Aquaculture Species. Tench.
Identification, Need and Demand
Analysis Situation of the Tench in Spain
The Tench is an autochthonous species, its demand and high price in the market is marked by being linked to the history, to the gastronomic
tradition, to be appreciated like trophy of sport fishing with importance for the repopulation and to be associated to the important
role that It plays in the ecosystems of calm waters preventing its eutrophication.
The traditional breeding of this species is carried out in lagoons and reservoirs in Extremadura and Castilla-León, in extensive and semi-extensive conditions, being very integrated in the environment in which it develops, causing minimal impacts and being considered as an element dynamizing rural economies in the areas where they are bred. In rivers it is not a frequent species and its populations are scarce. However, it is very favored by continuous reinforcements of the populations in ponds of the Spanish West, converting its populations into abundant.
These repopulations are due to the great economic interest of the species and, they are carried out through private fish farms that are dedicated to their cultivation. All these fish farms make efforts in R+D+I to control and improve the efficiency of the productive extensive processes, in order to increase their production. Despite these efforts and a long tradition in their consumption and cultivation, their production has not experienced the expected development.
The production of Tench in Spain has varied considerably in recent years, with a strong downward trend. These data correspond only to what "can be registered" because of the traditional breeding system, but nevertheless the estimated production (including poaching, undeclared fishing, etc.) corresponds to approximately double. In Spain, 23 tons were produced in 2.015, cultivated in ponds, with very little control over the process. This figure is far from the peaks that reached the end of the 1.980s around 460 tons.
The evolution of consumption is proportional to its low productivity, and is caused by three main causes:
The traditional breeding of this species is carried out in lagoons and reservoirs in Extremadura and Castilla-León, in extensive and semi-extensive conditions, being very integrated in the environment in which it develops, causing minimal impacts and being considered as an element dynamizing rural economies in the areas where they are bred. In rivers it is not a frequent species and its populations are scarce. However, it is very favored by continuous reinforcements of the populations in ponds of the Spanish West, converting its populations into abundant.
These repopulations are due to the great economic interest of the species and, they are carried out through private fish farms that are dedicated to their cultivation. All these fish farms make efforts in R+D+I to control and improve the efficiency of the productive extensive processes, in order to increase their production. Despite these efforts and a long tradition in their consumption and cultivation, their production has not experienced the expected development.
The production of Tench in Spain has varied considerably in recent years, with a strong downward trend. These data correspond only to what "can be registered" because of the traditional breeding system, but nevertheless the estimated production (including poaching, undeclared fishing, etc.) corresponds to approximately double. In Spain, 23 tons were produced in 2.015, cultivated in ponds, with very little control over the process. This figure is far from the peaks that reached the end of the 1.980s around 460 tons.
The evolution of consumption is proportional to its low productivity, and is caused by three main causes:
- 1 ) The
significant reduction of wetlands currently available associated with long periods of drought.
- 2 ) The decrease in the quality of the continental waters.
- 3 ) The loss of interest in the low profitability of the traditional production system, which needs large sheets of water conditioned (natural pond type), and much manual work.
The continental aquaculture in Spain bases its activity in the production of rainbow trout, occupying Tench a marginal position in volume (approximately 100 times lower), but its delicacy from the gastronomic point of view, turns this crop into Extremely attractive with a much more interesting market price.
At present, the production of trout is producing a slowdown around – 5.2% per annum, due to market saturation and a consequent drop in prices. This slowdown has positioned the Tench, due to its quality, price and demand, as an alternative to trout, including it as a strategic species according to APROMAR 2.017 for the evolution of Spanish continental aquaculture, hence the growing interest on the part of the Trout producers as well as other investors in investing in future Tench production projects.
The consumption of Tench, in the areas of production have focused especially on the sizes of 100 to 130 grams with a valuation equivalent to fish classified as expensive, from 13 to 16 euros per kilo of tench. The current limitations in its production, only in extensive or semi-extensive conditions have conditioned its commercial implantation at a national level, is the case of a species little known but with high demand.
- 2 ) The decrease in the quality of the continental waters.
- 3 ) The loss of interest in the low profitability of the traditional production system, which needs large sheets of water conditioned (natural pond type), and much manual work.
The continental aquaculture in Spain bases its activity in the production of rainbow trout, occupying Tench a marginal position in volume (approximately 100 times lower), but its delicacy from the gastronomic point of view, turns this crop into Extremely attractive with a much more interesting market price.
At present, the production of trout is producing a slowdown around – 5.2% per annum, due to market saturation and a consequent drop in prices. This slowdown has positioned the Tench, due to its quality, price and demand, as an alternative to trout, including it as a strategic species according to APROMAR 2.017 for the evolution of Spanish continental aquaculture, hence the growing interest on the part of the Trout producers as well as other investors in investing in future Tench production projects.
The consumption of Tench, in the areas of production have focused especially on the sizes of 100 to 130 grams with a valuation equivalent to fish classified as expensive, from 13 to 16 euros per kilo of tench. The current limitations in its production, only in extensive or semi-extensive conditions have conditioned its commercial implantation at a national level, is the case of a species little known but with high demand.
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