Ceará Eyes the United Kingdom to Resume Seafood Exports to Europe

Ceará will soon resume exporting seafood, including shrimp, tuna, and lobster, to Europe. Ongoing negotiations indicate that the state’s aquaculture products will enter the European market via the United Kingdom, a former member of the European Union (EU).

Oriel Filho, Ceará’s Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, made the statements in an interview with Diário do Nordeste. He highlighted the potential recovery of Ceará’s seafood export market.

Oriel recalled Governor Elmano de Freitas’ trip to Europe earlier this year, where he discussed, among other topics, the export of Ceará’s seafood. Since 2018, EU member states have not received Brazilian aquaculture products due to irregularities found in a fishing vessel in Santa Catarina. The boat caught wild shrimp (rather than farmed shrimp, which makes up most of Brazil’s production), leading to an EU ban on Brazilian aquaculture imports.

“If the United Kingdom takes the initiative to send a delegation to Ceará to assess the seafood sector, it could make the process even easier. Since the UK was part of the EU, this could help facilitate trade. Once seafood exports are approved, all related fishing products are also cleared. If we enter the UK market first, that would be great because it could serve as a gateway to neighboring countries,” explained the secretary.

The Diário do Nordeste contacted the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) for more information on the negotiations to resume Brazilian seafood exports to the UK and the EU. This article will be updated as more details become available.

Ceará Aims to Enter the European Market via the UK

In the second half of 2024, the UK considered resuming shrimp imports from Brazil. During the interview, Oriel Filho explained that the UK is the most viable entry point because it left the EU in 2020 and now has its import regulations.

Since the UK was previously part of the EU, it is a potential market for Ceará’s seafood, as Brazilian exporters have already adapted to European standards.

“What we want from the EU is for them to schedule a visit to Ceará to see how we produce shrimp. The ban was imposed due to one irregular vessel in Santa Catarina, and we believe this is unfair to Ceará, as our state produces high-quality seafood. Ceará is, by far, the largest shrimp producer in Brazil,” Oriel Filho stated.

Ceará Leads Brazil’s Shrimp Production

Data from the Municipal Livestock Survey (PPM) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) confirm that Ceará is Brazil’s top shrimp producer.

In 2023, Brazil produced 127,400 shrimp, with Ceará accounting for 72,600 tons—57% of the country’s total production. The nine states in Brazil’s Northeast dominate the industry, producing over 98% of shrimp.

Ceará Plans to Expand Shrimp Farming Across the State

While shrimp farming is mainly concentrated along the coast, Ceará’s aquaculture industry gradually expands inland. The Jaguaribe Valley is the most prominent inland shrimp-producing region.

According to Oriel Filho, shrimp production is on a steady growth path and could expand into new regions. He emphasized that the entire state should participate in shrimp farming.

“The Jaguaribe Valley has plenty of water from the river and underground sources. The northern region also has growth potential, but I believe the Cariri region, near Icó, will strengthen significantly. Growth is gradual because it requires investment in shrimp farms and infrastructure. You can’t just decide today that you’ll start producing shrimp tomorrow,” he explained.

The Future of Ceará’s Shrimp Industry

According to the Ceará Strategic Research Institute (Ipece), the state is divided into 14 planning regions, and the government aims to expand shrimp farming to all of them. While the Cariri region presents challenges due to its colder climate, further studies could address these issues.

“As time passes, more people realize that shrimp farming is possible in different municipalities. Many see their neighbors benefit economically from shrimp production, encouraging further expansion. Since shrimp thrive in warm temperatures, I believe Cariri will be the only region where shrimp farming won’t be viable due to the colder climate,” he projected.

“However, shrimp farming may still develop in Brejo Santo and Milagres, at the edge of Cariri. I’ve already spoken with interested locals, and we’ll send technical teams to assess the feasibility. There’s an entire scientific process that must be followed,” the secretary concluded.

Source: Diário do Nordeste

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