Norwegian fishermen and processors have agreed to cut the minimum landing price of fresh cod by up to 22%, or NOK 3 (€4/5.3) per kilo.
The new prices will apply for all fresh cod, mainly from the Barents Sea, landed from Dec. 13 up to April 21 next year.
During that period, cod of more than 6 kilos will have a minimum price of NOK 13.25. That is down 18%, or NOK 3, from the past two months.
The minimum price of cod of 2.5 to 6 kilos was also dropped by NOK 3, representing a cut of 22%.
Prices for cod of 1 to 2.5 kilos and under 1 kilo were cut by 17% and 16% respectively, to NOK 9.50 and NOK 8.
The decision followed “tough negotiations” between the Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organization Rafisklag on the one hand, and the Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL) and the Norwegian Seafood Association on the other, Rafisklag and FHL said.
Around 70 to 80% of all cod landed in Norway, including all the Arctic cod quota, is sold via Rafisklag, the association’s director Trygve Myrvang told Undercurrent News.
Fishermen are obviously not satisfied with the drop, but “the market decides the price,” Myrvang said. “The fish has to be sold,” he said, referring to a “particularly difficult” economic situation in Europe, coupled with the high cod quota in the Barents Sea.
In September, Rafisklaget had arbitrarily set the minimum price for the period starting Oct. 1 after negotiations with the industry had ended in a stalemate. This had seen it cut prices by up to NOK 1 from the previous season.
However, the industry had to come to an agreement this time around, FHL said. “Disagreement now would have led to significant market unrest and would have been very unfortunate for the entire cod industry,” said Geir Ove Ystmark, director of industry at FHL, in a statement.
Minimum landing price, fresh cod, Rafisklag
NOK per kilo
| ||
| Size | Dec. 13, 2013 – April 21, 2013 | Oct. 1, 2012 – Dec 13, 2012 |
| > 6 kg |
13.25 (-18%)
|
16.50
|
| 2.5 – 6 kg |
10.50 (-22%)
|
13.50
|
| 1 – 2.5 kg |
9.50 (-17%)
|
11.50
|
| < 1 kg |
8.00 (-16%)
|
9.50
|
Minimum price arrangement
Rafisklag is the largest fishermen’s association in Norway, covering most fishermen from Kristiansund to the Russian border. Under Norwegian law, all fresh fish landed in Norway must be sold through Rafisklag or other similar associations, at the minimum price specified by the associations.
All fish must be sold using the minimum price arrangement. Exceptions are only allowed if the buyer can prove damages to the fish, in which case a discount of up to 40% can be applied.
