INFOPESCA Internacional 34

China: Fish trade and Regional Trade Agreements
by Chen Shuping
Having joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001, China became the world’s largest exporter of fish and fishery products and also as one of the largest importers. While WTO provides a good framework for trade among member countries, the multilateral trade negotiations under WTO were at a slow pace.China has in the meantime embarked on free trade arrangements with other countries through bilateral and regional trade agreements, having concluded some and still negotiating with many others. With such trade arrangement, China’s fish trade has increased and set to expand further.

Qualifying the market for the Chilean “chorito” (mussel)
By Luis Carroza L.
When referring to the Chilean aquaculture, in general the idea of salmon and trout comes up. However, Chile offers as well other species which not only adapt very well to farming conditions, but also enjoy a strong demand in many international markets. The “chorito” mussel (Mytilus chilensis) is a bilvalve mollusc around which a big industry has been developed. At present this industry gives 4 800 employments and in 2007 exports reached 35 000 tonnes, worthing US$ 85.8 milliones. So far, the main destination for these exports is the Spanish market, but if the tools that the article describes are properly used, the market possibilities could expand much further.

Project on fishery management in Uruguay.
In September 2007, the Government of Uruguay and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed and agreement to undertake a Project on Fishery Management in Uruguay. The US$ 6 millions project is funded by the Uruguayan government and is predicted to last three years. The project consists of four components: strengthening of the institutional framework; training to the producing sector, fishing evaluation and management, and aquaculture.

Optimizing production of “pacú” through polyculture practices
By Gustavo Wicki, F.Rossi, O.Merino y L.Luchini
To breed native or exotic species? This is many times the most common questin when a country plans to develop industrial-scale aquaculture. The “pacú” is a natural fishing resource in many Latin American countries, and in the case of Argentina, the species is well accepted by consumers in many regions when it is found. The Government has succeeded in pacú farming, and according to the last experiences, production goes better when it is mixed with other species.

The foreign markets for Brazilian anglerfish
By Ana Luisa de Souza Soares
The fishery of anglerfish in Brazil had a strong boom at the beginning of this decade. Anglerfish is a very high appreciated species in the world markets, especially in those of Southern Europe. As a matter of fact, most Brazilian production is exported to Spain. However, there are some substantial differences among production and export figures, which could be indicating some failures in the official controls.

Tamiahua, a fishing town
Based on a research by Henry Escudero
In the framework of a tecnical assistance project funded by the Common Fund for Commodities, INFOPESCA is working with a fishing community that lives in the shore of the Tamiahua lake in Mexico. The purpose of this project is to improve the quality and the market conditions of the fish this people catch and sale. It is interesting to know the geographic and socio-cultural conditions of the people in this town, as well as the dramatic history of cooperatives that tried to consolidate in the region.