Very popular in both retail and foodservice, especially the fish and chips channel, the United Kingdom’s haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) supply is reliant upon both domestic landings and imports. With a decrease seen in the U.K. haddock catch last year, the gap in the growing market was filled by increased imports.
In 2015, the U.K. fleet landed 35,403 metric tons (MT) of haddock, a decline of 8.4 percent on the previous year, according to provisional data supplied by the U.K. Seafish Authority. The value of this catch increased by 13.5 percent to GBP 49.3 million (USD 65.4 million, EUR 59.2 million), equating to a first-sale value of GBP 1.39 (USD 1.84, EUR 1.67) per kg, up 23.9 percent.
At the same time, the country imported 41,018 MT of haddock for GBP 120 million (USD 159.2 million, EUR 144 million), up 14.3 percent and 8 percent, respectively. This equated to an average value of GBP 2.92 (USD 3.87, EUR 3.50) per kg, down 5.5 percent compared with 2014. Iceland, Norway and China are the main suppliers of haddock imports to the U.K. market.
Overall, the country’s haddock supply last year increased 2.5 percent in volume and 9.5 percent in first sale value to 76,422 MT and GBP 169.3 million (USD 224.6 million, EUR 203.2 million), which led to an average first sale value of GBP 2.22 (USD 2.95, EUR 2.66) per kg – up 6.8 percent.
The United Kingdom also exports modest volumes of haddock. Not surprisingly, the volume and value of this trade declined slightly last year to 917 MT worth GBP 2.5 million (USD 3.3 million, EUR 3 million). Its main markets are Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands.
Most of the haddock in the U.K. market comes from the Northeast Atlantic, mainly Iceland, Northeast Arctic and the North Sea. Because these stocks are in a healthy shape, total allowable catches (TACs) have been increased for 2017, which will potentially lead to higher capture opportunities in the North Sea, Northeast Arctic, Iceland, Rockall and the Irish Sea.
