Published:16-11-2009

SANA'A, Nov. 14- More than 40,000 tons of shrimp and squid were exported illegally from Yemeni coasts during 2008 and 2009, said the Minister of Fishery Wealth, Mohammad Shamlan.
In a workshop held on Monday about Health Safety Standards in the fishery sector and organized by the Yemeni Seafood Exporters Association, Shamlan explained that the shrimp was not checked in at the fish landing sites and not counted within the exported quantities.
Shamlan said influential people smuggle the expensive seafood for their own benefit because landing sites are not organized. "We want the law to be implemented," he said.
The minister revealed some facts concerning fishery wealth. He said the real annual production of fisheries in Yemen is more than 600,000 tons but reports and data put the figure as only 120,000 tons. The country's revenue from this wealth are more than YR 20 billion.
He said smugglers sell seafood at drastically reduced prices to avoid paying taxes and fees. "Do you know that a kilogram of fish, which is sold in local market for YR 2,000 or 3,000, is sold in landing sites for only YR 100," he said, noting that the fishery sector in Yemen is not yet organized and full of irregularities.
"Fish wealth in Yemen is more important than oil. It contributes significantly in national economy and competes in international markets but this sector still needs reforms," said the minister.
He stressed the role of concerned bodies in investigating the process of marketing fisheries, starting from fishing process, landing sites, preparation and ending with the means of distribution to consumer.
The Chairman of Yemeni Seafood Exporters Association, Salem Al-Saadi, called for integrating the efforts of all active bodies in the fishery sector headed by Ministry of Fisheries to form joint council representing all these parties to work on coordination to discuss and help prepare successful strategies.
He also called for improving the fishery sector in order to help the national economy and increase the percentage of its contribution, which is currently less than 2 percent.
He demanded fishing boats and anchors to help fishermen unload easily. He also demanded improvements of landing sites, markets, and traditional fishing, in addition to training programs for all workers in the field.
International expert in fisheries' food safety Ian Goulding said landing sites in Yemen are in a very bad condition, and that government investments are not enough. He stressed private sector participation in managing the fish business.
A strategy to implement health standards in the fishery sector was also discussed in the workshop. The strategy was prepared by Yemeni Seafood Exporters Association in cooperation with the International Trade Center and the World Trade Organization. It suggests implementing health standards in landing sites, including putting all the ministry's laboratories under one body, allocating a separate budget from the ministry of fisheries to these laboratories and enacting financial measures to impose fees on fish trading.
The strategy also stressed setting up health standards for fishing boats, landing sites and expanding inspection system to cover all fishing vessels.
Yearly fish quantities amount to 250,000 tons. Almost 99 percent of the revenues of the profits go to traditional fishermen. More than 10,000 people work in fish trade.