal covers all shared and jointly managed fisheries resources in EU and UK waters, establishing total allowable catch limits (TACs) for 2023 for the shared stocks, as well as reciprocal access to fishing for albacore tuna. In addition, the parties committed to several concrete work streams to improve the sustainable management of shared fish stocks over the course of next year within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Fisheries, including a review of technical measures to protect vulnerable stocks across sea basins. The Global Container Freight Index (FBX) quoted USD 2 214 on 27 January 2023 compared to USD 19 806 in January 2022. The current index is well below last year’s level but still much higher than pre COVID-19 levels which,
February 2023 2/2023 Index for prices
Groundfish
10
Flatfish
12
Tuna
13
Small Pelagics
14
Cephalopods
14
Crustaceans
16
Bivalves
16
Salmon
18
Trout
19
Freshwater fish
19
Non Traditional Species
19
Seabass-SeabreamMeagre
20
The European Fish Price Report, based on information supplied by industry correspondents, aims to provide guidance on broad price trends. Price information is indicative and should be used only for forecasting medium- and long-term trends. FAO is not responsible for any errors or omissions.