Romania imports annually more than 80,000 tons of fish, because the national production capacity does not exceed 30,000 tons, said agriculture minister Achim Irimescu.

Fish was once considered the poor man's dish, now certain fish species are considered a luxury, according to the minister.

“Romania has started to consume more and more fish and therefore has resorted to imports,” Irimescu added, reports local Agerpres.

However, Romania was a major producer of pelagic fish a few decades ago. It then had fishing vessels.

As for the fish prices, the minister said that the market is dictating.

“The ministry has no intervention, and neither has the EU, because there are no more mechanisms of market intervention,” Irimescu added.

editor@romania-insider.com