State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2004 - Library

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The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2004
Note
Shrimp
During 2003, shrimp imports in several key markets reached new highs. Sales to the
world’s largest shrimp market, the United States, exceeded 500 000 tonnes for the first
time – 17 percent higher than imports in 2002. Annual imports of shrimp into Japan
during 2003 declined by 6 percent compared with the previous year, continuing a
long-term downward trend that is a consequence of the country’s continued difficult
economic situation. In Europe, shrimp imports increased in 2003, as a result of a strong
euro and competitive international prices. Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand and
Viet Nam are under investigation for dumping in the United States, which will create
some problems for their sales there in the short term. Prices remained low during most
of 2003, and there are no indications of an increase in 2004. Shrimp prices in the United
States and Japan are presented in Figure 34.
Cephalopods
On the cephalopod market, lower Illex catches were offset by higher production
of Loligo squid. Octopus catches were relatively low. The beginning of 2004 was
marked by reduced squid landings, notably in the Southwest Atlantic. Spain remains
the leading European squid market. During 2003, frozen imports (Illex and Loligo)
increased by 7 percent over 2002 levels to almost 160 000 tonnes. This increase was
the result of a 22 percent jump in Loligo imports that more than compensated for
the 6 percent drop in frozen Illex imports. In 2003, the Italian squid market followed
a similar trend to that of Spain, with a rise in frozen imports and a shift from Illex
towards Loligo. Total imports into Italy reached 85 000 tonnes, 8 percent higher than
in 2002. Japan continued to be the main market for cephalopods worldwide in 2003,
but its imports were hit by low arrivals of octopus from Morocco. Imports by Japan in
2003 were 56 000 tonnes, down from 72 000 tonnes in 2002. The octopus resource in
the Central East Atlantic is under stress, and no improvement to the supply situation is
likely in the short term. Prices for all cephalopod products increased in 2004. Figure 35
presents cephalod prices in Japan.
Fishmeal
The bulk of fishmeal production – about 60 percent – is exported each year. In 2003,
fishmeal production in the five major exporting countries amounted to 4.5 million