The government is committed to promoting fish consumption

(Photo: AM/Csaba Pelsőczy)

The head of the ministry said that fish consumption per capita in Hungary has more or less, but steadily increased in recent years. When MAHOP started in 2013, it was still 5.4 kilograms, and by 2021 it has risen to 6.52 kilograms, which is an increase of more than 20 percent, he explained. “So we are moving forward slowly but surely, as in many other areas: following our own path,” said the Minister of Agriculture.

About 35-40 percent of domestic fish consumption falls on the period before Christmas, which in the case of some large fish producers can even add up to 60-70 percent of the annual turnover

According to him, carp is still dominant in domestic fish production and the consumption of domestically produced fish, with African catfish in second place. He added that 94 percent of the food fish produced in intensive aquaculture is African catfish. The production of the species increased from 2,050 tons in 2013 to 5,777 tons according to the data of the 2022 fishing report. Currently, Hungary is the largest producer of African catfish in the European Union, the minister added.

István Nagy emphasized that increasing fish consumption is also a strategic goal for Hungary from a public health point of view

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death in Hungary, and fish consumption has been proven to reduce the risk of these diseases. He added: in order to achieve these goals, the Hungarian aquaculture sector receives significant support. Kapj rá!, which aims to promote fish consumption in the framework of MAHOP in the period 2013-2020. 960 million forints was allocated to the campaign, the Minister of Agriculture reminded. The head of the ministry said that the government’s intention to develop the aquaculture sector according to plan is also shown by the adoption of the National Aquaculture Strategic Plan, which formulated the tasks aimed at the development of the sector until 2030. He added: as part of the plan, I would like to increase the production capacity of small-scale fish farms, develop the production technology used there, and the processing. The government wants to ensure that species competitive on the European export market are included in breeding.

István Németh, president of the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Interprofessional Organization (MA-HAL), reported that this year’s fish harvest was much better than last year’s

Thanks to the abundant rainfall, the producers were able to fill the lakes to the operating water level, and there was also a favorable turn in feed prices. Hungarian fish producers will provide high-quality domestic fish for the Christmas table – he indicated. According to his data, carp is the fish species produced in the largest quantity in Hungary, of which more than 11,000 tons of market-sized age groups were caught last year by the fish farmers who farm on 26,000 hectares. More than 4,000 tons of African catfish were produced in precision closed systems.

AM