Above: Fresh tilapia produced in
Guatemala
Left: Ponds for shrimp farming on the
South Coast
T
he growing global demand, for
food coming from aquaculture
and fishing, has allowed the
Guatemalan industry to continue
strengthening its strategies for the
development of the sector, increase
their productivity, diversify their
products and increase their exports.
Traditionally,
the
products
for
extractive fishing have contributed
to satisfying the feeding needs for
thousands of Guatemalans for many
decades; however, visionary business
persons identified the huge potential
for aquaculture as an important motor
to generate food for export.
The Aquaculture and Fishing Sector is
known for having highly technified
industries that generate high value-
added products and high quality
standards and food safety.
Most businesses have international
certifications on their production
processes,
like
Best
Aquaculture
Practices/
Global
Aquaculture
Alliance, Global Gap, among others,
for which they require strict schemes
for environmental sustainability, food
safety, animal wellness and health and
social business responsibility.
The products in this sector have gone
into and satisfied consumers from
the most demanding markets like the
European Union, the United States,
Mexico and Japan, reaching exports
for over US$250 million annually. The
industries, to export their products to
those markets are subject to strict official
programs for control and monitoring
in matters of food safety, animal health
and traceability.
In order to strengthen this industry, the
Aquaculture and Fishing Sector was
created within AGEXPORT more than
20 years ago. It gathers more than
80% of the producers and exporters for
fishing products in the country, and is
made up of the following industries:
shrimp farming, tilapia farming, tuna
and mahi-mahi fishing, processing
plants for fishing products, fish meal
mills for aquaculture, fishing product
traders, artisan fishing, and suppliers.
Its main objective is to promote the
responsible and sustainable development;
and facilitate and increase the volume of
its product and service exports.
The associates of this sector are benefitted
through institutional support on general
and transversal themes, enjoying key
services and participation in specific sector
a