U.K. government officials and seafood organizations are aggressively pursuing other markets for mackerel and salmon since Russia enacted its seafood ban on 6 August.
The U.K. exported 13,000 tons of seafood worth GBP 18 million (USD 30 million, EUR 22.5 million) to Russia in 2013, made up primarily of mackerel (GBP 16 million (USD 26.5 million, EUR 20 million) and salmon (GBP 1 million (USD 1.7 million, EUR 1.3 million). Russia accounts for between a quarter and a third of all frozen mackerel exports from the Scottish primary pelagic processing plants, according to Seafish.
To make matters worse, the U.K. quota for mackerel has recently doubled, meaning the Scottish fleet “will be catching more than ever,” according to Seafish. “Therefore, the biggest impact of the sanctions will affect the Scottish pelagic industry — both offshore and onshore.”
“This ban is totally unjustified and I share the concerns of Scotland's fishing industry about the possible impact on their business,” said Elizabeth Truss, environment secretary for the U.K. Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
As a result of the ban, large tonnages of mackerel will be consigned for fishmeal and oil.
However, DEFRA and Seafish are already deploying programs to boost the consumption of mackerel in the U.K. and in foreign markets. DEFRA will work to increase access to existing markets for mackerel, especially in the Far East and West Africa.
Japan, China and the rest of Southeast Asia will also become key targets, according to Seafish. “We are organizing stands at a variety of trade shows in Southeast Asia and the Far East, and offering the pelagic processors space at these stands,” Denise Fraser, senior media relations officer for Seafish, told SeafoodSource.
At the Tokyo Seafood Show, from 19-21 August, half of the SDI pavilion will be dedicated to the Scottish pelagic processor. Likewise, Seafish will host an information stand at the Asia Seafood Expo in Hong Kong, from 2-4 September. Two other shows that will have a strong Scottish seafood presence are World Seafood Moscow from 9-12 September and China Fisheries from 5-7 November.Seafish is also developing a consumer campaign in order to make mackerel more attractive at home. “We’re still ironing out the details, but we facilitated a call last week with some of the big retailers and processors, including Tesco, Morrisons and Young’s, as well as the Scottish and U.K. Governments, to discuss the issue and how the industry can respond,” Fraser said.
Seafish will boost its consumer efforts, utilizing its Fish is the Dish campaign to promote the health benefits of eating seafood, “specifically, the benefits of omega 3 of which mackerel and herring are the richest seafood sources”, Fraser said.“We are speaking with retailers, fishmongers and seafood processors, to help with a coordinated effort in making mackerel more prominent in the minds of consumers and make it easy for them to include it as one of their recommended two portions of seafood a week,” Fraser said.
Keep checking SeafoodSource for all the latest news on Russia’s ban on seafood exports
