Caribex Wants to Get More Profitability From Lobster

Caribex forecasts 2018 seafood exports will be worth 76 million dollars. (El Universal)

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, Havana, 5 January 2018 — Without increasing production and with a simple change in “the ways of presenting and marketing the product,” the state company Caribex aims to increase revenues between 40 and 50% from lobster exports. This was explained to the Cuban News Agency (ACN) by its director, Javier Francisco Aguiar.

The exquisite seafood remains reserved for export and tourists who visit the island. Its sale is a monopoly of the State but there is an illegal market that finds outlets in the paladares (private restaurants) and guest houses.

The Caribex director forecasts 2018 exports, including shrimp, will reach a total value of 76 million dollars, which corresponds to an increase of 3.7% over the previous year.

The main fishing areas, located south of the western provinces, between Pinar del Río, Havana and Isla de la Juventud, provide 80% of the catch from commercial fishing.

“With small investments, varieties such as lobster, shrimp or aquaculture fish can be even more profitable, by meeting the needs or tastes of consumers,” adds Aguiar in his statements to the ACN. The final destination of the seafood is found mainly on the tables of European and Asian countries, as well as Canada.

Lobster season runs from the beginning of June to the end of January. After the end of the season a period of closure of at least four months is established to facilitate the recovery of the species before the start of the new season.

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