March 4, 2010

Venezuelan seafood output tops over 300,000 tonnes in 2009

The Venezuelan seafood production totalled 314,000 tonnes of fish last year, according to the president of the Socialist Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute (INSOPESCA) Gilberto Gimenez.

According to the Gimenez, the total number includes harvests from the sectors of aquaculture, pisciculture, and artisanal and industrial fishing.

The Venezuelan authorities expect seafood production to increase significantly in 2010, as a result of the expansion of the Mixed Fisheries Company of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) and the acquisition of the company Cannavo on part of the state.

Currently, the Mixed Company owns six vessels; and the Venezuelan fishing fleet is planning to acquire seven new boats in the second half of 2010, reaching a total of 13 fishing units.

Meanwhile, the president of INSOPESCA indicated that the Fund for Socialist Agrarian Development (FONDAS) and the Agricultural Bank of Venezuela (BAV) approved a large number of credits in 2009 destined to spur diverse partner-productive projects for the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the country.