Ronald Boersen, co-owner of fish trade ‘t Wad in Den Oever, has also noticed that the fishery is having a hard time. In a year’s time he pays almost double for, for example, a kilo of sole. Consumers will notice this in their wallets: “This is how we price Dutch fish out of the market.”
Fish price shoots through the roof due to problems in the sector – NH Nieuws
Ronald is referring to the fact that he can no longer demand the normal margins on Dutch fish, that is, caught in the North Sea by Dutch cutters. “If I were to calculate the normal price on that purchase price, it would become unaffordable for people and nobody would buy it anymore.”
His fish shop is full of examples: “Six months ago, the price of sole fluctuated between eight and ten euros. Now you pay between 17 and 19 euros in purchase price.” A price increase that this entrepreneur has not seen in 28 years. “This has never happened before.”
“I’m a little bit hard-headed about the future of fishing”
There is an explanation for sure: due to the enormous increase in fuel costs, it costs fishermen much more to go fishing. “A cutter that fishes for plaice and sole now has to spend about 15,000 euros extra in fuel costs for a week,” the director of the fish auction previously explained. NH News† So far, fishermen have not received any compensation from the government for this.
Shrimps
Ronald Boersen also sees the price for shrimp from Den Oever, a fishery that requires less fuel, rise. “You now pay seven euros (per kilo, ed.) for little ones and there are periods when they cost three, four, five euros.”
With these price increases and new regulations regarding nitrogen Looking ahead, Ronald looks somewhat gloomy: “I’m a little bit hard-headed about the future of fishing. I think the fishing industry is going completely upside down.”
NH 360° in the harbor of Den Oever
NH Nieuws will be in the port of Den Oever for three days this week. Fishermen in North Holland fear for their future due to the tightened nitrogen regulations. From the building of the Skuut WR60 foundation in Den Oever, we report and highlight the possible disappearance of fishing. From all sides: 360 degrees.
Would you like to join the conversation? Do you have a special bond with the fishing industry in our province? Or with nature in this area? Then visit our temporary editorial office (Havenkade 3a in Den Oever) and join the conversation. Our reporters Kelly Blok and Mark Arents open the doors to interested parties every day between 09:00 and 10:30.
For example, Ronald thinks that the beam trawl fishery will disappear due to regulations. In this fishing method, two trawl nets drag across the bottom of the sea. Many nature organizations believe that nature is damaged too much, fishermen doubt that. “In the foreseeable future, that will disappear and more measures will be taken, you can feel that on your clogs.”
Foreign fish
All this makes Dutch fish more expensive, so the fish entrepreneur from Den Oever sees more and more foreign fish in his shop. “The salmon, the kibbeling and the gourmand, they all come from abroad. I actually only see that increasing.”