On the contrary, through modernisation and the implementation of the latest IT-technology, they aim to consolidate their competitive position. Terms such as "information system, electronic trading, remote bidding, interconnection, Internet and traceability" are normal parts of the vocabulary of the manager of a modern fish auction.
World market leader in the development and implementation of electronic trading systems for the wholesale fishing industry is Belgian supplier, Aucxis Trading Solutions (ATS). For 20 years the company has created tailor-made solutions to streamline the complete fish trading process. "Through close collaboration and frequent brainstorming sessions with our many customers, we have gained a clear idea of the needs of the fishing sector and learned how these may vary between the different market players.
"This deep understanding and experience of the fishing industry provides a bonus for our clients during the development of their specific project" says Geert Vonck, COO of ATS. "We have pioneered a number of revolutionary systems, such as the Moby-Clock and remote bidding over the Internet, whilst at the same time recognising the need for local customs to be taken into account. We believe that this philosophy leads to the successful introduction of modern technology in a somewhat traditional industry."
Geert Vonck adds:"In recent years there have been significant technological developments in the IT-world, many of which were relevant to the fishing industry. ATS constantly monitors these developments in order to be able to offer leading-edge solutions to its customers."
Information is knowledge
A professional fish buyer needs access to as much relevant information as possible, so that he/she can decide on the prices to offer for the various lots in which there is interest. "What is the quality and quantity of supply available? What are the prices at other fish markets? What were the average prices for the same species and quality in the same period last year?" At the same time, fishermen are interested in the best prices available for their catch.
Today's buyers and suppliers can obtain all kinds of dynamic data from the information system as it is transferred online throughout the sale and processed into statistics. Fish trading networks, such as the clusters of CCI de Quimper in France and EFICE (Electronic Fish Information Center Europe), as well as individual fish markets, such as Boulogne, already offer an extended information system accessible through the Internet.
Computerised trading systems
The auction process starts with the input of actual or forecast supply. This information can be forwarded via satellite from the vessel at sea to the fish market or to a central server, but often, it is inputted at the landing quay using a specially designed terminal. Electronic weighing systems are also connected to the sales system and, in some cases, the supply is transferred through a radiographic link.
The Moby-Clock has become the most popular fish selling system to be introduced when a traditional shout auction adopts IT-technology. ATS has supplied 13 Moby-Clocks to the fish markets administered by the CCI de Quimper and, in 2003, Looe fish market became the first in England to use the system. All its users have enthusiastically welcomed this compact, mobile auction clock.
Buyers walk beside the Moby-Clock around the hall where the fish is on display. It stops at each lot and, as with a traditional shout auction, the auctioneer sets a start price. Each buyer has a small hand held radiographic transmitter, which, at the press of a button, enables him to bid.
Alternatively, other successful markets prefer to sell in a dedicated auction room adjacent to the fish display, using either fixed auction clocks, projection clocks or sales panels, each computerised by ATS according to the individual client's needs. The buyers may inspect the fish before retiring to the comfort of the auction theatre to make their bids using an electronic keyboard. A module that is becoming increasingly popular is the remote bidding option, where buyers participate in the sale online from their home or office. The computerisation of the fish selling process is not limited to the European fishing industry: Early in 2004 ATS will modernise Sydney Fish Market in Australia and install an electronic trading system in the brand-new auction room of Auckland Fish Market in New Zealand.
Networking and the Internet
At present, the largest network for the sale of fresh fish is EFICE, which interconnects seven Dutch markets and the Ostend market in Belgium. Three years after its official launch, the network has achieved its main objectives: the market is more transparent, competition is stronger in the smaller markets, average prices are higher and price forming is more stable. And the evolution continues: early in 2004 Hull's Fishgate market will join the network and EFICE will become accessible through the Internet.
Other fish markets that use ATS Internet-based trading systems are Sydney (SFM Live) and Islandsmarkadur (Fisknet) in Iceland. The latter sells fish from all 19 Icelandic fish auctions and has 120 customers buying online daily.
At a time when the European fishing industry is suffering from tough quotas on the landings of many popular species and there is increasing competition from other parts of the world, there is a growing and necessary demand for reliable quality controls, improved traceability and transparency and dynamic information regarding catches. Mutual co-operation and interconnection between markets, which, in the past, would have been considered impossible, have now proved to be a successful formula.
