• by IPS Correspondents (santiago)
• Wednesday, November 23, 1994
• Inter Press Service

SANTIAGO, Nov 23 (IPS) - Chilean seafood exports are projected to reach the unprecedented figure of 1.3 billion dollars for 1994, according to sources with the government and the private fishing sector.

German Ilabaca, president of the national fishing company 'Sonapesca' said Tuesday that only in 1990 was a similar level of exports seen - 1.28 billion dollars - and that this year's sales will soar above 1993's 886 million dollars of seafood exports.

Chile's Vice Minister of Fishing Patricio Bernal also said this year exports of seafood products would hit record highs, and pointed out that the sector contributes 12 percent of total income in the country's trade balance.

One of the areas which has experienced the most spectacular recovery is the capture of species used to produce fishmeal, which by Nov. 15 had risen 36.2 percent with respect to 1993.

However, Ilabaca said that despite the 6.4 million tonnes of those species caught this year, Chile was unable to surpass Peru, its main competitor.

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 15, 1994, Peru caught nine million tonnes of those species - a 38 percent rise over last year's catch.

Sonapesca's president pointed out that the fishing sector picked up despite this year's drop in the international prices of Chile's main exportable products: the price of a tonne of fishmeal dropped three percent since 1993 - from 393 to 381 dollars - while the prices of fresh and frozen salmon dropped six and 12 percent respectively.

According to Ilabaca, the drop in prices, steadily falling exchange rates and Peruvian competition generated a "complex situation" for the Chilean fishing sector.

The positive results seen this year, he added, followed a restructuring of the sector, which brought its competitive capacity up through cost-reduction and an increase of fishing capacity.

Ilabaca and Bernal also announced the second World Fair of Latin American Fishing and Aquaculture (Expopesca '94), to be held Nov. 30- Dec. 3 in Santiago.

Some 700 firms from 33 countries on five continents will participate in the event being organised by the Santiago International Fair and the British publishing firm Emap Heighway of London.

Expopesca '94 is sponsored by 16 governmental and private institutions from Chile, as well as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Over 20 seminars and meetings will be held during the Fair, including the second meeting of Latin American ministers of the fishing sector which will analyse new regional norms to go into effect next month.

Bernal said the new system seeks a rational and equitable exploitation of maritime resources, as well as the study, protection and preservation of oceanic ecosystems.

Business meetings will also be held between members of the fishing industry from throughout the world, and some 220 million dollars worth of investment and sales are expected to be accorded.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

Where next?

Advertisement