September 25, 2015
Brazil launches national plan to develop aquaculture
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) has launched the 2015/2020 Aquaculture Development Plan in Brazil (PDA), and has allocated it a budget of nearly US$125 million.
Minister Helder Barbalho said that aquaculture is the new frontier for agribusiness growth in Brazil, and hopes that the PDA can be helpful to contribute in achieving the goals that all Brazilians want for national aquaculture.
According to the MPA, the fish business generates around US$600 billion worldwide each year, and in this context, Brazil is ranked 12th among the largest aquaculture producers.
With the new plan to develop aquaculture, the Government intends to position the country in the 5th place with a production of two million tonnes per year.
The idea is that the PDA will be a tool to organise Brazilian aquaculture activity in order to take advantage of the 8,500 kilometres of coastline and the sources of freshwater available in the country within the criteria set by the National Water Agency.
The PDA aims to promote the development of aquaculture in marine waters of Brazil, fish farming in tanks/ponds dug on land, and the development of shrimp farming of the Amazon region and the semi-arid zone.
Alongside the launch of the plan, the minister delivered the General Register of Fishing Activity to the company Tilabras S/A, a partnership between Regal Springs (the largest tilapia producer in the world) and the Brazilian company Axial Holding, the ministry reported.
Tilabras will invest US$51 million in a tilapia farm in the Parana River.
The minister also signed a technical cooperation agreement between the MPA and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development for the evaluation of fisheries and aquaculture, and development measures, among other aspects.