A farm dedicated to fish breeding and harvesting is planned in Baru, Panama, consisting of 29 production cages and 10 research cages in the open sea.
Forever Oceans Panama, S.A. presented the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) to develop the project called "Open sea cages and marine fish laboratory", where intensive cultivation of marine fish native to the Gulf of Chiriqui will be carried out.
Nicaragua's fishing and aquaculture production in 2019 will be close to 175 million pounds, 6% less than production in 2018.
In the Production, Consumption and Trade Plan for the 2019-2020 cycle, the government expects a 6.4% year-on-year decline, mainly because of the implementation of management and sustainability measures for sea cucumbers, such as the closure of two additional months for all species and the permanent closure for cucumber, Café y Carajo, explains the document.
Because Nicaragua is charging an additional fee of $0.05 for each kilogram exported or imported by air, fresh fish exporters have increased their costs and become less competitive.
Last April 25, the International Airport Administration Companies (EAAI) of Nicaragua began to collect the new tax. See "More costs in Times of Crisis".
In Guatemala, Rianxeira company expects to have in operation in August, its new plant for transforming fish waste into flour.
The company, which is currently exporting tuna loins and concentrates, reported that the investment in the new production line of the plant in Escuintla, amounts to $2 million and that the raw material to be used will be fish heads, skeletons, bones, bone parts and viscera.
Between February 2016 and June 2018, the average price of Central American exports of prepared and preserved fish increased 38%, from $3.72 to $5.13 per kilo.
Figures from the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
The investment of Grupo Calvo in El Salvador will be used to acquire a ship, to build a new production floor and a refrigerated area.
Representatives from the company reported that the investment is part of the start of a process of expanding their operations, which will be focused mainly on increasing the supply of tuna.
In the first quarter of the year sales of prepared and preserved fish from Central America totaled $34 million, and exports to the European country grew by 14% compared to the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Fish Preparations and Canned Fish in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In Costa Rica, companies in the agricultural and fishing sectors will not have to use the mandatory electronic receipt system until October 2019.
The government has decided to postpone the entry into force of the electronic receipt system for these two sectors, with the aim of having more time to better implement the system and solve the problem of internet access that several producers claim to have.
In the context of the difficult situation that Nicaragua is facing, the Ortega administration has announced its projections for agroindustrial production, consumption and trade for the period 2018 -2019.
From a statement issued by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
August 15, 2018.Authorities at the National System of Production, Consumption and Trade (SNPCC) of the Government of Nicaragua presented to the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN), the Production, Consumption and Trade Plan corresponding to the 2018-2019 cycle.
Spain, Mexico and the United States are some of the markets to which companies in Guatemala export fishery products, registering earnings of more than $36 million so far this year.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association:
Among the main export markets of Guatemalan fishery products in terms of value in 2018, are: Spain, Mexico, the United States, France and Canada.
The company Aquafinca announced that it plans to increase production of tilapia fillets by 40%, with an investment of between $10 and $15 million starting from 2019.
Fabricio López, manager of the company, assured the Honduran media that currently they produce about 28 thousand tons of tilapia fillet, and that with the planned investment they will increase total production by 40%, with the objective of serving new markets, such as the Caribbean.
Since April 19, new prices for permits and licenses were announced in Honduras for the different fishing activities and sale of products in the sector.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock:
May 11.New fees for the payment of permits and licenses in the different fishing activities and marketing of fishery products, have been established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), through the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture, (DIGEPESCA), which became effective as of April 19, 2018.
After the country registered sales for $282 million in 2017, the sector's union expects this year to surpass what was reported in the previous period by 2%.
Explained by the good performance in exports of cultivated shrimp, crab and live lobster, during the first three months of the year, the Nicaraguan Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Inpesca) expects the sector to register an increase compared to 2017.
According to projections by the Nicaraguan fishing sector, this year growth could be explained, mainly, by the performance of the production of lobster, sea cucumber and fish.
After the local fishing industry registered $282 million in sales abroad in 2017, the Central Bank of Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Inpesca) jointly prepared a projection for 2018, the result of which is an expectation that the sector will grow 7.5%.