Romanians eat an average of 3.9 kg of fish annually, more than three times below the European average of 12-14 kg per capita, according to market studies cited by local fish distributor and processor Ocean Fish.

Fish consumption dropped from over 8 kg per capita 20 years ago, to 2 kg in 1993. It then entered an upward trend, reaching 5 kg per capita in 2008-2009, according to the company's data, reports local Profit.ro.

Some 90% of the fish sold in Romania comes from import, and the local market has a value of EUR 85 million, Ocean Fish shows.

Ocean Fish is a Romanian company established in 1998, owned by local businessman Ilie Busuioc. It registered a turnover of EUR 34 million in 2015 and targets sales of EUR 38 million this year.

Last year, the company completed the upgrading project carried out at its factory in Afumati, Ilfov county. Moreover, it recently opened its first store in Afumati and plans to expand its retail network with six other units to be opened in Bucharest by end-2016.

Ocean Fish sells most of its products through retail networks, either under its own brand or under private label brands. The company also exports some of its products, which include canned and processed fish.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com