Ireland pivoting from reliance on Africa for pelagic exports

Ireland has traditionally relied heavily on African markets for its pelagic exports, but the nation may be shifting its strategy in a search for markets that buy more premium products, especially as its quotas for the species have shrunk post-Brexit.According to data released by the Clonakilty, Ireland-based Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), outside of the E.U., Nigeria was the top buyer of Irish seafood by volume in 2023, buying over 17,500 metric tons (MT) of seafood, mostly comprising mackerel and whiting.As a whole, Africa bought 45 percent of Irish mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, and herring exports by value and 54 percent by volume last year.Irish Fish Producers Organization CEO Aodh O’Donnell said Ireland has supplied the African market with high-quality protein for over four decades, particularly sending smaller-grade fish.“The premium markets have a preference for medium and large fish. Therefore, select smaller product grades are sold to markets in East ...