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Belize is seeking to revive the once prominent shrimp industry by exporting shrimp to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Taiwan announced last week that Belize has finally met the requirements for shrimp exports during the Second Meeting of the Administrative Commission under the Belize–Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA). A delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture, and Immigration, led by Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Amalia Mai, went to Taiwan to receive the news. Senior Trade Economist with the Ministry, Berisford Codd, says that the shrimp industry was earning tens of millions of dollars; however, it suffered significant losses due to early mortality syndrome.
Berisford Codd, Senior Trade Economist, MOFAFT: “So just in terms of the numbers, in 2014 we are about around $90 million in exports, significant production around different operations around the country. That number has fallen out significantly. We’re usually anywhere between $2-3million in exports since then. But this is a great opportunity for us in Belize, a great shot in the arm to allow us to start ramping up our production and tapping into that high value market. And one of the good things about the Taiwanese market is it’s very resilient when it comes to seafood imports. When we were over there just last week for the second meeting of the administrative commission, one of the importers, the largest importers from YENS mentioned to us that during the financial crisis, during COVID, shrimp, seafood, lobster, the typical seafood that is imported remained consistent throughout. There was no significant dip in terms of import demand. So that’s very attractive for us because it gives us a consistent and steady market for us to focus our growth on. The Taiwanese market is huge for seafood imports. So shrimp in particular, you’re looking at around $349- $50 million per year. This is just an average figure in terms of import demand over the last five years. It’s a market that can absorb all of our production. One of the good things we’ve noticed about doing business with Taiwan is due to our political and diplomatic relationship with them it gives us a bit of favor, I would say, with the business community, where they are willing to explore opportunities because there’s regular trade missions coming into Belize and from Belize to Taiwan, so that opportunity is there to really create those business linkages.”
Twelve Belizean aquaculture farms have been registered to begin exporting shrimp to Taiwan. The farms had to pass rigorous inspections from Taiwanese authorities as well as the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) to make the cut. Dr. Natalie Gibson, Technical Director of Food Safety, spoke on BAHA’s involvement in the process.
Dr. Natalie Gibson, Director of Food Safety, BAHA: “Pretty much all that were in operation at the time of the visit by Taiwan FDA, the inspection, have been approved. We have, yes, so, yeah no, there’s no one that is not on the list. I know we have some new farms that are in the process of maybe some construction and so when they are approved by us, then they would be added to the list. But I’m not aware that we excluded any facility. We are involved in making sure that the product that’s being produced is safe for consumption. We do have in BAHA the Animal Health Department and specifically the Aquatic Health Unit that does surveillance for diseases for the industry. And so they are there to provide any support, the testing support to the industry to avoid damage by disease and provide recommendations and they also would certify the health status of shrimp product. But yes, put in terms of investment and production, then that is independent of us. If there’s a facility there our job is just to make sure that it meets standards.”
BAHA notes that some farms locally are still grappling with early mortality syndrome, and some of them have had to close down.
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