(seafoodsource) The market for fish and seafood in Germany presents a continuous growing demand, according to Hamburg-based organization Fish Information Centre (FIZ).
Germany’s per-capita consumption of seafood in 2011 totaled 15.6 kilograms (catch weight), close to the previous year’s figure of 15.7 kg, the second-highest rate ever.
Thomas Lauenroth, FIZ chairman, said “fish is the future food.”
“More and more consumers appreciate the beneficial influence of fish and seafood to their diets. They will be able to continue to choose from a wide range of fish and seafood,” said Lauenroth. “In addition, the progress in sustainable management of fish stock achieves success.
Saltwater fish, with a share of 10.1 kg, accounted for nearly two-thirds of the consumption, followed by freshwater fish at 3.6 kg. Crustaceans and mollusks followed at 1.9 kg.
The top-5 selection of fish species is as follows: Alaska pollock (23.3 percent), followed by herring(18.5 percent), salmon (12.5 percent), tuna (11.2 percent) and pangasius (4.8 percent).
Most fish consumers bought frozen fish (31 percent) followed by canned fish and marinades (25 percent). The market share of fresh fish has decreased from 10 percent to 9 percent compared to the previous year. While fresh fish was purchased mostly in specialized fish shops, every second fish product consumed at home was obtained at discount supermarket chains.