Fish market

Last updated
A fish stall in HAL market, Bangalore HAL fish market.jpg
A fish stall in HAL market, Bangalore
Fish department in H Mart store in Fairfax, Virginia with mackerel, bluefish, porgy, whiting and many other fish H-mart - fish department - Mackerel - 2.JPG
Fish department in H Mart store in Fairfax, Virginia with mackerel, bluefish, porgy, whiting and many other fish

A fish market is a marketplace for selling fish and fish products. It can be dedicated to wholesale trade between fishermen and fish merchants, or to the sale of seafood to individual consumers, or to both. Retail fish markets, a type of wet market, often sell street food as well.

Contents

Fish markets range in size from small fish stalls to large ones such as the great Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, which turns over about 660,000 tonnes a year. [1]

The term fish market can also refer to the process of fish marketing in general, but this article is concerned with physical marketplaces.

History and development

The Great Fish Market, painted by Jan Brueghel the Elder Jan Brueghel the Elder-Great Fish market.jpg
The Great Fish Market, painted by Jan Brueghel the Elder

Fish markets were known in antiquity. [2] They served as a public space where large numbers of people could gather and discuss current events and local politics.

Selling fish in a Quebec Market, c. 1845. Selling fish in a Quebec Market.jpg
Selling fish in a Quebec Market, c. 1845.
Fish Market, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1890 Melbourne Fish Markets.jpg
Fish Market, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1890

Because seafood is quick to spoil, fish markets are historically most often found in seaside towns. Once ice or other simple cooling methods became available, some were also established in large inland cities that had good trade routes to the coast.

Customers in front of the in the market hall of Kotka, Finland, in 1950s. Kotka Market Hall 1950s.jpg
Customers in front of the in the market hall of Kotka, Finland, in 1950s.

Since refrigeration and rapid transport became available in the 19th and 20th century, fish markets can technically be established at any place. However, because modern trade logistics in general has shifted away from marketplaces and towards retail outlets, such as supermarkets, most seafood worldwide is now sold to consumers through these venues, like most other foodstuffs.

Consequently, most major fish markets now mainly deal with wholesale trade, and the existing major fish retail markets continue to operate as much for traditional reasons as for commercial ones. Both types of fish markets are often tourist attractions as well.

Notable fish markets

Frozen tuna in the Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo Tsukiji.FrozenTuna.jpg
Frozen tuna in the Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo
Self-serve display at a New England fish market. Customers use tongs to select their fish, then place it in a plastic tub for transfer to either the checkout counter or the fileting station. Self-serve display at a fish market.jpg
Self-serve display at a New England fish market. Customers use tongs to select their fish, then place it in a plastic tub for transfer to either the checkout counter or the fileting station.

The following is an incomplete list of notable fish markets. (See also a list of fish market articles.)

Operational markets

Historical markets

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Clover C (2008) The End of the Line: How Overfishing Is Changing the World and What We Eat Page 165. University of California Press, ISBN   978-0-520-25505-0.
  2. Rauch JE and Casella A (2001) Networks and markets Page 157. Russell Sage Foundation, ISBN   978-0-87154-700-2.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishery</span> Raising or harvesting fish

Fishery can mean either the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life or, more commonly, the site where such enterprise takes place. Commercial fisheries include wild fisheries and fish farms, both in freshwater waterbodies and the oceans. About 500 million people worldwide are economically dependent on fisheries. 171 million tonnes of fish were produced in 2016, but overfishing is an increasing problem, causing declines in some populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overfishing</span> Removal of a species of fish from water at a rate that the species cannot replenish

Overfishing is the removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate greater than that the species can replenish its population naturally, resulting in the species becoming increasingly underpopulated in that area. Overfishing can occur in water bodies of any sizes, such as ponds, wetlands, rivers, lakes or oceans, and can result in resource depletion, reduced biological growth rates and low biomass levels. Sustained overfishing can lead to critical depensation, where the fish population is no longer able to sustain itself. Some forms of overfishing, such as the overfishing of sharks, has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems. Types of overfishing include growth overfishing, recruitment overfishing, and ecosystem overfishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry</span> Economic branch

The fishing industry includes any industry or activity that takes, cultures, processes, preserves, stores, transports, markets or sells fish or fish products. It is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization as including recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing, as well as the related harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors. The commercial activity is aimed at the delivery of fish and other seafood products for human consumption or as input factors in other industrial processes. The livelihood of over 500 million people in developing countries depends directly or indirectly on fisheries and aquaculture.

