(IntraFish) Alaska pollock, which makes up 25 percent of seafood sold in Germany, saw a spike in volumes sold in 2011 due to a price drop.
The price of pangasius, the fifth most important specie in the German market, increased, and consumers went for Alaska pollock -- despite pangasius still being cheaper than Alaska pollock -- Matthias Keller, managing director of the German Fish Processors Association, told IntraFish.
“German consumers spent 0.4 percent more on seafood purchase in 2011, and the average price per kilogram went up by three percent,” Keller said, “and seafood volumes purchased slipped 2.5 percent due to the strong price increase."
Seafood consumption in Germany is steady since 2011, with the per capita consumption being 15 kilograms, Keller said.
In terms of the most volumes sold, Alaska pollock is followed by herring, salmon (mostly farmed), tuna -- whose volumes went down because of a spike in prices, and then pangasius.
Dipping salmon prices have boosted pollock consumption, though herring consumption fell because of increased prices, Keller said.
Popularizing fish in German schools
An inter-school competition -- called 'School of Fish'-- aimed at increasing awareness of sustainable seafood consumption, has been launched in Germany, Keller said.
“There are 34,000 schools in Germany and in this competition, schools are encouraged to develop creative ideas around fish -- it can be theatre, lessons, cooking.”
Schools can apply till April 30 to enter this competition, and the project is financed by the German fish processing industry.