MidEast sustainable fish market boom predicted

The market for sustainable fish is nowhere near what it is in the UK or Europe but it will grow, according to Konrad Geldenhuys, commercial manager of sustainable fish company Sea Harvest.

Speaking at Gulfood 2012 he said: "We first attended the show last year and we are back again this year, it's a good sign. Last year we upped the amount of sustainable hake we had and had the choice of whether to increase in our existing markets or to launch into new markets. We chose the Middle East as a new market because we think the demand is here."

The firm is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, which Geldenhuys said was a selling point in the region.

"We are a fully integrated company, so we own our own vessels, processing equipment and facilities - we can prove to the end user our sustainable practices," Geldenhuys added.

He described Dubai as a "hub", as well as identifying emerging markets like Kuwait.

"We hope this year to pursure opportunities we saw last year," said Geldenhuys.