In the past 5 years, consumption of fish and fish products in Azerbaijan increased by 21%, according to the report of the State Statistics Committee. At the same time 97.5% of the local production of fish (49 700 tons) is attributed to persons engaged in fishing and selling fish without taxation, while, according to the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, stocks of many marine fish species are on the verge of extinction because of environmental problems and deterioration of spawning conditions.
Azerbaijan consumes 69,557 tons of fish (2013) a year. Government agencies do not comment on the question from where such a great amount of fish from individuals comes. The fact is that the official catch is only 794 tons of fish on the quota allocated by the Commission on Aquatic Biological Resources. Caught in inland waters is about 115-125 tons of fish per year. Lake farms produce not more than 350 tons of fish per year.
According to the balance of consumption of fish and fish products, 29% and 20 177 tons of fish sold in the country account for imports. In this case, according to the customs, in 2013 were imported 17,500 tons of fish and fish products. The customs’ "error" in the amount of 2,665 tons was revealed by the State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture. We are talking about a minimum of $ 10 million.
In January-September 2014 the volume of imports of fish and fish products was about 10 300 tons. A ton of fish was imported at a price of $ 670.9. This is 4% higher than in 2013. Experts say that importers take huge profits from retail as well as the difference between the retail price and the customs clearance of fish is at least 3-5 times.
According to of the State Statistics Committee, the lowest market price is for sprats - 1.76 manat or $ 2.16 per 1 kg. Frozen ocean fish is sold not less than at 4.50 manat or $ 5.5 per kg. Marine fish is sold at not less than 6 manat or $ 7.30.
Despite the moratorium acting for the past 4-5 years, specialized stores offer fresh and smoked sturgeon at prices, which, according to the information of SSC, are 40-50 manat ($ 49-61).
Fish processing in Azerbaijan has been mainly active since 2001 due to LLC Caspian Fish Co.-Azerbaijan, which also owns several fish shops in Baku. In 2013, the company presented a report on the production of only 127.4 tons of fish products. --08B--
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