Bangladesh has taken step for development of fisheries industry aiming to boost export earnings from the sector following demand of the international market. “We run international standard laboratory to ensure quality of product. Bangladesh has adopted relevant policies including ‘Fish and Fish Products Act’ for development of the fisheries sector,” Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim told an international forum in United States.
Minister Rezaul participated in a discussion at Global Sea Food Expo North America (SENA) in Boston of US on Monday, said a news release on Tuesday. Global Sea Food Alliance organised the panel meeting styled ‘Revitalising Black Tiger Shrimp’ as part of the international exposition. Minister informed the international meeting that Bangladeshi farmers are following scientific rules in production and operations of fisheries.
The farmers follow ‘the fish and fisheries products official control protocol’ and ‘aquaculture medicinal product control guideline’ in shrimp production and processing. Bangladesh earned 482 million US dollars through exporting fish in fiscal year 2020-21 while local production stood at 4.62 million metric tonnes. The fisheries contributed 3.57 percent of gross domestic products of the country.
Minister said Bangladesh has developed infrastructure for increasing production of fisheries alongside of ensuring quality of the production. The minister also told the meeting that fisheries administration has been supporting the local farmers to increase the production through cluster-based initiative. Bangladesh Minister sought cooperation from the international community for introducing third-party certification for ensuring fair price of Bangladeshi shrimp in export destinations.
Fisheries Ministry Additional Secretary Shyamol Chandra Karmakar, Bangladesh Consulate General Monirul Islam, Global Sea Food Alliance President George Chamberlain and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) Chairman Syed Mahmudul Huq were also present on the occasion. Later, Minister Rezaul Karim inaugurated a web portal for revitalisation of black tiger shrimp community.