Attempts to drive the "local" ethos in British seafood will be permanently dominated by the growing presence of Norway in both wild-caught and farmed seafood supply.
Not only is Britain consuming more Norwegian seafood, but its aquaculture sector is now mostly owned by Norwegian companies.
The latest export figures come against the backdrop of the merger of Pan Fish with Marine Harvest and Fjord Seafood, creating an aquaculture colossus.
The combined Pan Fish-Marine Harvest company will account for approximately 20% of the world's salmon production.
UNFAO figures show that China is the largest seafood exporter in the world with an export value of $6.8bn (£3.7bn). Norway is now in second place with $4.2m (£2.3bn) and Thailand third at $4bn (£2.17bn).
And during the first five months of 2006, exports of farmed seafood from Norway surpassed exports of wild-caught fish for
the first time, according to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. Export values were also the highest ever for the first five months of the year, up 13.5% year on year, and in May alone were up 33% compared with May last year. High salmon prices were behind the figures, but volumes were also up.
Exports to the EU, meanwhile, rose 21% compared with the first five months of 2005, with the EU's share of the total exports from Norway having increased from 61% in 2005 to 65 % in 2006. The average price in May for fresh salmon to the EU was 37.54NOK/kg (£3.28) as against 25.65NOK (£2.23) in May 2005. Salmon accounts for 53% of all exported seafood to the EU compared with 47% in 2005.
Countries growing imports of Norwegian seafood the most are France and England.
Rolf Domstein, chairman of the Council, said exports of fresh seafood were increasing, particularly fresh salmon. "During the first quarter of 2005, fresh Norwegian fish accounted for 38% of the exports by value, while the share after the first four months of this year had risen to 43%."
Not only is Britain consuming more Norwegian seafood, but its aquaculture sector is now mostly owned by Norwegian companies.
The latest export figures come against the backdrop of the merger of Pan Fish with Marine Harvest and Fjord Seafood, creating an aquaculture colossus.
The combined Pan Fish-Marine Harvest company will account for approximately 20% of the world's salmon production.
UNFAO figures show that China is the largest seafood exporter in the world with an export value of $6.8bn (£3.7bn). Norway is now in second place with $4.2m (£2.3bn) and Thailand third at $4bn (£2.17bn).
And during the first five months of 2006, exports of farmed seafood from Norway surpassed exports of wild-caught fish for
the first time, according to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. Export values were also the highest ever for the first five months of the year, up 13.5% year on year, and in May alone were up 33% compared with May last year. High salmon prices were behind the figures, but volumes were also up.
Exports to the EU, meanwhile, rose 21% compared with the first five months of 2005, with the EU's share of the total exports from Norway having increased from 61% in 2005 to 65 % in 2006. The average price in May for fresh salmon to the EU was 37.54NOK/kg (£3.28) as against 25.65NOK (£2.23) in May 2005. Salmon accounts for 53% of all exported seafood to the EU compared with 47% in 2005.
Countries growing imports of Norwegian seafood the most are France and England.
Rolf Domstein, chairman of the Council, said exports of fresh seafood were increasing, particularly fresh salmon. "During the first quarter of 2005, fresh Norwegian fish accounted for 38% of the exports by value, while the share after the first four months of this year had risen to 43%."
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