Supply Management

Supply is affected by seasonality: when, where, and if fish converge; weather; capture methods; water temperature; tide and of course the impact of regulation. 

This last attempts to deal with the consequences of past events, natural and induced. It has considerable impact on what fish reaches both local and global markets.  

These features all combine and, at present, it is not unusual for the quality and species of fish that is to be offered for sale to be known only on the day of sale i.e. after it is landed.  

Lack of advance knowledge of fish landings hinders effective marketing.  A common system operating at local, Regional, National and European level is an objective of EAFPA. Such a system would be: standard, comprehensive, secure and commercially sensitive, providing forward information on catch levels and product availability. 

This, we believe, would benefit all sectors of the industry.