The FINANCIAL — According to recent statistics, total fish imports both live and frozen were up to 26 million USD in 2009, and 30 million USD in 2010.
While export is 5-6 times less, the total export of fish both live and frozen amounted to 5 million USD in 2009 and 7 million USD in 2010. Import includes approximately 98% of frozen fish from different countries such as China, Vietnam, Spain, Norway and Japan.
Trout sales reach 80 tons per month in Georgia, which is up to a thousand tons annually according to Irakli Pataraia, Executive Director of Aquafeed Georgia, the exclusive distributor of BioMar feed in Georgia.
“Due to the reason that Georgia is located among exporter countries live fish is not brought into the country, which is usually three times more expensive compared to imported frozen fish.
“Fish catching in Georgian waters is so insignificant that its consumption share is not even considered. Live fish is a luxury product in Georgia. Considering this background fish farming is developing in Georgia rapidly,” explained Pataraia.
“Trout is a priority fish in Georgia as it is impossible to offer other types of live fish to the population. The ecological quality of trout is governed by three factors: genetics, water and the feed. To produce a kilo of quality trout one needs a kilo of feed,” Pataraia added.
Bio Mari is one of the big players in fish production in Georgia. The company’s fish is sold in major trade chains of Tbilisi as well as in restaurants. The company supplies Goodwill, Populi, G-Mart, Ioli, M Group and GMC Group.
“Bio Mari holds a significant segment of the Georgian fish market. I believe this is due to our high quality fish, as according to current competition terms this is a vital factor. The company has used BioMar feed exclusively since 2008 which governs the consistent high quality of the fish,” said Zurab Khitarishvili, the owner of Bio Mari.
The aim for each Georgian farmer is to export Georgian trout. All the conditions necessary for its achievement are in place. As well as major players in the sector the market is also led by small farmers.
“Aquafeed Georgia started its operations in 2007. The company imported premium quality fish feed from different countries which gave farmers the chance to observe which one was most effective. We supported fish market development and boosting competition among farmers,” said Pataraia.
“For three years already Aquafeed Georgia has been the exclusive distributor of BioMar in Georgia, while our clients are the most successful farmers. We are working in different directions in aquaculture. The Georgian fish market is small in terms of its capacity so our priority is market diversification,” Pataraia said.
In regards to fish production and export, Armenia has the most developed market in the region. The field could not be developed in Azerbaijan due to the bad conditions of the water.
“Armenia is more developed in terms of fish production than the other countries in the region – Georgia and Azerbaijan. Namely, Armenia consumes ten times more fish feed compared to Georgia, meaning it has ten times bigger production” Pataraia said.
About 200 enterprises are currently engaged in fish production and the processing of crayfish in Armenia. Their annual production reaches about 5,000 tons. The biggest market for Armenia is Russia, export of fresh and frozen Armenian fish to Russia more than doubled in 2010 to about 400 metric tons.
The popularization of trout and the fish industry in general is led by the only fish portal in the Caucasus region – www.kalmaxi.ge. “The major aim of the portal is to support effective communications between stakeholders in the fish industry,” said Archil Avzhantadze, editor of the portal.
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