Documentation of statistics producer prices for fish

Data description

The statistics on producer prices for fish include information about the average prices of fish paid by first-sale buyers of fish to fishermen.  Price information covers fish landed at ports in the Finnish sea area. The statistics on producer prices for fish are published yearly. Additionally, the statistics on producer prices for fish species with catch quotas are published quarterly.

Classification system

Producer prices for fish are given by region, species, processing, intended use and size class.

The regional division used in the statistics follows fisheries sector division of Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY-Centres) and Åland, with exception that the regions of Lapland and Kainuu are combined, and the regions of Uusimaa and Southeast Finland are combined. The price for vendace caught in inland water areas is also given up to the year 2018.

Producer prices by processing are given for ungutted and gutted fish. By intended use, prices are given for fish intended for human consumption and industrial use.

Size classes follow European Council Regulation (EC) 2406/96, or established practice of fishing industry. Starting from 2021, the size class of Baltic herring in the statistics has been modified in accordance with the European Council Regulation (EC) 2406/96:

Baltic herring 3                   9–11 fish/kg

Baltic herring 4b                 12–27 fish/kg (south of 59ᵒ30′)

Baltic herring 4c                 12–17 fish/kg (north of 59ᵒ30′)

Baltic herring 5                   18–32 fish/kg (north of 59ᵒ30′)

Baltic herring 6                   33–44 fish/kg (north of 59ᵒ30′)

Baltic herring 7a                 28–44 fish/kg (from Estonian or Latvian waters)

Baltic herring 7b                 45–70 fish/kg (from Estonian or Latvian waters)

Size classes for Baltic herring in use up to the year 2021 were based on the regulation on handling fresh fish before delivery to consumers or further processing (25.5.1984/410, repealed on 1 January 2016). The size classes used until 2021:

Baltic herring 000               8–11 fish/kg

Baltic herring 00                 12–17 fish/kg

Baltic herring 0                   18–24 fish/kg

Baltic herring I                    25–32 fish/kg

Baltic herring II                   33–44 fish/kg

Baltic herring III                  45–60 fish/kg

For European whitefish and perch size class-specific prices are presented up to the year 2022. For salmon,bream and pike, size class -specific prices are presented up to the year 2020.

Sector coverage

The statistics include the producer prices paid by first-sale buyers of fish to professional fishermen in the sea area of Finland. Additionally, the statistics also include producer prices for farmed rainbow trout and European whitefish. The statistics do not include the direct sales of fish from fishermen to consumers.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Producer prices of fish refer to prices paid for fish by first-sale buyers to commercial fishermen in the Finnish sea area. Producer prices for fish are given are nominal prices excluding VAT. 

First-sale buyer is a company that buys fish directly from marine fisherman. Companies must register as first-sale buyers for ELY-Centre.

Fish species with catch quotas in Finland include Baltic herring, sprat, salmon, cod, and plaice. Cod and plaice are not included in the statistics due to small amount of purchase.

The terms used for Baltic herring in these statistics have been harmonized with the European practice. ‘Baltic herring for human consumption’ comprises Baltic herring sold in Finland and exported for human consumption, while ‘Baltic herring for industrial use’ comprises Baltic herring for purposes other than human consumption. In Finland, ‘Baltic herring for industrial use’ is sold for use in fish farming and as feed for fur animals.

Statistical unit

The statistical unit is a fish batch landed in a port in the Finnish sea area. In the survey targeted to first-sale buyers of fish until 2022, the statistical unit is the enterprise buying fish landed in Finnish ports in the sea area.

Until 2022, the prices for farmed rainbow trout and European whitefish are collected by the Finnish Fish Farmers’ Association and are based on the declarations made by fish farmers. Since 2023, the prices for farmed fish are based on Natural Resources Institute Finland’s survey on aquaculture, as well as information obtained from the Government of Åland.

Statistical population

The population of the statistics includes all fish landed in ports in the Finnish sea area.

Unit of measure

The producer prices of fish are given in Euros per kilogram.

Reference period

Year, quarter of a year.

Reference area

The regional division used in the statistics follows fisheries sector division of Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY-Centres) and Åland, with exception that the regions of Lapland and Kainuu are combined, and the regions of Uusimaa and Southeast Finland are combined.

Time coverage

Information is available in the database starting from the year 1980.

