Is there any commodity on earth that varies more in price than fish? The world market includes everything from tiny carp at under a quid each, to aquatic rarities worth more than your house. All of which goes to show that whether you keep them, catch them or eat them, humanity puts a high value on our finned friends.
As for the actual price tags on different species and specimens, that depends on their use. Food fish have by far the biggest share of world trade, even if recreational angling tends to offer more value on a pound-for-pound basis. Aquarium fish also fetch big money, and a sad fact is that as species become rarer their value increases, to the point where business is handled by the mafia rather than pet stores!
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‘CULTURAL’CONNECTIONS
One man who’s seen the cultural value of different species all over the world is fish expert Professor Mark Everard
“The way humanity views and trades fish is incredibly complex – and their worth goes way beyond markets and prices,” he says.
“In much of Asia, fish are seen as symbols of affluence and fortune. In the same way a guy in Surrey will buy a Porsche, those in Japan display rare koi carp.”
Mark warns against seeing fish as mere numbers, however. For him, it’s about ‘value as well as raw cost’ – something not always easy to quantify. Interestingly, all over the world fish are ‘key indicators’ in terms of human and environmental wellbeing.
To take one striking example, Mahseer attain a spiritual value in places such as Bhutan, where they are a symbol of the Buddhist faith and local religious authorities invest in their protection. While our own beliefs vary in Britain, anglers surely also feel a strong connection to iconic species and fisheries?
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FOR US,CARP ARE KING
As for fish anglers are more familiar with, there is a clear winner in terms of both sheer volume and the price of individual specimens, and that is the carp.
“Demand is as high as ever and there are many more producers as a result,” says Simon Scott of VS Fisheries, which has grown from a handful of pools to a 60-acre site with over 70 ponds.
“Covid was a real test for everyone, but post-lockdown we sold virtually everything we had in stock!” he adds.
With the growth of carp fishing, it’s no secret that anglers want more and bigger fish, hence the fish farmers have become adept at producing hardy, fast-growing specimens to meet demand. Even so, as much as £2,500 might seem steep for a thirty-pounder, it’s a high-investment, high-risk game for the producer.
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“You’re looking at a lot of food and skilled labour, which isn’t cheap in the UK!” says Simon.
“There are massive costs running a fish farm and with the current competition for market space, you have to work harder than ever and try to be a bit different, whether that’s producing slightly different fish or those with unique scale patterns.”
Individual orders can run well into the tens of thousands of pounds but, surprisingly, fish such as fully-scaled mirrors or leathers don’t command any higher prices than the rest, although the aim is always a healthy mix of stock.
As for the value of large, distinctive carp in getting anglers through fishery gates, that’s harder to put a figure on. Looking at how busy today’s big carp fisheries are, however, the scene is not only in rude health but still growing at pace, much like the fish.
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WHAT ARE THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE FISH?
BLUEFIN TUNA: £2.4 MILLION
The world record sale was broken in 2018 for a fish of 612 pounds. Restaurant owner Kiyoshi Kimura can’t be short of a few yen, as he broke the previous record, too.
TUNA ARE MAKING A COMEBACK IN UK WATERS, FIND OUT MORE HERE.
KOI CARP: £1.4 MILLION
Fish collector Miss Yingying dug deep to attain “S Legend”, a prized 39-inch koi, in 2018. Capable of laying over 100,000 eggs per year, a big female koi can produce a lot of progeny – but unfortunately this fish died the very next year!
A FRENCH KOI RECENTLY BECOME ONE OF THE MOST FAMED FISH IN THE WORLD. FIND OUT MORE HERE.
PLATINUM AROWANA: £320,000
Aka the “Dragon Fish” this rare species is so highly-coveted, organised crime is involved in their trade. Illegal in many countries, it’s the world’s most valuable aquarium fish.
POLKA DOT STINGRAY: £80,000
Sourced from just one area of Brazil, this precious endangered fish is another coveted by aquarists with Bond villain level finances. You’d need a big aquarium as well as deep pockets!
PEPPERMINT ANGEL FISH: £24,000
The Holy Grail of aquarium geeks, the vast depths this fish dwells at makes it very difficult to source. At under two inches long, it must be the world’s most expensive fish by weight.
HOW MUCH DO OUR COARSE FISH COST?
The most expensive individual fish are still carp by some distance. A 30lb fish would generally set you back around £2,500, while a 40-pounder could cost as much as £5,000.
As for ‘per fish’ prices, small carp are among the cheapest. Here is a list of others commonly farmed, with the price of a one-pounder by species:
CARP: £6
BREAM: £10
IDE: £10
CHUB: £10
CRUCIANS: £12
TENCH: £15
BARBEL: £15
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