The importance of the fishing sector
Aquaculture and fishing provide a livelihood for more than 10% of the population. Therefore, and despite what you might think, it is a very globalized industry in which it must face multiple challenges and threats, which is why it is important to be aware of the trends that are coming. Faced with a current changing environment, it is necessary to adjust the strategy in this sector.
Trends in the fishing sector
The main changes that are taking place in the fishing sector are related to economic growth that indicate its improvement: income has been increasing by over 10% since 2017. This is also due to the boom in fish farms, since aquaculture currently represents around 30% of world fish production.
In addition, scientific advances and technological efficiency are helping to reduce the use of fuels, protecting the environment.
Fish is a food that is being included with great speed in the diet of the inhabitants of emerging countries. Excess demand can have two serious consequences:
- On the one hand, cause the limits of sustainable fishing policies to be exceeded.
- On the other hand, that, after reaching the maximum limit of exploitation of some marine species, it is necessary to open up to other varieties of fish that have been less exploited. This fact raises considerable doubts among consumers.
New technologies applied to fishing
To adapt to modern times, the fishing sector has been incorporating various technologies whose main function is to facilitate human work in addition to being respectful of the environment and marine fauna.
For example, it has been possible to improve the management of wild fishing by reducing it thanks to alternative feeding techniques.
Likewise, production has increased thanks to aquaculture, especially sustainable.
Impact of COVID-19 on the fishing industry
The mobility restrictions and strict health controls that occurred from the pandemic caused by the coronavirus at the beginning of 2020 have had a great impact on the demand and the price of fish.
Consumption patterns have been modified by the health crisis that occurred in 2020 and what has taken place in 2021.
The closures, both business and perimeter, have caused a loss of demand in large supermarkets, thus producing the difficulty of reaching consumers.
Consumers have increased their purchases of non-perishable products or products with a long expiration date such as canned fish.
In addition, the sale of fresh product in the HORECA channel has fallen drastically, although in part it has been offset by the direct marketing of fresh fish thanks to home delivery (among others), where contact is not necessary.
The closure of borders that many countries have opted for has also had a significant impact on the variety of products, since many of the fish and shellfish that are consumed cross various international borders to the final consumer. For this reason, in many places they have opted to consume local products.
At this point, it is worth wondering if there are alternative distribution channels and bet on a flexible supply chain to the current times and that guarantees the quality of the product from its capture to the table.
In addition, at a time when sustainability is being a fundamental pillar of the economy, it is of vital importance to bet on transport and logistics solutions that are sustainable. Our plastic pallets and containers or Pallet Box are perfect for the fishing sector, since they favor reuse thanks to their ease of washing, which avoids bad odor and the presence of parasites or bacteria that affect the quality of the product. If you want more information about our sustainable products, do not hesitate and contact us.
