EUMOFA Monthly Highlights 4/2021 is online

This month’s issue analyses first sales of Norway lobster (Denmark, France, Sweden); spottail mantis squillid (Italy, Spain). The case studies of this month are “Fisheries management in the Baltic Sea” and “Cuttlefish in the EU”

The headline messages from this month’s market insights are listed below.

FIRST SALES IN EUROPE. In January 2021 compared to January 2020, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and Sweden were the only countries that recorded an increase in both first-sales value and volume. The most recent weekly (up to week 14 of 2021) and monthly (February 2021) data for first sales in Europe can be accessed on the EUMOFA website.

FIRST SALES OF NORWAY LOBSTER AND SPOTTAIL MANTIS SQUILLID. From February 2018 to January 2021, the average first-sales price of Norway lobster in France was 12,54 EUR/kg, which was 82% higher than in Denmark (6,90 EUR/kg) and 23% higher than in Sweden (9,70 EUR/kg). Over the same period, the average first-sales price of spottail mantis squillid in Italy (5,17 EUR/kg) was 19% higher than that in Spain (4,18 EUR/kg).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS. During the first nine weeks of 2021, the price of prepared or preserved sardines from Morocco exhibited a slight downward trend.

CONSUMPTION. Denmark and Sweden are among the biggest consumers of flounder in the EU. In the past three years (February 2018 – January 2021), total household consumption of fresh flounder in Denmark (3.395 tonnes) was 608% higher than in Sweden (480 tonnes). The most recent weekly (up to week 8 of 2021) consumption data can be accessed on the EUMOFA website.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE BALTIC. The EU implemented a multiannual fisheries management plan in 2016, covering the Baltic Sea fisheries for cod, herring, and sprat. The multiannual plan requires that remedial measures be introduced when scientific advice indicates that a stock is threatened.

CUTTLEFISH IN THE EU. In 2018, landings of cuttlefish in the EU amounted to 23.170 tonnes, with a total value of EUR 158 million. France and Italy were the most important landing countries, with 29% and 28% of landing volume respectively.

GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS. On 16 March, the EU, Norway, and the UK signed an agreement for the joint management of cod, haddock, saithe, whiting, plaice, and herring.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel in March 2021 ranged between 0,41 and 0,48 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Prices increased by about 6,1% compared with the previous month.

Monthly Highlights 4/2021 is available in English, French and Spanish.