THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY

GENERAL ECONOMIC DATA

FISHERIES DATA

Commodity balance (1995):

STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY

Inland natural waters

There are approximately 140 000 ha of inland natural waters, including reservoirs. About 2 000 ha of small water areas such as ox-bow lakes, gravel pits and small reservoirs are under intensive, pond-like management, while 30 000 ha are utilized only for recreational purposes. Commercial and recreational fisheries operate side by side on the remaining area, sharing the catches of different fish species. The largest natural water body is Lake Balaton (60 000 ha), where commercial and recreational fisheries are equally important. Eel (Anguilla anguilla) and bream (Abramis brama) are the target species of commercial fisheries, while common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca) constitute the main catches of recreational fishermen.

The state owns fishing rights in closed water-bodies, which are owned privately. The state grants fishing rights to companies with different ownership structures, cooperatives, research institutes, angling associations, and individuals.

Three categories of fishermen use inland waters. Professional fishermen are either employed by organizations holding fishing rights or are members (shareholders) of fishery cooperatives or limited liability companies. Part-time (semi-professional) fishermen fish for their household, supplying only surplus catches to the market. These fishermen may be given individual fishing licences by the organizations utilizing the fishing rights in the particular water area. Finally, there are recreational fishermen, which are the most numerous category of fishers. In 1995, the 320 000 licensed anglers recorded a total catch of 4 548 mt according to obligatory logbooks. (Estimated catches are at least twice as much.) No data are available on catches by occasional anglers (without yearly licences) and foreign anglers.

At the same time, commercial fisheries reached a production level of 2 600 mt, including fish harvested from the intensively managed water bodies.

There are 81 species of fish in Hungarian natural waters, including 12 which have been introduced. The most important economic species belong to the cyprinids and percids.

Culture of fish in ponds

Climatic and topographical conditions in the country particularly favour catch of fisheries ponds. Ponds have been constructed mainly on marginal agricultural land and their individual sites are not suitable for up-to-date intensive management. In 1995, technical and financial problems partly caused by privatization meant that only 17 545 ha of ponds were in operation out of a total of 20 363 ha.

In the past, almost all ponds were managed either by state farms or agricultural cooperatives. Within these units, pond farming was closely integrated with cereal crop production which supplied the feed for fish. This situation completely changed in the early 1990s. In 1986, only 187 ha of pond area were managed by private owners; however, in 1995, the ownership structure of the pond area in operation was as follows: state-owned 30%, cooperative 17%, associations 6%, private ownership 47%.

The cultivated species contributing to the largest volume of production is the common carp, which occurs extensively in the natural waters and is the traditional species for cultivation. The production cycle is three years, the weight at marketing being about 1.5 kgs. Only the largest farms are fully vertically integrated, from hatchery production to the production of marketable fish. Most of the farms are "growing on" units which obtain their fry from specialist hatcheries.

The successful introduction of Chinese carps (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis) in the early 1960s has enabled stocking densities to be increased. The average feed conversion ratio, using cereal grains, is 3:1 and the best farms achieve production levels of 1 400-2 000 kg/ha/year. Carp polyculture is the normal practice, depending on pond conditions and market demands. In addition to carps, European catfish (Silurus glanis) and pike-perch are cultivated. Although the harvest of these species only amounts to 1-2% of average pond production, available nutrients are utilized better than in carp culture alone. Farms also produce fry of carps and other species for stock enhancement of natural waters. Fish-cum-duck production systems are employed on some of the pond farms, providing for natural fertilization of the water.

There are only two family-size ventures in Hungary dealing with rainbow trout (Oncorchynchus mykiss) production. Output falls far short of domestic demand. A few facilities with geothermal water supplies carry out intensive production of sturgeons (Acipenseridae), and of European and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Eel-rearing is provided by a large-scale unit belonging to the Balaton Fisheries Corporation.

Utilization of the catch

Average annual per caput consumption of fish is low by European standards. Nevertheless, consumption has increased four-fold since 1950 and at twice the rate of increase of animal meat consumption. About half of consumption is for domestically produced freshwater fish, which is mainly sold live. Consumption varies regionally, the highest levels being in the southern part of the country, particularly around the lower reaches of the Danube and Tisza rivers. Consumption peaks seasonally at Christmas and during the summer in Budapest due to high tourist demand.

Institutions

The fishery sector operates under the aegis of the Game and Fisheries Department of the Ministry for Agriculture. Aquaculture research and development projects are concentrated in the Fish Culture Research Institute in Szarvas. The majority of fish farms are members of the National Federation of Fish Producers. Marketing is coordinated by the Fishery Product Board closely related to the Federation. Sports fishing associations are members of regional angling unions, which together form the Hungarian National Angling Union.

DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

The future of natural water fisheries - both commercial and recreational - depends largely on the new Fisheries Act to be passed in 1996. Capture fisheries will probably decline over the next few years, leaving two main types of fisheries:

• enhanced fisheries based on regular restocking;

• semi-recreational fisheries for domestic consumption (mainly from the rivers).

Recreational fishery will probably have two orientations:

• "environmental fishing" in large waters, relying on natural fish stocks enhanced only by moderate restocking of a few species;

• fisheries in fish ponds and gravel pits, where fish are both supplied and caught by fishers.

The first type provides moderate catch-possibilities at low costs; the second fishery is for anglers with better incomes.

Pond farming of common carp will remain the main activity in Hungarian fisheries, mainly because of this specie's established position on domestic markets both for consumption and recreational purposes. Privatization will continue, with only the Warm Water Fish Hatchery at Százhalombatta and pond farm units supplying stocking material for Lake Balaton destined to remain state property. The fisheries sector will probably develop further by the year 2000, when farms created during the current reorganization of the economy will be completely renovated. For this purpose, both foreign investment and state subsidies are required.

Intensive culture of highly priced fish species (European and African catfish, sturgeons) is expected to expand consistently, although these activities will still be less important than carp farming.

RESEARCH

The Fish Culture Research Institute in Szarvas, which is financed by the Ministry for Agriculture, conducts all basic research and development projects. These projects are financed by the Ministry directly or by the Fishery Development Fund (accumulated from fees for fishery licences and for utilizing state-owned fishing rights). Fishery biological research projects are undertaken by institutions belonging to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

POLICY

Government fisheries policy aims at:

• increasing the supply of fish to domestic markets to improve consumption and diet patterns;

• developing the production of highly priced species to meet the requirements of the catering industry in tourist areas;

• increasing the production of fish for recreational purposes;

• enlarging the range of species produced in hatcheries and rearing units for restocking programmes;

• maintaining the balance between commercial and recreational fisheries in larger water bodies; and

• rehabilitating natural fish habitats.