Ukrainian fish and seafood market: Challenges and prospects

The purpose of the research is to analytically assess the current state and trends of the Ukrainian fish and seafood market and identify both negative and positive trends in its functioning. Research methods. Scientific methodologies of domestic and foreign researchers in the field of production and consumption of fish and seafood in Ukraine became the general methodological basis of the research. Due to the dynamic market and constant updating of  information, the authors of the article focused on the analysis of materials of scientific professional publications and Internet sources, which reflect the data of statistics, opinions of specialists, analysts and experts of the fishing industry of Ukraine. The work used such general scientific and specific research methods as logical generalization, systematic approach and theoretical search, based on the collection and processing of formalized reporting data. Results. The article analyzes the state and prospects of development of the Ukrainian fish and seafood market. The main problems of functioning of the Ukrainian fishing industry and the current state of its development are identified. The trends of consumption of fish and seafood in Ukraine are considered. During the research the problematic aspects of providing the population with fish and seafood caught in the waters of Ukraine were identified. On the basis of the results of the study, the ways of promising directions of development of the fishery industry with the purpose of providing the population with food with a complete protein composition were proposed.In Ukraine, there has been a negative trend in the overall dynamics of the development of the fish market. The raw material base of Ukraine's natural water resources is exhausted year after year, with total domestic production of water resources providing only 30% of domestic demand, so Ukraine is forced to increase its imports of fish and seafood. The situation is complicated by the "shadow" component of the market, insufficient attention and reaction of the relevant control authorities on irregularities in fisheries and customs control of imported products. The way out of the situation is a set of measures: development of own aquaculture, introduction of innovative technologies of fish and seafood processing, positive changes in the work of state bodies for deregulation and de-shadowing of the fishing industry, adjustment of financial assistance to aquaculture farms. Practical importance. the ways of perspective directions of improvement of tendencies of the fishing industry of Ukraine are offered. The analysis of the situation on the Ukrainian market of fish and seafood will help to focus on the reasons that may result in traditionally formed underconsumption of aquatic bioresources by the population of Ukraine

fish market; trends; dynamics; foreign economic activity; prospect; consumption