Research on consumer trends points to the need to provide more added value to products from the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
A statement from the Costa Rica Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
Experts point to the need to provide more added value to fishery and aquaculture products
Industry experts noted during a fishing and aquaculture conference entitled "How will we eat fish in the future? Food technologies and development of aquatic products " which took place in the Basque Culinary Center, in Spain, the need to provide greater value to their products through diversification of supply, new presentations and services tailored to consumer demands.
The European Union has announced a six-month deadline for countries accused of being remiss in their actions against illegal fishing, in order for them not to be included in the "black list".
Panama is one of the countries likely to be affected by the European Union crackdown, which could jeopardize exports of seafood to the region, the volume of which is around $40 million worth.
Central America exports 550,000 tonnes of seafood a year, which represents about $1,900 million.
The main export markets are Central America, Europe and recently Asia.
Mario González Recinos, director of the Central Bureau of Fisheries (OSPESCA) noted that at the last meeting of agriculture, ministers agreed "to prohibit simultaneously from Belize to Panama, shark finning at sea, meaning that these captured marine mammals must be moved to land, and from there the process of commercialization can begin.
The embargo applied on Tuesday suspends indefinitely all imports of Mexican high seas shrimp.
The Mexican Fleet failed the certification process conducted by U.S. authorities, who controlled if the boats used procedures to prevent accidental deaths of turtles while fishing for shrimp.
“Vessels must use exclusion mechanisms to allow turtles to escape from the fishing nets.