Peruvian aquaculture exports amounted to US$ 89.4 million during the first quarter of this year, representing an increase of 62 percent over the same period in 2013, according to the Association of Exporters (ADEX).
ADEX Capture Industry and Service Management reported that after some recorded fluctuations in recent years as a result of the red tide that caused the death of scallops, aquaculture is "showing clear signs of recovery."
The growth experienced by the industry in the first three months is linked to the better performance of its two main products: shrimp and scallops.
Other important products were tilapia, trout and paiche, in lower volumes.
Humberto Speziani, chairman of ADEX Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, considers that aquaculture is in the "legal limb" because it has no legal framework, since the new Aquaculture Promotion and Development Act was not passed in January.
"The thing is that the law has expired and we are not in condition for investment. Today more than ever we need a legal framework that encourages it," Speziani stated.
Besides, he stressed that the country has conditions to develop aquaculture, which has high impact on poverty reduction and decentralization.
"We think it has more shared features with agriculture than with fisheries: diseases, pests. It has high risks and requires special tax and labour conditions," he added .
Speziani argues that Peru has the necessary conditions to surpass Chile as aquaculture producer, not as salmon producer but in other resources.
The Fisheries Committee Chairman also emphasized the great possibilities that exist for shrimp and scallops on the coast, for trout in the mountains and for paiche and tilapia in the jungle.
Of total exports, USD 48.7 million accounted for whole shrimp and for shrimp tail shipments. The main markets for these products in the first quarter were United States, Spain, South Korea and France.
Meanwhile, scallop exports totalled USD 38.6 million, and mostly were sent to France, United States, Belgium, Canada and Italy.
As for the trout, its shipments abroad in the first three months generated USD 1.6 million, and the largest markets are Canada, United States, Germany, Sweden and Spain,
fis.com reported
The value of tilapia export was USD 399,000, and the United States and Ecuador concentrated shipments in the January-March period this year, fis.com reported
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Published: 5/26/2014