MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FAO forecasts shrimp world production could double by 2030

The announcement was made during the World Shrimp Congress held this week in Vigo, Galicia

World shrimp production, which currently stands at between 7 and 8 million tons could reach 11 to 18 million tons in 2030, according to projections by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO.

At World Shrimp Congress held this week in Vigo, Galicia, FAO's head of Trade and Fishery Products, subdivision, Audun Lem, said that shrimp producing countries are betting for a “steady growth” with greater quality and quantity.

However he also cautioned that the production increase will be determined by factors such as the economic development, energy prices and China's growth. In addition, Lem predicted that shrimp prices could fall in the future, depending on the increase in demand.

For his part, Fisheries Secretary General Andres Hermida noted that although the Spanish production does not exceed 4,500 tons, the shrimp is a resource of great commercial importance.

Currently, more than half of the value of Spanish seafood imports comes from the frozen shrimp, with the processing industry of Vigo and southern Galicia as a reference centre, the newspaper Faro de Vigo informed.

Hermida also admitted that there are still “administrative difficulties” to create a new plant by the aquaculture sector, a situation that “discourages entrepreneurs from investing.”

Meanwhile, Paloma Rueda, director of Technology Centre of the Sea (CETMAR) showed that Spain is the main shrimp importer in Europe. Of the 150,000 tons entering the European market each year, 35% is destined to Spain.

The World Shrimp Congress was organized by the FAO and the Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Importer, Manufacturers and Exporters of Fisheries and Aquaculture Produce (CONXEMAR). It preceded the opening of the International Fair of Frozen Seafood Products. (FIS).