Prices of kiddi (small) shrimps on Friday declined by Rs 20 in the market to Rs 65 per kilo on the news of ban on the exports of seafood export, market sources said. A seafood exporter who preferred not to be quoted said that kiddi shrimp was selling at Rs 90 per kilograme, a day before the news of ban. He pointed out that other items including fish were not affected due to this ban. He said Pakistan mostly exports small shrimps and a jelly like fish "cuttle squid" to European Union. He said that India and China have started buying "cuttle squid" and therefore its prices were stable.
He observed that some seafood processing plants who had piled up inventory (at least 25 containers) in the hope of making money will be badly affected due to this news.
He however, expressed his doubt over the news of the ban and said that the EU Food and Veterinary Office has not yet released its decision about ban on its website.
It may be noted that the EU website on May 20, still shows the list of 11 seafood processing factories in Pakistan on its website which were qualified for export of seafood on April 16, 2005.
He maintained that if there was any kind of ban on Pakistani seafood exports, it would have been publicised on this website. The exporter said that the EU has recently sent its draft report to Pakistan government regarding the visit of its inspectors to Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), Karachi Fish Harbour and seafood exporting plant three months ago.
"According to my information, this report has indicated lacking on the part of a government agency which inspects seafood quality in Pakistan", he noted.
He said that those who have received this report should publicise it for the consumption of seafood exporters. This has created doubts about the much trumpeted ban, he added.
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