Jeddah bans Pakistani seafood import

The Saudi Arabia''s main city-Jeddah has imposed a ban on fresh seafood from Pakistan after the authorities found undersized fish with poor quality, fisheries sector sources told Business Recorder. In the Middle East, Jeddah and Riyadh are considered the two major markets of the Saudi Kingdom for Pakistan''s export of fresh seafood, including fish and shrimp.
The country is already facing a ban on its frozen seafood export in the EU on quality grounds since 2007. "The country''s fresh seafood exporters are responsible for the ban. Despite the Saudi authorities warning, they continued to export undersized and poor quality fish," sources said, adding the Pakistan''s concerned authorities were also not interested in checking the quality of export bound consignments.
The primary reason behind the ban, the sources said, was that the exporters had been using a great amount of ice (instead dry ice) to save the cost which had damaged the quality of seafood during air transportation.
The issue of undersized fish export had also contributed to the ban.
They said after losing Jeddah as the only cash market, exporters were deeply upset how to pay back the billion of rupees dues to the local mole holders. All other markets in the Middle East deal in purchase of seafood on credit account, sources said.
"Dubai is a big market for Pakistan but there importers buy seafood on credit account, whereas, Jeddah''s buyers do the business on cash," they said, adding the country''s many exporters were in debt of at least Rs 10 million each to mole holders after rejection of their export consignments in the kingdom.
They said the local seafood market was also running totally on credit account and exporters purchased fish and shrimp from mole holders who were the main financiers of the fishing voyages.
"The mole holders finance the fishing trips for the boat owners and in return they auction the seafood catch and deduct their fixed share," sources said.
"Pakistan export fresh fish including Indian Mackerel (Surmai) and Red Banded Grouper (Dama)and tiger shrimp to Saudi Arabia''s cities," sources said.
"Pakistan export fresh fish including Indian Mackerel (Surmai) and Red Banded Grouper (Dama)and tiger shrimp to Saudi Arabia''s cities," sources said.
The EU had already slapped a ban on Pakistan seafood export after the country failed to meet the union''s quality standards, despite several years of warning.