FAO Releases Global Demersal Fish Market Overview: Reduced Cod Production Drives Price Increases, Haddock Volume Transforms Trade Landscape

In 2024, global Cod and Hake catch volumes continue to decline, with multiple countries reducing quotas directly compressing production, triggering widespread market price increases, particularly pushing Cod prices into a range unaffordable for ordinary consumers.

In contrast, Alaska Pollock sees increased catch volumes due to quota increases, with prices dropping, remaining the largest bottom-dwelling fish species in global catches.

Hake production faces severe challenges in 2025, especially in the Western Mediterranean region, due to long-term overfishing causing dramatic resource depletion. Scientific assessments show the region's Hake population is merely 10% of sustainable levels, with fishing intensity nearly twice what is needed for population recovery. Despite scientific calls for catch limits, Italy, France, and Spain have negotiated a "postponement order," delaying new fishing restrictions by one year. This decision has sparked intense controversy among environmental organizations and policymakers.

Key regional quota changes are as follows:

[Table with quota information for Argentina, Uruguay, and Namibia, partially cut off]