Romania owns a fifth of the European Union’s area designed for fisheries, but makes only 0.2% of EU’s fish production, according to Romfish association. Moreover, the country’s 5 kg annual consumption per capita is half the one registered in the 80s (in the Communist era) and the lowest in the European Union, reports local Mediafax.

“A Romanian eats, on average, 5 kg of fish per year, compared to 10 kg before 1989. In those years, the fish remained pretty much the only animal protein found on the market, which explains the higher consumption. Romania now has the lowest consumption of fish per capita in the EU, because we don’t have a developed market for this segment,” Catalin Platon, the executive director of Romfish association, told local Mediafax.

For comparison, the annual fish consumption in Belgium amounts to 25 kg per capita, in Croatia – 20 kg, in the Czech Republic – 9.5 kg, in France – 35 kg, in Germany – 14 kg and in Greece – 20 kg. Icelanders consume the highest quantity of fish in the EU – 90 kg per year.

According to Romfish, Romania’s fish market is estimated at some EUR 350 million per year.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: freeimages.com)