The study recalled that in August 1997, the European Community stopped imports of seafood from India, Bangladesh and Madagascar. Another obstacle to trade could be created by ecolabelling, i.e. certification that the fish was produced from a sustainably managed resource.
Fish is the most important food product exported by developing countries.
For many developing countries, fish trade is a significant source of foreign currency earnings. Developed countries account for more than 80 percent of total imports of fishery products. Japan is the biggest importer, followed by the United States and the European Community. The Bremen meeting will also discuss trends in the exploitation of fishery resources and their implications for trade as well as recent international initiatives regarding fisheries management. Last June, all sturgeon species were listed in an appendix of the Convention.