53
3 Fisheries Production and Market Demand
pods and cephalopod products (i.e. the sum of imports and exports), world leaders
were Spain and Japan (more than 7 million t each), followed by China and Italy
(more than 4 million t) and Republic of Korea and Thailand (more than 2 million t).
As cephalopod catches increased in the 1980s, international trade also increased—
more than doubling during the decade to around 500,000 t in 1989 (Josupeit 1992;
Shaw 1994). Shaw (1994) noted that both Spain and Portugal were net importers
of squid, while the UK exported more squid than it imported. While the variability
in landings within and between years was potentially a problem for processors, it
appeared that the high market demand would favour increased squid catching.
In the past 3 years of the FAO trade data set (2007–2009), the leading importers were China, Spain, Japan and Italy. These four countries also had the highest
negative trade balance and (along with the Republic of Korea) were among the top
five traders of cephalopods. In this period, no European countries had a substantial
positive trade balance in cephalopods and cephalopod products. Belgium (total net
exports of 1,714 t) was placed highest in Europe but ranked 30th in the world in
terms of net exports. Denmark, Ireland and Norway were the only other net exporters in Europe at the time.
Cephalopod trade statistics are also compiled by Globefish. Their most recent
issue (Globefish 2012) makes reference to the adverse effects of the world economic situation and limited availability of octopus in 2011. Notable highlights for
the first half of 2012 included increased imports of octopus into Japan, increased
octopus catching as a ban on factory and freezer vessels in Mauritania was lifted
and increased supplies of squid from Argentina. Imports of squid into the USA are
increasing, reflecting increased consumer appetite for squid.
Imports of squid and cuttlefish from Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands and Argentina are currently expanding along with demand for these species from Asian
countries. Additionally, the high level of net imports of cephalopods into Spain and
Italy and the fact that most European countries are net importers of cephalopods
suggest there is a niche for cephalopod aquaculture. Now, the question is to what
extent aquaculture could contribute to supply these markets. At the World Congress
on Cephalopods, held in Vigo (Spain) in October 2012, it was said that cephalopods
(squid, cuttlefish and also octopus) comprise a group for which supplies cannot be
increased through aquaculture, at least not yet (Ferdouse 2012), but this viewpoint
reflects the fact that cephalopod culture is a relatively recent development and is not
yet widely perceived as commercially viable.
3.8 The Future
Examination of FAO cephalopod landings statistics suggests that the boom years
of cephalopod fisheries may already be over, although the possibility remains that
greater use can be made of oceanic squids, especially if technological developments
permit processing of the ammonia-rich flesh of mid-water species belonging to
families such as the Histioteuthidae, Cranchiidae and Chiroteuthidae (Voight et al.
3 Fisheries Production and Market Demand
pods and cephalopod products (i.e. the sum of imports and exports), world leaders
were Spain and Japan (more than 7 million t each), followed by China and Italy
(more than 4 million t) and Republic of Korea and Thailand (more than 2 million t).
As cephalopod catches increased in the 1980s, international trade also increased—
more than doubling during the decade to around 500,000 t in 1989 (Josupeit 1992;
Shaw 1994). Shaw (1994) noted that both Spain and Portugal were net importers
of squid, while the UK exported more squid than it imported. While the variability
in landings within and between years was potentially a problem for processors, it
appeared that the high market demand would favour increased squid catching.
In the past 3 years of the FAO trade data set (2007–2009), the leading importers were China, Spain, Japan and Italy. These four countries also had the highest
negative trade balance and (along with the Republic of Korea) were among the top
five traders of cephalopods. In this period, no European countries had a substantial
positive trade balance in cephalopods and cephalopod products. Belgium (total net
exports of 1,714 t) was placed highest in Europe but ranked 30th in the world in
terms of net exports. Denmark, Ireland and Norway were the only other net exporters in Europe at the time.
Cephalopod trade statistics are also compiled by Globefish. Their most recent
issue (Globefish 2012) makes reference to the adverse effects of the world economic situation and limited availability of octopus in 2011. Notable highlights for
the first half of 2012 included increased imports of octopus into Japan, increased
octopus catching as a ban on factory and freezer vessels in Mauritania was lifted
and increased supplies of squid from Argentina. Imports of squid into the USA are
increasing, reflecting increased consumer appetite for squid.
Imports of squid and cuttlefish from Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands and Argentina are currently expanding along with demand for these species from Asian
countries. Additionally, the high level of net imports of cephalopods into Spain and
Italy and the fact that most European countries are net importers of cephalopods
suggest there is a niche for cephalopod aquaculture. Now, the question is to what
extent aquaculture could contribute to supply these markets. At the World Congress
on Cephalopods, held in Vigo (Spain) in October 2012, it was said that cephalopods
(squid, cuttlefish and also octopus) comprise a group for which supplies cannot be
increased through aquaculture, at least not yet (Ferdouse 2012), but this viewpoint
reflects the fact that cephalopod culture is a relatively recent development and is not
yet widely perceived as commercially viable.
3.8 The Future
Examination of FAO cephalopod landings statistics suggests that the boom years
of cephalopod fisheries may already be over, although the possibility remains that
greater use can be made of oceanic squids, especially if technological developments
permit processing of the ammonia-rich flesh of mid-water species belonging to
families such as the Histioteuthidae, Cranchiidae and Chiroteuthidae (Voight et al.