December 2, 2013
Mexico aims to boost fisheries, aquaculture in 2014
By next year, Propesca component will take into effect and will make it possible to boost fisheries and aquaculture in the country, as confirmed by the Mexican government.
Through Propesca, the central government intends to obtain greater contribution from this sector to the agribusiness gross domestic product (GDP), stated the head of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa), Enrique Martinez y Martinez.
Mexico hopes to channel production incentives towards the fisheries-aquaculture activity.
During the closing ceremony of the Third Fisheries and Aquaculture Economic Forum, which was carried out last November 25-26 in Mexico City, Martinez y Martinez stated that in the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto fisheries and aquaculture have a "significant relevance" for his contribution to national agricultural development.
The official highlighted the changes in the sector during 2013, among which he mentioned: creating an address expressly for aquaculture; decentralisation of services of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca); building a sanitary laboratory in the Pacific Ocean; allocating a higher budget for this activity; and creation of the new Propesca component.
In addition, he explained that the coordinated work between the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt), the National Fisheries Institute (Inapesca) and Conapesca makes it possible to strengthen the applied research projects in order to professionalise the sector.
Sagarpa head stated that "these decisions will offer results with the fishery and aquaculture production raise in a sustainable manner."
Meanwhile, Conapesca head, Mario Aguilar Sánchez pointed out it is possible to achieve the growth levels that the country needs in its food industry "with producers'' talent and the aquaculture potential Mexico has."
The forum was attended by over a thousand producers, entrepreneurs, technicians and officials, and 29 experts from eight countries such as Chile, Spain, the US, Israel, Australia, Italy, Mexico and Scotland.
Interventions are expected to contribute to the creation of Conapesca''s public policies to improve the fisheries-aquaculture sector.