Fish consumption is becoming increasingly popular in our country

By: STA Date: 2024. 12. 13. 09:30

The Christmas fish offer and the results of domestic fish production were presented at a press conference organized in Budaörs in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Professional Association (MA-HAL), the Agricultural Marketing Center (AMC) and METRO Hungary. The main goal of the event was to draw attention to the importance of fish consumption and to promote high-quality Hungarian fish.

(Photo: AM/Tibor Vermes)

Dr. Márton Nobilis, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, said at the event that this period is particularly important for fish farmers and sellers, as 40% of all domestic fish consumption is realized around Christmas. In the case of individual producers, it can reach 70% of their own annual fish sales. He added that the level of Hungarian fish consumption is increasing, the annual amount per capita has increased from 5.7 kilograms to 6.7 kilograms in recent years. The “Get it!” campaign increased fish consumption by 24% between 2013 and 2020. The government has also provided additional resources for promotion, with 700 million forints available for this purpose since 2020.

The State Secretary also drew attention to the fact that thanks to the dedicated work of Hungarian producers, high-quality fish can be on the Christmas table

The Ministry of Agriculture has taken significant steps to support those affected: it reduced the VAT rate on fish from 27% to 5% and provided additional resources for the maintenance of fish production ponds. Dr. Márton Nobilis emphasized that fish consumption is also of outstanding importance from a public health perspective, as fish is a high-quality source of protein and omega-3. In addition, fish farming is also beneficial from a sustainability perspective, as the feed utilization of fish is extremely efficient. The Ministry of Agriculture aims to ensure that safe and sustainably produced food always reaches the tables of Hungarian families, which is why the ministry encourages everyone to consume domestic fish, not only at Christmas, but also at other times of the year. The Ministry of Agriculture remains committed to promoting domestic fish products and supporting the growth of fish consumption, contributing to the development of a sustainable food system, he added.