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In 1985[1], the production of Mediterranean fish farming was estimated to be 374 tons of European seabass and Gilthead seabream, where Spain, Greece and France provided the initial impetus for production. By 1990, production had increased to 3,876 tons where Greece, Spain and Italy had emerged to dominate with nearly 80% of all production. Five years later, production had increased twelve-fold[2] to over 47,000 tons while, in 2000, the combined Mediterranean production exceeded 130,000 tons, a figure which is foreseen to continue to rise in 2003 (Source: FEAP).
Currently, the production leaders are Greece with nearly 50% (70,000 tons) of all production, while the other important producing countries are Turkey (20 % - 28,500 tons), Italy (12% - 17,000 tons) and Spain (10% - 14,140 tons). More than 90% of this production sector is thus focused in 4 Mediterranean countries. Cyprus currently has 1.2% of production with 1,681 tons of these 2 species.
Production of the marine fish species in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa has been sporadic and weak. This is explained by weak sectoral support from Government (cf. the structural funds of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance of the European Union – provision of financial assistance for capital investment) and material/service support (i.e. feed companies, technical and managerial expertise).
At the present, according to the FAO (1998 figures), only Egypt (810 tons), Israel (1,673 tons), Morocco (724 tons) and Oman (10 tons) have any production activity for these species.
Table 1: Major Producers of European Seabass and Gilthead Seabream (1996-2000)
|
SPECIES
|
COUNTRY
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
|
Gilthead Seabream
|
CYPRUS
|
600
|
768
|
830
|
986
|
1,200
|
1,300
|
1,260
|
|
FRANCE
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
1,250
|
1,000
|
1,400
|
1,700
|
1,500
|
|
GREECE
|
12,000
|
14,000
|
19,000
|
28,000
|
36,000
|
37,000
|
42,000
|
|
ISRAEL
|
1,100
|
1,300
|
1,600
|
2,000
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
ITALY
|
3,000
|
3,500
|
4,600
|
4,800
|
6,000
|
6,800
|
8,000
|
|
MALTA
|
1,156
|
2,000
|
1,900
|
1,900
|
1,600
|
1,500
|
1,500
|
|
PORTUGAL
|
1,150
|
1,700
|
1,900
|
1,595
|
2,060
|
2,000
|
2,200
|
|
SPAIN
|
4,700
|
5,530
|
6,330
|
7,600
|
8,300
|
10,685
|
10,960
|
|
TURKEY
|
9,000
|
7,500
|
10,150
|
11,000
|
15,460
|
12,939
|
13,000
|
|
Gilthead Seabream Total
|
|
33,706
|
37,298
|
47,560
|
58,881
|
74,020
|
73,924
|
80,420
|
|
European Seabass
|
CYPRUS
|
150
|
58
|
204
|
298
|
300
|
300
|
421
|
|
FRANCE
|
1,500
|
1,650
|
2,500
|
3,150
|
3,600
|
3,000
|
3,500
|
|
GREECE
|
9,000
|
12,000
|
17,000
|
20,000
|
23,000
|
24,000
|
28,000
|
|
ITALY
|
3,900
|
4,300
|
5,200
|
6,600
|
8,100
|
8,900
|
9,000
|
|
MALTA
|
396
|
500
|
600
|
500
|
600
|
|
|
|
PORTUGAL
|
556
|
902
|
1,000
|
849
|
1,080
|
700
|
800
|
|
SPAIN
|
900
|
829
|
1,408
|
1,670
|
2,300
|
1,950
|
3,180
|
|
TURKEY
|
3,000
|
6,300
|
8,660
|
12,000
|
17,877
|
15,546
|
15,500
|
|
European Seabass Total
|
|
19,402
|
26,539
|
36,572
|
45,067
|
56,857
|
54,396
|
60,401
|
|
Total for Gilthead Seabream & European Seabass
|
53,108
|
63,837
|
84,132
|
103,948
|
130,877
|
128,320
|
140,821
|
Prices have changed significantly during the last 15 years. In 1990, FAO figures indicate an average value of US$17/kg, a figure that has dropped to US$5-6/kg by 2000 (Source: FEAP). The explanations for this are diverse but can be simplified as being the result of the increased availability of a traditionally prized and relatively rare product to a competitive European consumer market.
Fortunately, productivity increases have been made possible due to improved technology in the production process (rearing systems, nutrition, management…) and the superior quality of fingerlings, a position where professional hatcheries have made significant contributions.
[1] Source : Fishstat Plus (FAO 2000)
[2] Source : Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (2001) - provided by National Aquaculture Associations
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