Brazil''s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has signalled his country''s intention to become a player and major exporter in the fishing industry: "In some years, we will become great fish producers," Mr Lula said during his weekly radio show recently.
Mr Lula's remarks underscore the government's commitment to develop the seafood industry both as an export source but also as a means of supplying cheap protein for the population. With a coastline of 8,500km and 12% of the world's freshwater mass, Brazil definitely has the potential. The government is also pushing to purchase and stock fish in the province of Northern Amazonas in 2010 in a bid to boost freshwater fish production.
Altemir Gregolin, agriculture and fisheries minister had previously said the government had set aside 1.75 million reais (US$750 million) to bolster the fishing sector and boost its production and exports. Exports of shrimp, lobster and fish may rise this year to about US$500 million from last year's US$240 million, helped by a weaker exchange rate for the reai and increased demand from countries such as China and Japan, he added.
"We are taking advantage of the currency losses and also seeking new buyers to boost demand and increase the local market," Mr Gregolin was reported as saying.
