Fish industry grows 6%, but invests little, says entity

The fish industry revenue grew 6% above inflation in 2016 and reached r $8 billion, according to Abipesca, an entity of the sector. The companies, however, have been difficult to expand their investments in the same proportion, says Eduardo Lobo, President of the Organization, which was created two years ago to defend the interests of the domestic industry. "Our factories are outdated. There are new poles of exploitation in Brazil, but there will be no ability to drain the capture without the modernisation of plants. " The primary election for the agricultural sector that is being prepared by the Government is the inclusion of industry in financing lines used by agribusiness, with larger limits and deadlines. "There is no equality between the policies for fish and for other proteins. The Government does not have a specific plan for the sector, the projects until today only turned to small-scale fishing, "says partner Frescatto, Thiago de Luca. Low tide-the new plant will be directed to by-products of sardine and tuna. With the increase in the price of sardines, caused by weather problems in the second half of 2016, the company saw its sales fall 5% in the year, below the total market performance, which retracted about of 2.5%, he says. "The cost of the local sardine rose 25%, and, because of the shortage of fish, we had to enlarge the slice of imported, which also encareceu." With the prospect of a more positive harvest in 2017, the company expects to recover and grow 10% this year.