June 19, 2013 — Global fish prices rose to a record in May on rising demand for salmon and falling supplies of tuna, according to the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization.
An index of fish prices tracked by the Rome-based United Nations agency rose to 168 points in May, advancing 6.3 percent from April and up 16 percent from a year ago, data published in the FAO’s biannual Food Outlook report last week show.
Prices for farmed fish such as salmon rose faster than those from capture fisheries in the past year, the FAO data show. Aquaculture production is predicted to climb 5.6 percent in 2013, while capture of wild fish may rise 0.9 percent.
“Strong salmon demand despite rising salmon prices implies a structural shift in consumer demand, which is positive for salmon producers,” the FAO wrote in the outlook. “Despite record high prices, demand for tuna remains strong.”
Total fish production is forecast to climb 2.9 percent to 161.2 million metric tons this year from 156.7 million tons, with aquaculture output climbing to 70.2 million tons from 66.5 million tons. The value of fish exports is predicted to climb 2 percent to $130.8 billion this year after rising 0.5 percent to $128.2 billion in 2012.
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