Trends in fish utilization
Overview
In 2004, of the estimated 93 million tonnes of fish produced in the world excluding China, more than 74 percent, or 68.9 million tonnes, was used for direct human consumption; about 26 percent being utilized for various non-food products, mostly for reduction to meal and oil. Corresponding figures for China (based on reported fisheries and fish meal production and on FAO estimates of other non-food use) are nearly 48 millions tonnes of total production of which about 37 million tonnes, or 77 percent, was utilized for direct human consumption, the bulk of which was in fresh form. The remaining amount was used for the manufacture of fishmeal and other non-food use including direct feed to aquaculture.Fish processing
Fish as a highly perishable commodity has a significant capacity for processing. In 2004, 61 percent (86 million tonnes) of the world's fishery production underwent some form of processing. Fifty-nine percent (51 million tonnes) of this processed fish was used for manufacturing products for direct human consumption and the rest for non-food uses. Freezing represents the main method of processing fish for food use, accounting for 53 percent of total processed fish for human consumption in 2004, followed by canning (24 percent) and curing (23 percent).
The many options for processing fish allow for a wide range of tastes and presentations, making fish one of the most versatile food commodities. Yet, unlike many other food products, processing does not generally increase the price of the final product and chilled fish is often the most widely accepted product on the market. During the 1990s, there has been a major increase in the proportion of world fisheries production used live/fresh or chilled form compared to other products. This pattern has largely been driven by growth in consumption, which increased the demand for fresh fish and caused a slight decline in other uses. Live/fresh fish volume increased from an estimated 35 million tonnes in 1994 to 55 million tonnes in 2004, an increase in its share in total production from 31 percent to 39 percent. Processed fish for human consumption (frozen, cured and canned) in volume remained rather stable at around 51 million tonnes (live weight equivalent).
Utilization of fish production shows marked continental, regional and national differences. The proportion of cured fish is higher in Africa (17 percent in 2004) and Asia (11 percent) compared to other continents. In 2004, in Europe and North America, more than two thirds of fish used for human consumption was in frozen and canned forms. In Africa and Asia, the share of fish marketed in live or fresh form was particularly high.
Fishery used for non-food purposes (34.8 million tonnes in 2004) come almost entirely from natural stocks of small pelagics. Most of these fishery products were used as raw material for the production of animal feed. If China is excluded, 90 percent (25.5 million tonnes) of the production destined for non-food purposes was reduced to fishmeal/oil. The remaining 10 percent was largely utilized as direct feed in aquaculture and for fur animals.