The export of products such as yellow fin frozen tuna, fresh fish and fillet of fish. In 2015 was only 79% lower which was reached in 2008, when activity recorded revenues in the order of 73 thousand 472 million dollars.
The high cost of production and the lack of State policies take away competitiveness from the national fishing industry in international markets, match players in this sector agree.
This low dynamism of the national fishing activity are also sustained by official figures, which indicate that fishing in the 2015 fell 4.3%, with levels of unloading 44.6% lower than the previous year.
The export of fishery products also recorded a growth of just 1.9%, which also had a significant impact on total revenues from this activity.
The export of products such as yellow fin frozen tuna, fresh fish and fillet of fish. In 2015 was only 79% lower which was reached in 2008, when activity recorded revenues in the order of 73 thousand 472 million dollars.
Meanwhile, in the first two months of this year, the export of these products has fallen a 21.2% compared to the year 2015.
Digna Cedeño, marketing manager of the exporting Salva Mar in Herrera, attributed this loss of competitiveness to the costs of production in Panama which are higher than its main competitors, such as Mexico, Trinidad, Suriname and Brazil.
Cedeño holds that this generates an oversupply in markets that make the production of these countries end at lower prices, which leaves the country at a disadvantage.
She indicates that international prices have between fallen 12% and 28%, in recent years, especially in products such as goldfish and silk snapper.
Cedeño said that in addition to the high cost in labor, Panamanian exporters also face shortages of trained staff.
She also added that despite the decline in fuel prices, the cost of air freight have not fallen, representing 12% of the total income.
In addition to international competition, Panamanian exporters face the lack of State policies aimed at boosting the sector, which, according to Cedeno, forcing many to abandon the activity.
It adds that the port taxes also impact on its production, as well as the lack of studies that indicate areas of fisheries and regulations on use of trammel nets and fishing equipment.
In this regard, the aquatic resources authority of Panama (Arap) ended this week consultations phase citizens for the new law-General of fisheries, aquaculture and related activities.
Similarly, Arap organizes for the month of May a national forum to close with the review process, raise the document to the Ministry of agricultural development (Mida), and subsequently submit it to the National Assembly.
Shortage of the product
In addition to international competition, the national fishing industry faces the ravages of El Niño.
Both exporters and fishers agree that sea products begin to become scared.
Neilar Chong, of the fishermen Association of the province of Coclé, indicates that the extensive summer has done that fish move away from the coasts and lowered the rate of fishing.
The unloading of industrial fishing in the main national ports between 2009 and 2013 went from 213 thousand 838 to 113 thousand 563 metric tons, which is a decrease of 47%.
Meanwhile, during this same period, the unloading of the fishing went from 27 thousand 218 to 14 thousand 654 metric tons, a decrease of 46%, according to data from the Comptroller General.
This dynamic of the activity was maintained in 2015, when the unloading in national ports recorded was 7,551 metric tons, i.e. 6,075 tonnes less than in 2014.
Chong, however, indicates that in the past two years, fishing for species such as snapper, sea bass and sierra has dropped, while others such as the Cojinúa have disappeared from the coasts.
She argues that this depletion of products impact on profits by reducing it to 50% in recent years.
Tuna
For the artisanal fisherman, this coincides with rising by 40% of fishing equipment.
They indicated that, with financing, barges and networks can reach $13 thousand.
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