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Farmed shrimp production grew at an annual rate of 18 per cent in Mexico over the last ten years. (Photo: COSAES)
Fish farming technologies a priority: official
MEXICO
Monday, April 13, 2009, 15:00 (GMT + 9)
Significant advances in farmed fish technologies on the international level poses a challenge for Mexican aquaculture, stated the head of the National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission (CONAPESCA), Ramon Corral Avila.
Global farmed fish industry output over the last ten years grew at an average annual rate of more than 8 per cent, which is significantly higher than Mexico's 5 per cent.
According to CONAPESCA statistics, in 1987 the Mexican farmed fish industry produced a total of 174,000 tonnes. By 2008, this had surged by 66 per cent to 289,000 tonnes.
"The shrimp farming industry in our country has grown at an average rate of more than 18 per cent over the last ten years, and is one of the activities registering the most growth around the world, surpassed only by information technologies," Corral Avila indicated.
Besides contributing to improving food supply for Mexicans, aquaculture is a motor for economic and social development in rural and isolated zones.
CONAPESCA has made significantly increasing the availability of larvae and seeds in the country a priority, its director attested.
"CONAPESCA and FIRCO [Shared Risk Trust] are working hand-in-hand on identifying the best technologies that allow us to use renewable and/or alternative energies for aquaculture production, lowering production costs and achieving improved coexistence with the environment," the official explained.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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