September 28, 2010

Peruvian aquaculture sector continues to grow

The aquaculture industry in Peru has been growing at a rate of 14% annually over the last six years, establishing itself as one of the main productive activities, said Deputy Minister of Fisheries Maria Isabel Talledo.

Talledo said aquaculture is becoming an industry of great importance. In 2009, just over 44,000 tonnes was harvested, of which 16,000 tonnes were scallops. Meanwhile, there were approximately 13,000 tonnes of trout being farmed and a further 1,000 tonnes of tilapia were harvested.

Last year, the total volume of farmed fish being sold in domestic markets was 16,000 tonnes, of which trout represented 74% of that figure. On the other hand, shrimp was the most exported product, said Talledo.

She also stressed that this data shows that Peruvian aquaculture is growing at an astonishing rate.

Also, the chairman of the Association of Exporters' (ADEX) Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee, Henry Quiroz, said the central government and the private sector seek to position Peru as one of the main countries which is providing fish through aquaculture.

Population growth, new technologies, globalisation and the extraordinary business conditions attribute for larger and more demanding markets, thus Quiroz said the country can open new market boundaries which have only been accessible to first world countries.

He also believes that government measures taken in recent years to encourage increased domestic aquaculture have helped.

In total, Peru exported US$125 million worth of aquaculture products last year, and Quiroz estimates that the aquaculture market will grow by a further 15% this year, which will increase the total income to US$155 million.