The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as on markets for seafood, according to a report from the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
Most Mediterranean countries experienced a decrease of more than 75 percent in the level of fish production since between 1 March and the end of April. But Turkey was a “notable exception,” with production continuing at pre-crisis levels as a result of continued demand and dedicated consumer campaigns. Since April, fishermen in many countries have adapted their catches and marketing strategies to meet the change in demand away from foodservice towards more home consumption, according to the GFCM document.
The positive news in Turkey’s market was bolstered in the report’s declaration that signs of improvement were evident in April across the Mediterranean, with a number of fisheries adapting through such steps as changing target species and marketing strategies in line with demand shifts.
However, the FAO warned that aquaculture farms in European Union countries had on average experienced a 30 to 40 percent decline in revenue, and that many farmers will soon face liquidity issues, as they struggle to pay for the upkeep of fish stock in tanks and cages. It reported one metric – exports of sea bass and sea bream from Greece and Turkey to Italy dropping by 50 percent – that pointed to a negative outcome for the biggest part of Turkey’s aquaculture sector.
However, Turkey’s overall fish exports have declined by a smaller 30 percent, according to Turkish news site Dunya. Fish farms mostly remained active, but many reported a decrease in the number of employees kept on to maintain essential tasks such as feeding and monitoring fish.
In response to the coronavirus crisis, Turkey’s aquaculture sector has demanded the government halt seafood imports for the next three months, and provide a relief package that includes reimbursement for extra feed costs associated with growing out fish for an additional three months. Turkey’s larger seafood industry has also issued a call for the government to reduce the value-added tax on the fish industry to 1 percent, according to Turkish news site Akit.
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