July 26, 2004

 

 

Pakistan's Fish, Shrimp Exports May Increase Three-fold

 

Sindh Fisheries Department and seafood exporters have expressed confidence that fish and shrimp exports can increase more than three folds if shrimp and fish farming are developed in Pakistan.

 

"With the availability of cheap raw material, shrimp exports can be increased from $150 million to $500 million annually," said Capt Akhlaq Hussain of Akhlaq Enterprises, a leading exporter.

 

Pakistan Sea Food Industry Association said seafood exports industry has suffered in recent years due to rising prices of raw material and the only solution is to increase supply.

 

"Due to number of reasons, wild catch is decreasing while demand for shrimps is increasing from expensive food outlets in Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad," said Mr Hussain.

 

He said the country not only needs aquaculture for the development of exports but also to meet rising local demand for shrimps and prawn.

 

Despite huge potentials in the sector, contribution of artificially bred fish is very low as against those netted in marine or fresh waters, whereas there is no shrimp farm in the country.

 

Government officials said under the new Trade Policy, efforts would be made with the co-ordination of SMEDA and certain NGOs to develop fish and shrimp farming for export purpose.

 

Officials informed that initially the shrimp feed would be imported from UK or Taiwan, which are main suppliers of feed to many countries who have successfully developed aqua-culture like India and Iran.

 

"Pakistan lacks aqua-culture due to non-availability of basic raw material such as prawn feed and kiddi," said Abdul Waheed, director Sindh Fisheries Department.

 

Officials said shrimp farming can be done at any scale ranging from 20 acres to 250 acres or even more but concrete efforts have to be taken in collaboration with the private sector to develop aquaculture in the country.