Rio - With expectations that world demand for fish will rise by 60 million tons in the future,
the Special Secretariat for Fishing and Aquaculture has a budget of US$7.45 million (R$22 million) for the construction of five fishing terminals in strategic locations this year. The idea is to improve transportation, storage and commercialization, and increase production, supply and domestic demand. The sector awaits another US$87 million from the World Bank.

The lack of specific terminals for fish is seen as one of the bottlenecks in a vicious cycle where there is less domestic Brazilian demand because of less supply, and vice versa. Brazilian per capita consumption of fish is a low 6 kilos per year, compared to a world average of 14 kilos. And that is in a place with 8,500 kilometers of coastline, 12% of the world's freshwater and a total of 5 million hectares submerged in reservoirs behind hydroelectric power plants.

According to Olavo Brandão, who works for the Secretariat in Rio, low domestic consumption is one of the main reasons Brazil produces only 1.5% of the world's GDP.

In September the government will begin a campaign to stimulate domestic consumption of fish. Another program will begin aquaculture projects in land reform settlements.

One of the fish terminals will be located in Rio de Janeiro. It will occupy 51,000 square meters and have its own ice factory.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Daisy Nascimento
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/26/2004