Office of the Prime Minister

Belize Meets European Fisheries Safety Standards

23 September, 2003 - Belmopan
The European Union technical committee on food safety last week approved
the elevation of Belize to a list one country for fisheries exports
including aquaculture.

This new classification will allow Belizean fisheries exporters that are
certified by BAHA, to export fish and fisheries products with effect
from end October 2003, to any EU member state and thereby entering for
free circulation into all fifteen member states. The current list two
certification is cumbersome and costly as it only allows entry in a
single member state.

This timely development is of particular significance as the North
American market is becoming more competitive and Europe currently offers
better prices. In addition, with enlargement of the EU next year, the
number of countries open for exports will increase from fifteen to
twenty five.

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hon. Eamon Courtenay commented
on the development today. “Securing new and better markets for Belizean
export products is a priority of this Government. This success paves the
way for greater security in the fisheries sector, with better market
access we expect to see more investment and more jobs in this important
sector of our economy.”

The Ministry wishes to acknowledge the excellent collaboration of the
Belize Agriculture Health Authority, The Embassy of Belize in Brussels
and The Belize Shrimp Growers Association for their efforts in Belize
achieving this significant market access breakthrough.

So, is Belize in Europe now?

hmmmmmm...wonder what this will do to local fish prices in an already overfished area? Would those be the same fish that tourists pay $$$ to see?

It ain't all about shrimp.

I think they are referring to shrimp farms. One guy from Palacios, Texas already has one operating down in Belize. This refers to "artificially grown". So the natural reef and ocean fish are not in trouble from over fishing, but are in peril from the very poisonous effluent that results from these farms being dumped and pumped into the sea.
:rolleyes:

Europe opens doors to Belize seafood

There is good news tonight for
Belizean fishermen and seafood
farmers, as the European Union has
now fully opened its doors to our
fisheries exports. The decision to
elevate Belize to List One status
means that as of the end of October
we can export fisheries products to
any and all of the fifteen members states. Previously,
with a level two certification, Belize could only export to
a single E.U. country. The effect of the new status is
significant as shrimp prices in the U.S. market have been
steadily declining, while European prices have generally
remained higher. The E.U. will also expand next year to
twenty-five members and presents a large potential
market. The successful effort to achieve the new status
was spearheaded by the Shrimp Growers Association,
along with BAHA, the Ministry of Investment and Trade,
and Belize Embassy in Brussels. Farmed shrimp is
expected to become Belize's largest single export, with
revenues approaching one hundred million dollars in
2003.

I wonder where new revenue will be allocated? Hopefully it will go to quality of life improvements, such as schools and hospitals for the wonderful inhabitants. But unfortunately, this spike in dollars will probably mean that Placencia and Cayo are on the fast track to becoming another Ambergris. Sad.

Eh? The shrimp industry employs lots of Belizeans that surely see their quality of life improved. What has that to do with Placencia and Cayo?

Of course the fishermen's lives will be improved. That's obvious. But what I am talking about is the secondary revenue streams: increased tax dollars, infrastructure support, business presence from traders/brokers. When a country enjoys such a tremendous development as this, the dollars spread far beyond those most directly affected.

My post simply stated that I fear the goverment will redirect the revenue to expedite the touristic development of some of the country's more pristine areas, such as Cayo and Placencia, because it's a great way to parlay the fishing money into even more tourist dollars. But personally I would rather see the money go to schools and hospitals for Belizeans. The benefits of such an allocation would be twofold: One the people of Belize would live better; two Belize would maintain its most attractive desinations rather than permit the entire country to become too Ambergris-like.

So...when are we converting over to the Eural.

What's a Eural?
Did you mean Urinal?