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THE Seafish Strategic Study into the cod and haddock supply chain for the UK pinpoints several areas of possible concern, but it also stresses that Britain is well placed to handle any challenges.
With Iceland the main supplier of both species to the Humber Markets, it is uncertainty over the future of the Icelandic economy and what will happen if Iceland joins the European Union that comes under scrutiny.
Buyers are warned to expect cuts in haddock catches, where the fishery is under pressure, although the picture for cod is altogether brighter. The report also warns that Iceland's lover affair with whaling could spark a backlash from environmentally sensitive consumers, with the up-market supermarket group Waitrose one of the main critics of that policy.
UK markets are competing with fish hungry countries like Spain for Icelandic, cod and haddock, but with the Spanish economy in free fall, it means that consumption on the Iberian mainland has dropped and Britain appears to compete successfully on price with both France and Spain. Furthermore, increased volumes of cod from fish rich areas like the Barents Sea could drive down prices.
The Seafish report also points out that a number of Icelandic seafood processing companies - some of which have factories on the Humber - have debts and are at the mercy of creditors which could also be a problem.
There is also pressure from the Icelandic Government for fishing companies to process more of its fish at home and there is talk of placing a tax or levy on the export of unprocessed fish. That and possible quota changes all add up to some degree of uncertainty. But the current economic issues are not just common to Iceland or the UK and the report suggests further talks between the two countries.
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
