Romanians consume on average some 6 kilograms of fish each year, mostly around religious celebrations when fish consumption is customary, according to Marian Cuzdrioreanu, the president of the Romanian Fish Processors, Importers, Distributors and Retailers Association Ro-Fish, quoted by Agerpres.

“Romanians are pious people and they take into account when they are allowed to eat fish, because many of them obey the fasting period. Of course, during these days [e.n. when fish consumption is allowed on religious holidays], consumption increases,” Cuzdrioreanu told Agerpres.

The Palm Sunday is one religious occasion when fish is traditionally consumed as it is allowed during the Easter fasting period.

The president of the Ro-Fish Association estimates that fish consumption will continue to grow locally because of aquaculture.

“Consumption stands at 6 kilograms per capita in a year, and it will continue to grow because of aquaculture. Before 1989, yearly fish consumption in Romania stood at 8 - 10 kilograms per capita, but we had a fishing fleet and fish had a more affordable price,” Cuzdrioreanu said.

Romania-grown fish makes up only 18% of local consumption, the remaining 82% coming from imports. According to the Ro-Fish president, the most popular fish species in local consumption are the marine ones, such as mackerel, sprat, and cod. Freshwater fish, such as trout, carp and crucian, are also popular.

Romania produces 18,000 tons of fish yearly, including from aquaculture. Out of these, 2,000 tons are trout, and up to 9,000 tons are fish of the cyprinids family, such as carp or crucian.

The yearly local consumption of fish is almost four times below the EU average of 22.5 kilograms per capita per year. Some 2.5 kilograms of fish are consumed in a year in Bulgaria and Hungary, while Portugal is the EU country with the highest yearly fish consumption, at 76 kilograms, followed by Spain with 60 kilograms. In Europe, the highest yearly fish consumption is registered in Iceland, with 90 kilograms per year. Worldwide, Japan takes up the first spot, with over 130 kilograms of fish consumed per year.

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editor@romania-insider.com