Mediterranean sea bass and sea bream producers are bracing themselves for a challenging 2017 as industry watchers predict a considerable supply-demand imbalance ahead.

Early indicators are a considerable drop in prices over the past few months, especially on bream, Paul S. Valle, project and development manager for seabass/seabream aquaculture at Kontali Analyse, told IntraFish.

While it is still difficult to prognosticate exact production figures for the sector, "there is a clear trend," he said.

"The main picture is production figures for this year are going to rise quite significantly.