A Fish tale to Ponder!

2007 promises to be one full of challenges for Ugandan Tilapia and frozen Nile perch exporters to the EU:

1) Nile perch production seems to be waning. Catch from the lake is increasingly smaller, the kind that wont make fillet for the market. Besides, the local market doesnt like Nile perch too...

2) Nile perch prices in the EU are beggining to wane, it is suspected, mainly due to bad press...

3) Nile perch resource seems to be under strain in Lake Victoria while tilapia stocks are growing in the lake.

According to the publication sea food international, i quote "According to biologists, we may be seeing the development of a cycle in which tilapia stocks grow, which in turn provides more food for the carnivorous Nile perch. The Nile perch stocks will then increase until there is too little tilapia, and then the Nile perch will decline, and so on."

Interesting trends, since this may offer a temporary reprieve from the dangers of over-fishing in Lake Victoria. Uganda's exports of fish have reached phenomenal levels (over US$ 105 million) though they are still not comparable to larger fishing nations like vietnam (who have cultured our tilapia and conquered the market....)

Again, according to Seafood International, i quote, "US imports of tilapia continue to grow rapidly. According to US import statistics, the country’s imports of tilapia grew by over 25% during the first half of 2006 to 74,000 tonnes. At the same time, the average import price for tilapia increased by $0.03 per lb to $1.39 per lb, or $3.06 per kg."

Imports of frozen fillets into the USA grew particularly strongly; up 47% to 33,400 tonnes. Imports of whole frozen tilapia also grew in the first half of the year; the increase was 18% by volume and an amazing 48% by value, as prices for whole frozen tilapia have increased significantly.

Most of the whole frozen fish is supplied by China and Taiwan.

The bottom line, Asian exporters are moving aggressively into the market, while African producers struggle to catch up! ... this, in my opinion, leaves alot of Food for thought!!!

NB: italiscised text fully quoted from Seafood International