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Fishmonger with carp (archive)
Photo: Matej Divizna / Getty Images
Obviously carp is served more often on the holidays this year than last year.
According to experts, the demand has increased compared to 2020.
However, the offer is less.
The reason is the relatively cool temperatures, explains Martin Oberle, head of carp pond management at the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture in Höchststadt: "This is why the fish have not grown quite as well as in other years."
The carp season usually runs from September to April.
For nationwide sales, however, December is one of the most important, because carp is traditionally eaten in many regions at Christmas and around the turn of the year.
According to a survey by the food association, the leading association in the industry, fish dishes were already among the most popular celebratory meals last year.
Eight percent of those surveyed said they had fish on the table on Christmas Eve - just as many opted for poultry.
At the top were the classics bockwurst with potato salad (19 percent) and fondue or raclette (17 percent).
Roast beef or pork were served by nine percent of those surveyed, making them somewhat more popular than fish dishes.
Last year, according to the Federal Statistical Office, almost 4800 tons of carp were bred across Germany, with Bavaria and Saxony leading by a large margin.
Almost three quarters of the carp produced came from these two federal states.
In Saxony the carp is also a popular festive meal at Christmas time, but especially on New Year's Eve.
"The carp market is currently almost empty," says Andreas Stummer from the Saxon State Fisheries Association.
“This is mainly due to the high demand from Poland, which we cannot fully explain at the moment.” This may have something to do with lower production in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
The carp pond farmers in the Bavarian Upper Palatinate also report that there are many advance orders.
"The last three or four days before Christmas it really attracts," says Alfred Stier from the Bavarian State Fisheries Association.
However, it could be that the offer this year is lower due to the unfavorable temperatures.
"That's why the price has risen," says Stier.
In Lower Saxony, pond owners expect good business.
In contrast to the dry and hot summers in recent years, the growth figures this year are very satisfactory, says Christina Hiegel from the Chamber of Agriculture in Hanover.
The demand for regionally produced carp has increased slightly and exceeds the supply.
Because otters and cormorants would have caused considerable losses.
fdi / dpa