The rise in Norwegian wholesale salmon prices is showing no signs of a let-up, averaging NOK40 (US$6.11) a kilogramme as producers are selling out every week and catches are scarce.

Jorgen Christiansen of Norway's Marine Harvest, Europe's biggest salmon farmer said further rises in prices would depend on whether demand dropped from the newer markets in South America and Eastern Europe. "Mature markets such as the UK will continue to buy salmon because they always have," he added.

So far UK retailers have managed to hold down most prices, but that situation may not last for long. Fish generally - and cod in particular - has been expensive in the last few weeks. Cod and haddock supplies from Iceland were better and it was hoped this would ease prices.

But so far there has been little sign of that happening. The situation for farmed and wild halibut and turbot and for game fish such as tuna remains stable, even if prices are holding firm.