October 1, 2013

Mozambique aims to obtain revenue of US$30 million for export of about 3,700 tonnes of shrimp this year, which would be a 62% rise over 2012 figures.

The good sales expected for this year reflect the lower incidence of the white spot disease, which has harmed the industry since 2011.

According to a source from the Ministry of Fisheries, the disease decimated about 400 tonnes of shrimp last year.

The Government ensures that "the condition of the shrimp is controlled," and no case has been recorded so far.

For this year, it is expected that Mozambique's total fish exports will reach a value of US$49 million, 15% more than in 2012. Out of that total, more than 50% will be supplied by shrimp shipments.

Moreover, the Ministry of Fisheries expects that in 2013 there will be a fish production close to 196,000 tonnes.

Kelvin Samucidine, a technician at the Fisheries Research Institute (IIP) of the delegation of Maputo, stated that the country's shrimp fishery remains sustainable, and said an investigation has revealed the emergence of "new species," similar to those in Malaysia and the Philippines. At the moment, scientists do not know how they have arrived at the Mozambican coast.

Meanwhile, semi-industrial ship owners warn that since 2012 there has been a substantial reduction of the crustacean. They argue that artisanal fishermen do not respect closed seasons, and this affects the reproduction of the species.