Shrimp farmers in Ceara have founded a new industry chamber in their bid to help expand production. (Map/Photo: C. Reports/Stock File)

Ceara shrimp producers out to vitalise sector

BRAZIL
Thursday, February 12, 2009, 02:30 (GMT + 9)

Shrimp farm producers in Ceara are hopeful they will be able to reap a harvest 30 per cent greater than last year in spite of the international economic crisis.

The sector forecasts a production of 26,000 tonnes of shrimp for the year compared to the 20,000 tonnes harvested last year. 

The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA) must first regulate certain environmental areas if the forecast is to come true, the producers believe. They also trust in being able to forge closer ties with the state Government through the Shrimp Sector Chamber and are also looking to repopulate their farms.

So said Cristiano Peixoto Maia, president of the new Chamber founded on 23 January.

In the last five years, shrimp farming production in Ceara fell 33.33 per cent from 30,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes, the chamber leader said.

Moreover, 80 per cent of the shrimp farming production was sent abroad through 2003. Today, however, 90 per cent is directed to the domestic market (southeast, south and Ceara) with only the remaining 10 per cent allocated to exporting.

According to Maia, a US anti-dumping complaint partly explained the plummet in exports. Disease-in-stocks also partly contributed to the fall in prices, as did the depreciation of the dollar and a growing demand of the domestic market, he added.

The regulation of the Ceara industry, the defining of environmental licensing and access to lines of credit are some of the issues that most concern the state’s shrimping sector, Maia said.

Currently, there are 180 shrimp breeding farms, of which 32 are located in Acarau, 20 in Coreau, 12 in Mundau-Curu, 86 in Baixo Jaguaribe and 30 in Medio Jaguaribe, the Chamber President indicated.

The 20,000 tonnes of shrimp obtained last year were bred in a combined total area of 5,665 hectares distributed over 180 farms in the state. Of this number, 23 farms are large, 78 are medium-sized and the rest, small.

Last year, 180 Ceara producers cultivated shrimp that currently averages 3,600 kg per hectare per year.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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