Frequency of disseminations

The statistics are published yearly. Additionally, the producer prices of fish species with catch quotas are published quarterly.

Base period

The producer prices are given as nominal prices.

The statistics are compiled based on the Act on the Natural Resources Institute Finland (561/2014), the Act on Food and Natural Resource Statistics (562/2014), and the Statistics Act (280/2004). The obligation to collect data on producer prices is also required in Regulation (EC) No 1921/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the submission of statistical data on landings of fishery products in Member States, as well as in the EU programme for the collection of data in the fisheries sector (Regulation (EU) 2017/1004).

More information: Statistics legislation

Confidentiality is a base principle of statistics and assures the confidential processing of data provided by informants, and the Natural Resources Institute Finland has undertaken to follow this principle.

More information: Privacy policy – Statistics

The disseminations of the Natural Resources Institute Finland are published online on weekdays at 9:00. Data is public after it has been published on the website.

Release calendar

Publication dates are confirmed in autumn together with the action plans. The release calendar of the following year is published for users in the end of the year. The release calendar contains data on the dates of future publications. The calendar also contains direct links to already published statistical publication.

Release calendar access

Statistical releases calendar | Natural Resources Institute Finland

Quality assurance

The Natural Resources Institute Finland follows the Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of European statistics when compiling statistics. The Code of Practice concern the independence and accountability of statistics authorities, and the quality of processes and published data. The principles are compatible with and supplement the Principles of Official Statistics, agreed upon by the United Nations Statistical Commission. The quality criteria of official statistics in Finland are also compatible with the Code of Practice of European statistics. The principles are also compatible with the European Foundation for Quality Management.

Quality assessment

The quality of the statistics is good. 

User satisfaction

Feedback is collected from the users of the statistics, especially when revising the statistics. Feedback is also received directly. In addition, we investigated the wishes of users for developing the statistics in the autumn of 2021 and beginning of 2022, when updating the work programme for the Natural Resources Institute Finland. We follow the received feedback and take it into consideration in developing the statistics.

Overall accuracy and reliability

The coverage of the sample is good regarding commercially significant species. In general, the fish purchases of companies monitored have covered 95% of the Baltic herring catches landed in Finland. Since 2018, the statistics has covered approximately 90% of the commercial catch of salmon. As for the perch, pike and pikeperch catches of commercial fishermen, the sampling in the statistics has accounted for over 50% of the catch. The data collection concerning farmed rainbow trout and European whitefish covered the bulk of the amount produced. As for other species, such as cyprinids, the coverage of the sample has been less extensive. From 2022 onwards, the coverage of the register data for non-quota fish species has significantly improved.

Until 2022, the companies under price monitoring for non-quota species represent large or medium-sized companies with a considerable share of the total fish trade. The price paid by smaller companies may differ from prices paid by the biggest companies, which may affect average prices at regional level. Direct sale by fishermen is excluded from the statistical data. According to a research carried out in 2007, fishermen fetched a higher price for fresh and gutted salmon sold through direct sale than for salmon sold to wholesale traders. According to the research, the impact of direct sales on the average producer price of salmon amounted to +13%.

Timeliness

Yearly statistics are published by the end of May, following the statistical year. The quarterly prices of fish with catch quotas are published three months after the statistical quarter.

Comparability - geographical

Data between national regions included in the statistics is comparable. Data is also comparable to data published by Eurostat. 

Comparability - over time

Producer prices for fish have been collected by sampling purchasing information of fish wholesalers since 1990. Before 1989, the price information was collected from the fishermen selling the fish. Price information has been collected separately for Baltic herring for human consumption and for animal feed, and by size class since 1994.

In the 2004 price statistics, the regional division of the areas monitored was changed to comply with the regional division of the Employment and Economic Development Centres (known as TE-Centres, i.e. current ELY-Centres).  In previous years, the prices for fish were presented separately for each marine area: the Bothnian Bay, the Bothnian Sea, the Archipelago Sea, Åland and the Gulf of Finland. Changes to the regional division did not have a significant impact on the findings.   

Since 2000, the price for rainbow trout has been given for farmed fish. The price for rainbow trout is not comparable with prices presented in statistics before 2000, since before 2000, the calculation method followed that of the other species and was based on the fish wholesalers’ information, which also included rainbow trout caught in the wild.

