Photo credit: Luis Landesman (USA)
Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)
The inserted photos were taken during April 2013 in a typical market in Azerbaijan. Even though our focus remains on fish, it is obvious that there are no specific markets for fish or fish products in Azerbaijan. Instead, fish are sold in reserved sections in public markets whereas other products are sold.
In the fish display shown in the photos, customers can find fresh fish from the Caspian Sea as well as frozen fish products, as well as smoked fish which are imported from the Baltic States, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.There are no specific markets for the sale of fish or fish products in Azerbaijan. However, in public markets and supermarkets, sections are reserved for the sale of fish.
Displayed fish as shown in the photos are headed and gutted. Also, there are no price labels. This could be attributed to either possible bargaining by the buyers and/or possible price changes throughout the day; especially there is no ice is seen on the display. We need to remember that the visit took place during the month of April where the temperature is not usually high with its average highest of 14 C and average lowest of 9.
In a recent study done in 2013, the price of fish and fish products in Azerbaijan market vary significantly
| Fish/fishery product | US$/kg |
| Fresh sturgeon meat | 30 |
| Smoked sturgeon meat | 50 |
| Fresh and fresh-frozen fish | 4 |
| Large fresh fish | 7 |
| Small fresh fish | 3.5 |
| Smoked fish | 7 |
| Salted fish | 4.8 – 6.0 |
According to FAO statistics, the per capita fish consumption in Azerbaijan in 2010 is very low and stays just below one kg/year. However, in the coastal regions of the Caspian and in the regions adjacent to the main inland waters, fish consumption is much higher than the country average compared to the rest of the country. Also, fish is consumed in the cooler months is much higher than the year average. The same is true for the consumption during the lunar New Year celebration (Novruz Bayram), during which a traditional meal of fish is usually prepared.
Reference: Salmanov, Z., Qasimov, A., Fersoy, H. & van Anrooy, R. 2013. Fisheries and aquaculture in the Republic of Azerbaijan: a review. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 1030/4. Ankara, FAO. 42 pp.
