(fis.com) The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) expects in the next four years there will be a 10 time increase in aquaculture fish production, which currently is about 500,000 tonnes per year.
This is an ambitious goal, which means it will be possible to obtain about five million tonnes, MPA head, Marcelo Crivella, pointed out.
The Brazilian government plans to revolutionize the industry by providing technical assistance, working capital and environmental permits, TV Record Brasília reported.
According to the minister, the National Executive is finalizing the Harvest Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture, which is unprecedented in the country.
For this plan, BRL 6,000 million (USD 2,960 million) will be destined to financial assistance to farmers, industry modernisation and fishing vessels boost through the National Strengthening Programme for Family Agriculture (Pronaf).
In addition, MPA focuses its work on large hydroelectric reservoirs: today there are 250 reservoirs that are capable of producing fish.
Regarding the challenges, Crivella expressed its commitment to solving the situation in the fishing port of Panair, in downtown Manaus. The work was completed, but it has been seized as a result of a lawsuit related to the land ownership.
Crivella also announced that Brasilia will have a fish production model unit.
"We produce little and the fish is expensive. Therefore, consumption is low," said the minister. "In Granja do Ipê, where the model unit will be built, it will be possible to produce fish and use the tank water to irrigate fruit, vegetables and legumes. It will be a conjugate production," he said.
The federal district is the fourth largest consumer of fish in Brazil.
Brazilians in this area consume about 14 kilograms per person per year, a figure that is much higher than the average consumed nationally, which is 9.75 kg/inhab./year, according to the MPA.