Early September 2009 marked by mixed price trends

Early September 2009 has been marked by upward and downward price trends on Russia's frozen seafood market such as strengthening prices for blue whiting versus price decreases for salmon products, analysts of www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) concluded after analyzing the current situation on the market.

More specifically, the prices have been decreasing for salmon caviar and roe, pink salmon and tilapia fillets.

Catch

As per 31 August 2009 the Russian fishermen harvested 2.393 million metric tons of finfish and other aquatic products. The figure was 246,000 tonnes or 12% up on the last year level. The take-up of the TAC in percents therefore amounted to 60%, 11.5% up on the corresponding result of last year.

In early September 2009 the saury fishery was gathering momentum in the Russian Far East with catches considerably growing from late August. More specifically, from 25 August 2009 to 1 September 2009 the Russian vessels harvested 11,356 tonnes of saury. In Vladivostok traders already offered first lots of blast frozen saury 29+ at RUB43.00-45.00 per kilo.

First electronic fish auction

On the previous week Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange conducted a trial electronic seafood auction with 320 tonnes of frozen fat capelin put up for sale. Though the lot remained unsold, the first step towards creating an electronic seafood exchange has been made.

Vet update

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor approved importation of shrimps to the Russian Federation from Zeus Investments Inc. Sucursal Colombia Cartagena Shrimp Co. from Columbia as of 28 August 2009. Besides, the Russian vets published a list of Bangladesh fish farming, fishing, processing and storage companies approved for export to the Russian Federation.