Import of fish, fish products and other aquatic biological resources in Ukraine in 2019 amounted to 399,100 tonnes for a total of $753.2 million, which is $117 million, or 18.5% more than in 2018, the State Fishery Agency has reported. In natural terms, according to data released by the Ukrainian Importers of Fish and Seafood Association (UIFSA) this week, import growth was 5%.
The association indicates that in 2018 the volume of imports in monetary terms increased by 20.5%, and in natural terms by 16%.
According to the agency, the main suppliers of aquatic biological resources to Ukraine (in natural terms) are Norway (80,000 tonnes for $205.4 million), Iceland (60,700 tonnes for $93.5 million), Estonia (39,600 tonnes for $16.8 million), the United States (30,700 tonnes for $67.6 million) and Canada (20,600 tonnes for $39.4 million).
Also, large volumes of fish products were delivered from Latvia, Spain, China, and the UK.
The agency said that about 80-90% of the volume of imports accounts for fish species, to which Ukraine does not have access, and are caught exclusively in the marine economic zones of other states.
“Basically, frozen fish or its fillets are imported to our country, which makes up 80% of imports. These products are mainly processed at domestic fish enterprises,” the agency said.
The total fish and other aquatic biological resources catch by fisheries of Ukraine in 2019 grew by 9.7% compared with 2018, to 97,200 tonnes.
According to a press release of the State Fisheries Agency of Ukraine, fish industry enterprises in water bodies and on the continental shelf of Ukraine caught 51,500 tonnes of aquatic biological resources, which is 2.2% more than in 2018.
In the area managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) fishing boats under Ukrainian flag caught 22,400 tonnes of aquatic biological resources, which is 48.7% more than in 2018.
In addition, last year, 14,960 tonnes of commodity products of aquaculture was caught.
Special fisheries combining elements of aquaculture and industrial fish catch operate in Ukrainian lakes and water reservoirs. Almost 8,300 tonnes of aquatic biological resources were caught by them in 2019, which is 14.7% more than in 2018.
