Prices of seafood in China could continue rising due to current market conditions, according to analysts.

The seafood industry is expected to encounter difficulties due to the financial crisis, analysts said.

Prices of seafood products are likely to remain high on rising food prices and are expected to remain stable in 2009, with seasonal fluctuations for individual aquatic species.

External influences based on export trends will have less impact on prices. Demand is also driven by the fast development of the seafood processing industry.

However, the world financial crisis has lowered seafood exports, pulling down prices in the domestic market. Still, analysts forecast that the falling trend will not last and that the decline will be minimal.

Analysts forecast that in 2009, the prices of seafood products will remain stable and will only be affected by factors such as holidays and production and consumption. In the long run, prices for seafood products are seen to keep rising.