Our services
Market Research
GLOBEFISH provides up-to-date coverage of global seafood market developments thanks to its close contact with the fishery industry and its statistical information sources. Markets are studied and analysed by species groups.
Dissemination of information, news, statistics and prices is achieved in several ways; through various GLOBEFISH publications and periodicals, through the GLOBEFISH website, and through the FISHINFONetwork (FIN) magazines.
GLOBEFISH's key publications include fish price reports (European Fish Price Report), market studies (GLOBEFISH Research Programme), trend analysis (GLOBEFISH Highlights) and statistics (Commodity Updates).
News and Statistics
GLOBEFISH collects worldwide news on the development of markets for fish products, ranging from supply to the development of value added products. Sources include official reports but also news clipping services and websites. All information is translated into English, edited, coded and downloaded into the GLOBEFISH databank.
The European Price Report was created by GLOBEFISH in 1985 and has developed to become the most inclusive monthly report covering the European fish market. GLOBEFISH continually updates the price series and offers long term price reporting for major fish products. The FAO Fish Price Index based on unit values has been created and is updated on the website.
Training
GLOBEFISH provides its partner institutions the opportunity to send staff to work in FAO Headquarters on specific research projects, as well as to participate in training activities related to all aspects of marketing and trade analysis. GLOBEFISH data is regularly used for training material.
Industry Relations
GLOBEFISH organizes international commodity conferences and is present at international trade shows. Every year GLOBEFISH staff meets with the FIN and its Partners to discuss the annual work programme.
Project Support and Analysis
GLOBEFISH information is used to support projects on market identification as funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) or other donors. In addition, GLOBEFISH supports and enhances FAO’s regular programme activities by focusing on international market access for developing country producers.
Events and conferences
International conferences, workshops or assistance to participate in seafood exhibitions are all part of the work programme of FAO with GLOBEFISH initiating such activities jointly with the FIN members.
Networks
The different participatory programmes, like the GLOBEFISH Partnership Programme, the Associate Membership, and the Website Newsletter Subscribers, have resulted in a wide network of strategic partners. At the centre of this network, the FISHINFONetwork offers wide possibilities for promotion and information dissemination with a quarterly publication of 15 000 copies of its four magazines: INFOFISH International, EUROFISH Magazine, INFOPESCA Internacional, and International Magazine INFOSAMAK.
Why our work is important - Trade
More than a third of the world’s fish production is traded internationally but, in the last decade, the nature of this trade has changed. Globalization and liberalization of markets, combined with economic growth in developing countries, rising local demand and the increased importance of aquaculture production, has had an enormous impact on the world’s fisheries sector in general and on fish trade in particular.
"Fish trade is important for a number of reasons. First of all, trade in fish and fisheries products is much more important than trade in many other food products. For example, we know that between one-third and 40% of all fish and fisheries products that are produced in the world in fact enter international trade and this means that the fisheries sector is incredibly globalized, incredibly international, and incredibly vital."
"In the world today the growth in the economy is much higher in the developing world than the developed world, so consumers in Africa, Asia, Latin, Central America in fact look to fish products and they are more and more interested in consuming, buying fish and fisheries-products." Audun Lem, Deputy Director, FIP.
As the fisheries sector increasingly relies on regional and international trade for its development, it has become crucial for those involved to have consistent, independent and trustworthy market information.