Seafood is a very much loved food by all non-vegetarian people. And because of its high demand, it’s the industry that is highly flourishing. Most people and restaurants buy seafood from local fishermen and markets. But the journey from the fishing boat to the market is a long one.
Here are the top 15 facts about the seafood industry:
1. The seafood industry is worth roughly $130 billion.
Fishing is one of the oldest jobs in the world, and it has been the source of food for more than 1000 years. It has become a full-grown industry now and is only flourishing year by year. Right now, China is the biggest seafood exporter in the world.
2. Australia demands the industry to be more origin labeling.
There are many fishes that are found deep sea or between rocks, which are usually difficult to catch. So, Australia implemented a law where every product will have a label that will mention its origin. This will make it easier for customers to choose whether they want to support local or international brands.
3. Vegan seafood options are now on the market.
Yeah, you might be surprised, but the demand for vegan seafood options is pretty big. Many good brands also do vegan chicken and vegan meat, so this one is definitely going to give them competition.
4. A professional fisherman can have a bright career.
Fishing is a hobby for a lot of people, but those who have managed to turn it into a profession are dealing in millions now. Many fishermen have built their own markets for importing and exporting seafood, and they are making huge money every year.
5. Most people eat imported seafood.
193 nations in the world have sea openings out of all the countries in the world. This clearly means that most of them have at least some source of seafood. But unfortunately, due to the domination of a few companies in the seafood industry, most people end up consuming only imported food.
6. Rare fish is best for wholesale seafood.
Since we know this industry is mostly dependent on weather conditions and natural calamities, people in this industry suffer a financial crisis and loss a lot of time. One way to curb this problem is to sell wholesale seafood to big restaurants or seafood markets. You can also provide them with specific seafood like high-quality salmon or blue crab.
7. Overfishing of EU fisheries costs almost $4 billion a year and 1,00,000 jobs.
Since the demand for seafood is only increasing day by day, it is having an impact on our environment. Seafood comes from natural resources, and thus it is harder to regenerate, and many of the species are already on the verge of extinction. The industry has been exploited due to overfishing, and it costs the EU a lot per year.
8. Seafood ice cream flavors exist.
It might sound weird, but that’s true. Ice creams already come in various flavors and textures, but if you want something else for your taste buds, then here you go. Japan provides seafood-flavored ice cream and has some incredible varieties to try.
9. Bluefin Tuna is the most expensive seafood.
Yes, caviar, lobster, salmon, oysters, etc., are some of the most expensive seafood in the whole world. But do you know that there’s something that even overshadows the price of these? It comes from Japan and is priced at around $176,000 to $1.76 million. Japanese go crazy over these, and they eat almost 50% of the Bluefin Tuna.
10. It is better to buy an existing business than to start a new one in this particular industry.
Seafood is such an industry that already has many major key players with huge ships and all the important types of equipment. This way, it would be easier for you, and you will not have to work from the ground or 0 levels to establish your company.
11. Oysters we eat are not those that make pearls.
Pearls that are made from oysters are crazy expensive. Some of them are quite rare and could even cost you millions. However, both the oysters that we eat and that produce pearls might look similar but are very different from each other. They come from different families and definitely have different purposes.
12. The trade war with China might cause a significant loss to the seafood industry.
As we know that China is the largest exporter of seafood in the world, and trade with many countries might impact the seafood industry. They are constantly increasing taxes, and it will directly impact the industry.
13. Norway, Korea, and Portugal are the biggest seafood consumers.
Of course, the coastal areas are obsessed with seafood and rely heavily on it. But there are also some countries apart from these that absolutely love seafood. Norway, Korea, and Portugal are some of the world’s biggest seafood consumers, consuming about 60 kgs of seafood per capita.
14. Seafood contains mercury and microplastic particles.
The fish that we eat has microplastic particles, and it ends up getting into the human body. Also, a rich diet of seafood contaminates your body with mercury. The plastic particles that are present in the sea due to human negligence are contaminating both the sea and living creatures.
15. Hurricane affects the coastal seafood industry.
Hurricanes, anyway, are disastrous natural calamities, and they not only badly impact the lives of humans but also impact several industries. The seafood industry suffers the most, and the local fisherman and markets suffer a huge loss.
Along with providing an amazing taste, the seafood we eat also has some backstory when it comes to trade and employment. Hope this article gave you good insight!
