During the month of Tishrei this year, consumers will buy NIS 100 million ($26 million) worth of fish, according to forecasts by the Agriculture Ministry and the Fish Breeders Association.
And there's good news for consumers: prices are expected to be similar to last year's — carp will cost NIS 22-25 per kilo, tilapia (also known as St. Peter's fish, or amnon or musht in Hebrew) will cost NIS 22-28 per kilo and gray mullet (buri in Hebrew) will be sold for NIS 25-38 (down from NIS 30-40 last year). Supply shortages are not expected.
Additional figures reveal that in a typical month Israelis consume 900 grams of fish (11 kg per year), while during Tishrei consumption rises to 1,800 grams per person.
During the month of Tishrei 1,000 tons of carp are consumed, compared to 350 tons during the other months, 800 tons of tilapia are eaten, compared to 500 tons in other months, and 300 tons of mullet are consumed, compared to 170 tons in other months.
Israel's per capita consumption falls far below the rate in other countries: Mediterranean countries consume 20-40 kg per person yearly and in Japan, 60 kg. In the US the average person consumes just 6-7 kg a year.
