Despite the damage caused by the drought, there will be no shortage of high-quality Hungarian fish

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 12. 16. 11:29

🎧 Hallgasd a cikket: Nyelv: Sebesség: 1.05×

Although the drought caused serious damage to domestic fish farms this year, there will still be plenty of fresh, Hungarian freshwater fish on the Christmas table. According to the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) and the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Interprofessional Organization (MA-HAL), carp is still the most sought-after fish species, and most buyers prefer ready-to-cook products.

A recurring problem in domestic fish production is drought; in addition to the lack of water, the quality of existing waters is also deteriorating, and the water temperature rises rapidly during hot summers. In addition to the lack of precipitation, farmers also have to deal with fish losses caused by birds every year. Despite this, the domestic Christmas fish supply is assured this year as well. Consumers can choose from high-quality fish products.

Although a serious herpes virus swept through many European countries, the animal disease fortunately spared our country. Thus, healthy and well-conditioned fish were raised in Hungarian pond farms. Domestic fish farms are already working at full speed, which is no coincidence: 55-60 percent of the fish produced for food purposes are sold during the Christmas period. Preparations are complete, as the most suitable period for autumn fishing is the period between October and December.

The offer this year also ranges from live fish to products of various degrees of processing (horseshoe, fillet). It is now a basic expectation on the part of customers that the product is bone-free, fish with scales are slowly disappearing from the market, and only a few people buy live fish anymore. The changing consumer demands have also been felt by domestic fish farms and they are trying to serve customers with the widest possible range of products.

In keeping with tradition, carp is expected to be the best-selling fish this season as well, but more and more people are looking for roach and grass carp, while consumers who are wary of trout prefer predatory species, catfish and pike perch.

The level of domestic fish consumption is not very high, and last year – according to fish farmers – demand further shrank, which can be primarily attributed to high inflation. The decline in the 2024 Christmas season will hopefully not be followed by another decline in demand this year. Fish farms hope that consumption will remain at the level of previous years in the period before the holidays.