<i>Maguro bōchō</i> Traditional Japanese long knife used for filleting large fish

A maguro bōchō, or maguro kiri bōchō, is an extremely long, highly specialized Japanese knife that is commonly used to fillet tuna, as well as many other types of large ocean fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsukiji fish market</span> Former fish market in Tokyo, Japan

Tsukiji Market is a major tourist attraction for both domestic and overseas visitors in Tokyo. The area contains retail markets, restaurants, and associated restaurant supply stores. Before 2018, it was the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. The market opened on 11 February 1935 as a replacement for an older market that was destroyed in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. It was closed on 6 October 2018, with wholesale operations moving to the new Toyosu Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsukiji</span> District of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan

Tsukiji (築地) is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. Literally meaning "reclaimed land", it lies near the Sumida River on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay in the 18th century during the Edo period. The eponymous Tsukiji fish market opened in 1935 and closed in 2018 when its operations were moved to the new Toyosu Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billingsgate Fish Market</span> Fish market in Poplar in London, England

Billingsgate Fish Market is located in Poplar in London. It is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east corner of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established. In its original location in the 19th century, Billingsgate was the largest fish market in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seafood Watch</span> Consumer advisory list

Seafood Watch is a sustainable seafood advisory list, and has influenced similar programs around the world. It is best known for developing science-based seafood recommendations that consumers, chefs, and business professionals use to inform their seafood purchasing decisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marketplace</span> Space in which a market operates

A marketplace, market place or just market is a location where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other goods. In different parts of the world, a marketplace may be described as a souk, bazaar, a fixed mercado (Spanish), or itinerant tianguis (Mexico), or palengke (Philippines). Some markets operate daily and are said to be permanent markets while others are held once a week or on less frequent specified days such as festival days and are said to be periodic markets. The form that a market adopts depends on its locality's population, culture, ambient and geographic conditions. The term market covers many types of trading, as market squares, market halls and food halls, and their different varieties. Thus marketplaces can be both outdoors and indoors, and in the modern world, online marketplaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Factory ship</span> Large oceangoing fish processing vessel

A factory ship, also known as a fish processing vessel, is a large ocean-going vessel with extensive on-board facilities for processing and freezing caught fish or whales. Modern factory ships are automated and enlarged versions of the earlier whalers, and their use for fishing has grown dramatically. Some factory ships are equipped to serve as a mother ship.

Sustainable seafood is seafood that is caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term vitality of harvested species and the well-being of the oceans, as well as the livelihoods of fisheries-dependent communities. It was first promoted through the sustainable seafood movement which began in the 1990s. This operation highlights overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing methods. Through a number of initiatives, the movement has increased awareness and raised concerns over the way our seafood is obtained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fish marketing</span> Marketing and sale of fish products

Fish marketing is the marketing and sale of fish products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in China</span>

China has one-fifth of the world's population and accounts for one-third of the world's reported fish production as well as two-thirds of the world's reported aquaculture production. It is also a major importer of seafood and the country's seafood market is estimated to grow to a market size worth US$53.5 Billion by 2027.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in Russia</span>

The coastline of the Russian Federation is the fourth longest in the world after the coastlines of Canada, Greenland, and Indonesia. The Russian fishing industry has an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 7.6 million km2 including access to twelve seas in three oceans, together with the landlocked Caspian Sea and more than two million rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyosu</span> Neighborhood in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan

Toyosu (豊洲) is neighborhood in Kōtō, Tokyo. Toyosu has six numbered chome ("blocks"). It is the location of the wholesale Toyosu Market, which took the role of the Tsukiji fish market after it became solely a tourist attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Nueva Viga Market</span>

La Nueva Viga Market is the largest seafood market in Mexico and the second largest in the world after the Toyosu Market in Japan. It is located in Mexico City far inland from the coast, because of historical patterns of commerce in the country. The market handles 1,500 tons of seafood daily, representing about 60% of the total market. Most of the seafood is distributed to the Mexico City metropolitan area and the states surrounding it, but there is distribution to other states and abroad.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the fishing industry:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commercial fishing in Spain</span>

Spain is an eminently maritime country with a long continental shelf running along the entire periphery of the Spanish coast. This narrow continental shelf is extremely rich in fish resources since the shelf is close to land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyosu Market</span> Wholesale market in Tokyo, Japan

The Toyosu Market is a wholesale market in Tokyo, located in the Toyosu area of the Kōtō ward. There are two markets for seafood, one for general wholesale and one for bidding, and one market for fruits and vegetables, with each in its own building. Tourists can observe the auction market on a second floor viewing deck. There are restaurants with fresh seafood and produce from the market and shops. The market is built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, and replaces the historic Tsukiji fish market, which now is a major tourist attraction. Auction tours, events, merchandise sales and restaurants can be used by general consumers and tourists. When it opened on 11 October 2018, it became the largest wholesale fish market in the world.

Jingshen Seafood Market or Chingshen Seafood Market is a marketplace in the Fengtai district of Beijing.

References