Dutch processors import fish worth about 1.3bn ($1.09bn) into their premises annually that is then mostly resold in value added form.
The Dutch population consumes only 14.5kg of fish per person per year, according to Robert Carp, managing director of the Nederlands Visbureau (Dutch Fish Marketing Board). The value of the domestic market for fresh fish adds up to 163.4m ($137.3m) and is relatively low as availability has been generally poor throughout the country.
However, Dutch supermarkets, Mr Carp says, have developed expertise in handling and selling seafood in recent years, and are the major source of supply for fish for consumers in the Netherlands today.
But
