A proposal has been made to reform the law in order to better regulate the fisheries sector, which contributes 5% of GDP, expanding prohibited areas and implementing a moratorium on commercial fishing licenses.
Aware of the of the importance of industrial, commercial and sport fishing for the Panamanian economy, the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) is preparing a draft law to modernize the current fisheries legislation, which dates from 1959.
In the first quarter of the year the value of fish exported was $5.1 million, 40% less than in the same period in 2015.
Fisheries sector entrepreneurs confirmed that the decline also occurred in production, but they are relying a reversal of the figures and achieving better results in the year, because in April , "... scale fishing began to show signs of recovery and we hope that in the rest of the year, with expectations of rainfall, production will normalize' "said Armando Segura, president of the Chamber of Fisheries of Nicaragua to Elnuevodiario.com.ni .
Governments have agreed to promote investments in binational fishing projects in the maritime waters of the Central American country.
A further agreement strengthens the economic relationship between Russia and Nicaragua, this time to promote binational investment and improve technologies in fisheries projects.
Innovation in products such as snapper or producing goods for animal consumption has allowed the 2800 Costa Rican aquaculture farms to stay in business.
The advantages of volume and price held by competitors in the Asian market also affected global markets such as aquaculture. Tilapia is an example in Costa Rica, registering a decline of 19.4% in exports, going from 7,166 tons in 2012 to 5,777 in 2015, according to PROCOMER.
The Panamanian Food Safety Authority has temporarily banned seafood imports from Vietnam.
From the resolution published in the Official Newspaper La Gaceta:
"...Resolves:
FIRST: Order a temporary suspension of the sale of fishery products from the Republic of Vietnam, until its health authorities definitively clarify, using technical and scientific methods, that they are free of the bacteria "Vibrio cholerae" and therefore that the product may be imported and marketed safely in the Republic of Panama.
New procedures now apply for certification and sanitary permits required to export fishery and aquaculture products.
The Center for Exports reports that since December 15, 2015 a new resolution is in effect which details inspection process to be carried out by fishery plants and aquaculture production centers to certify their products for export.
The Americas Tuna Conference 2016 (AMatuna2016) is a two-day tuna industry event that will take place in Panama City, Panama on January 28th and 29th at the Riu Plaza Hotel.
The Americas Tuna Conference 2016 (AMatuna2016) is a two-day tuna industry event that will take place in Panama City, Panama on January 28th and 29th at the Riu Plaza Hotel.
From November 9th to 13th companies in the sector will be meeting in Panama City to discuss issues related to sustainable use of marine resources and innovation in fishing methods.
The Fisheries Institute of the Gulf and the Caribbean reports that "... the focus of the event which will be "Two oceans, same coastal issues," reflects the interest of the membership of the GCFI, to include their peers from the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Costa American Pacific from southern Baja California in Mexico to northern Peru) at the annual meetings, with the intention of optimizing experiences and sharing lessons learned from facing similar problems, challenges and opportunities on both coasts of the Americas.
Mexican health authorities have changed the random inspection process for one which includes inspection of every container of Costa Rican fishery product attempting to enter the territory.
The new sanitation checks began in July, and involve an individual process for each of the containers of fish products attempting to enter Mexico.
Bureaucratic problems within the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food are hampering exports from the fishery and aquaculture sector.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
Producers and exporters who make up the Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture at AGEXPORT are extremely concerned about the grave consequences that may occur in Guatemala, as a result of the recent decisions by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food which in two days have caused the cesation of the country's exports worth nearly $1 million.
Only fish consumption of Panamanians is above the world average, with 23 kilos per capita per year.
The growth of purchasing power and increased choice of seafood explain the increased consumption among Panamanians, which averages around 23 kilos a year. The increased purchasing power of Panamanians is added to the growing industrialization in fish production, which along with the increase in marketing channels, increases product availability and consumption.
From April 12th to 17th 316 participants from 27 countries will be competing in the World Fishing Championship to be held in Quepos, Puntarenas.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT):
Costa Rica to host the World Fishing Championship 2015
* Tournament will be held from 12 to 17 April in Marina Pez Vela, Quepos.
* The competition will feature the participation of 316 fishermen from 27 countries.
With a bill to incentivize development of the sector and other measures to provide facilities to farmers, the government aims to boost the growth of aquaculture in the country.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Ministry of Production of Peru announced a series of measures aimed at laying the foundations for sustainable development and launching aquaculture within the framework of the implementation of the National Plan for Productive Diversification.
A committee will be formed with representatives from the productive sector and government to prepare a draft law regulating the activity of shrimp fishing in the country.
From a statement issued by the Government of Costa Rica:
In order to build a sustainable model to organize the shrimp fishing industry, to create jobs and fight poverty in coastal communities of the Costa Rican Pacific, the Government has issued a national policy for the sustainable utilization of shrimp.
On March 1st a new minimum wage structure came into force, with an adjustment of 9.8% for SMEs, 11.48% for the agricultural sector and 10.98% for other sectors.
The salary adjustment is effective from the first of March and will be implemented in two semiannual tracts. In the case of the industrial sector, subject to the taxation regime, the wage setting corresponds to 8% and will be applied in a single tranche in force until December 30 this year.