Significant changes were made to the classification of Baltic herring when the producer prices for fish -statistics were compiled in 2000. The previous terms ‘industrial Baltic herring’ and ‘consumption Baltic herring’ correspond to the present ‘Baltic herring for human consumption’, and ‘Baltic herring for industrial use’ is the equivalent of the previous ‘Baltic herring used for feed’.

In the 1997 statistics, the average prices for fish were for the first time presented separately for gutted and/or ungutted fish. In previous years, the average prices had included both ungutted and gutted fish, depending on the content of the batches purchased. The difference between the methods is small, as nearly all species referred to in decree 410/1984 are delivered to the buyer gutted and other species mainly ungutted.

Starting from 2021, the size class of Baltic herring in the statistics has been modified in accordance with the European Council Regulation (EC) 2406/96. Size classes in use up to the year 2021 were based on the decree on handling fresh fish before delivery to consumers or further processing (25.5.1984/410). This regulation was repealed on 1 January 2016 as the new Fishing Act (379/2015) came into force.

In 2022, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southwest Finland started to monitor the submission of first-sale declarations under Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 also for non-quota fish species. As a result, the data in the fish producer price statistics for 2022 is considerably more comprehensive than in previous years, and includes fish purchased for industrial use also for species other than herring and sprat. The improvement in the coverage of the register data had a particular impact on prices for species of which a significant proportion is sold for industrial use (e.g. vendace and bream). The data collection for producer prices of non-quota fish species from first-sale buyers of fish was discontinued from 2023 onwards, and from the statistical year 2023 onwards the statistics is based exclusively on data from the central control register on commercial fishery.

Until 2021, producer prices for species other than Baltic herring and sprat reflect the price of fish intended for human consumption. From 2023 onwards, producer prices for fish are be presented separately for fish intended for human consumption and industrial use. In addition, a volume-weighted producer price including both uses is presented.

Coherence - cross domain

The price information of the statistics are used in Commercial marine fishery- and Recreational fishing statistics, as well as in Commercial inland fishery statistics for all species except vendace.

Coherence between sub annual and annual statistics

The quarterly statistics is based on register information obtained from eKake, while the annual statistics also includes data collection from a sample of 20-30 first-sale buyers of fish for species not regulated through catch quotas until 2022.

Coherence – internal

The statistics is coherent.

Source data

From 2023 onwards, only the central control register on commercial fishery will be used as a source for producer prices of fish. Until 2022, price data for non-quota fish species were collected from 20 to 30 first-hand buyers of fish.

Frequency of data collection

From 2023 onwards, only register data will be used in the statistics. Until 2022, price data for non-quota species were collected throughout the year. The reporting first-hand buyers of fish submitted purchase data to the Natural Resources Institute Finland once a month.

Data collection

Starting at the beginning of 1995, the first-hand commercial buyers of species regulated through catch quotas have been obliged to make purchase notifications under the EU (Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011). Notifications are made for each batch of fish to the fisheries units of the relevant ELY Centre or the Provincial Government of Åland within 48 hours of purchase. Purchase notifications are recorded in the national central register for commercial fishery.  Species covered by catch quotas in Finland include salmon, Baltic herring, sprat, cod, and plaice. The price information for these species is calculated from the purchase notifications submitted. In principle, this represents a census of the population of fish batches landed in Finnish maritime ports.

The species subject to quotas in Finland are salmon, herring, sprat, cod and plaice. Until the statistical year 2022, the price information for species other than those covered by quotas was calculated from samples of purchasing information given by 20–30 enterprises. At least three companies are included from each coastal area. Until 2022, the prices for farmed rainbow trout and European whitefish are collected by the Finnish Fish Farmers’ Association and are based on the declarations made by fish farmers. Since 2023, the prices for farmed fish are based on Natural Resources Institute Finland’s survey on aquaculture, as well as information obtained from the Government of Åland.

Data validation

The Natural Resources Institute Finland reviews the data before compilation. Error detection software is used in the search for inconsistencies in stored material. 

Data compilation

Average prices of fish are calculated using the averages weighted by amount of purchase. The producer prices are given as nominal prices in the statistical database. On the statistics homepage, prices are given in real prices converted by the consumer price index.

Unit-level data are protected as required in the Statistics Act so that original unit-level data cannot be derived from the statistical data. The producer prices are calculated based on sales notes submitted by several companies and so that no individual company accounts for a dominant share of the total volume of the purchased fish.