The growing uncertainty about the safety of seafood products exported from China, one of the world's leading producers, could represent an opportunity for Central American countries to gain some insight into the global market.
In this context of new commercial reality, the retail channel will continue to be the main demander in the short term for products that are easy to prepare such as tilapia, salmon, trout, shrimp and others with which consumers feel more comfortable cooking at home.
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.
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.
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%.
The industry union expects to close 2017 with 5% growth in production, and plans to focus next year on improving processes in order to increase productivity.
One of the changes proposed by fishing and aquaculture companies is to improve production processes of products such as lobster, which require special logistics,"...
In the first seven months of the year exports of farmed shrimp, sea shrimp, lobster and fresh fish generated $56 million, 18% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the Central Bank show that the product which led foreign sales was shrimp, with $23.5 million, followed by lobster, with $16.8 million, fresh fish with $12.6 million, and sea shrimp, with $3.3 million.
In 2016 the value of exports of fish, molluscs and crustaceans reached $714 million, equivalent in volume to 114 thousand tons, 8% less than the amount sold in 2015.
Figures from the information system on thethe Market for Fish, Molluscs and Crustaceans in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
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.
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.
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.
Entrepreneurs in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are demanding that the government boost production of the species, whose consumption is projected to grow globally.
The government still has not spoken on the topic, but it is expected that industry representatives will meet with officials next week to refine the development plan for 2015, which includes raising tilapia.
In 2014 production in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors increased by 28%, but due to low international prices export earnings declined by 8% compared to 2013.
Fisheries and aquaculture production in 2014, equivalent to 96.7 million pounds exceeded projections made by sector earlier this year and recorded a 28% increase over the previous year. However, according to the Center for Exports (CETREX), it sold $19 million worth less than in 2013.
In the past year, the Colombian fish imports increased 42%, due to difficulties of local industry in supplying domestic demand.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office of (PROCOMER):
The Colombian fishing industry is going through tough times due to various reasons such as resource depletion, pollution, oil and mining spills , increased cost of materials especially related to fuel prices, which has led to a considerable decrease in fish production.