Processing industry

The fishery processing sector was minor and in the largest cities little developed before the 1970s. It mainly handled surplus aquaculture production. There were also small-scale operations that produced salted and smoked fish as well as precooked and culinary items. In 1972, a massive, large-scale programme was initiated to build up specialized cold stores and refrigerated stores for preserving fish and large plants for the processing.

As a result, overall fish imports in 1986 reached 202 000 t; processed fish production reached 19 500 t; fish consumption was 20.7 kg per capita, and the situation remained fairly constant until the break up of the former USSR in 1990.

The process of reform of the fisheries resulted in significant contraction in processing quantities in the mid-1990s.

Starting from 1999, imports of fish and seafood products into the republic increased, with a corresponding increase in consumption, with per capita fish consumption rising gradually to the current level of 14 kg, from a low of 6.1 kg in 1998.

This is connected with the increase in number of the enterprises and organizations in the private sector engaged in fish imports and processing. As of 1 January 2003, more than 300 entities had a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture for fish processing. About 100 entities are occupied in fish importing and trading. However, it should be noted that up to 80% of the import and production volume in the hands of a few large factories that have a long experience of operating in the domestic market.

The raw material for fish processing is largely from Russia via the Baltic ports (Latvia and Lithuania).

The main species consumed are herring, mackerel, hake, capelin, baltic herring and sprats.

Demand

Because of the limited purchasing power of the general population (average monthly salary in 2002 was about US$ 100), cheaper fish species are in demand. The considerable share of herring fillets/flaps in overall imports is connected with its use in pickled preparations.

Traditional consumption patterns have moulded the main processing activities in Belarus:

· canned fish and preserves from processed and non-processed fish (sprats, Baltic herring, herring, mackerel);

· salted fish and salted fish with spices (herring, mackerel, sprats, Baltic herring);

· cold-smoked fish (herring, mackerel, salmon species).

In recent years, sales of deep frozen fish products has been actively expanding (fish sticks, fishburgers, other seafood products). These products, together with preserved and canned fish (sales in 2003 amounted to more than 25 million standard cans), originate mostly from Russia and the Baltic states.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Inland water fisheries	\|	Subsidies

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