The international tuna market is now showing signs of what has recently been expected. The FAD ban is now in place which means that fishing and fish production is very limited. As a result, scarcity is beginning to increase noticeably which, in turn, is noticeable in the prices.
An additional effect is the increasing worldwide importance attached to the aspect of sustainability throughout the entire process. As part of the conservation process, greater demands are being placed on fishing methods and the type of nets used.
Fishermen and producers who meet the certification requirements are noticing a strong increase in demand compared to the time when they were not certified. The increase in demand is, of course, leading to an increase in prices.
Concerns that the industry was holding back supplies for speculative reasons do not appear to be justified. There are two reasons for this, namely the diminished taste of older fish decreases the value of the fish, and furthermore it is apparent from catch certificates, which are prepared upon landing of the fish, that the fish is already old, thus the quality (and interest) is greatly reduced.
During the FAD ban, it is anticipated that the scarcity in the market will continue to escalate and that improved availability cannot be expected until autumn.
