Seafood exports likely to reach $220 million

The country is likely to surpass the last fiscal year's seafood export mark of $ 212 million with bright prospects to achieve over $220 million export target by the end of this fiscal year. It has succeeded to fetch $ 196.108 million with an average monthly export of $ 19.6 million during the last 10 months.
Pakistan has exported seafood of $ 196.108 million during the last 10 months with an increase of 17.26 percent or $ 28.869 million as compared to $ 167.239 million during the same period of the last fiscal year 2007-08, said the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) on Thursday.
On a monthly basis, seafood export went a little up with 2.6 percent or $ 0.624 million in April 2009 to $ 24.628 million as against the export of $ 24.004 million in March 2009. On annual basis, however, export of the edible marine animals has declined by 4.21 percent or $ 1.082 million during April 2009 to $ 24.628 million as compared to the export of $ 25.710 million during April 2008.
The country could export $ 188.320 million in fiscal year 2006-07 and $ 212.252 million in 2007-08 of seafood. Chairman of Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association (PAKFEA) M. Faisal Iftikhar told Business Recorder that the country is likely to reach the $ 220 million seafood export mark by the end of this fiscal year.
But, expressed apprehensions over Rs 15 million of illegal trade of fish per day to Iran that has badly reduced the official export of the commodity. He said that there could be a greater export this fiscal year, if the raw material could be made available in huge volume, as about 90 percent of the export quality seafood catch has reduced presently due to the use of illegal nets by fishermen.
He recalled that about three years ago, about 40 containers of crabs per day were being exported but now there is hardly 150 containers could be exported whole year because of the excessive fishing and crab catch particularly of small sizes. He also said that despite value rise of Mackerel fish (Surmai) per kg from 80 cent to between $ 1.5 and $ 2, export of overall seafood is difficult to show impressive growth this year.
He pointed out that Sardine fish (Mori) has great appeal in the Egypt market amid diminishing marine resources which has given a sigh of relief to exporters. Iftikhar appealed to the government to ensure ban on fishing from June 15 to August 15 in the Arabian Sea so that shrimp and fish could grow in a greater volume.