Yemen fish exports dropped in first quarter by 13 percent

SANA'A, June 25 (Saba) - Fish revenues fell during the first quarter
of 2009 in Yemen by 13 percent, from $ 56.5 million in the same
period last year to $ 49.5 million.

According to a statistic by the Fisheries Ministry fish exports
dropped by 12 percent, from 25849 tonnes in 2008 to 22794 tonnes.

Officials said that key reasons behind drops were measures the
ministry took including preventing hunting and exporting some kinds
of fish in the time when fish were growing.

In addition, the ministry blocked exporting some other kinds of fish
for which local demand for has been growing.

According to the statistic Yemen exported fresh fish, frozen fish
and dry fish, with frozen fish coming top among exported fish
products.

Yemen exported frozen fish to almost 50 Arab, Asian and European
countries.

Saudi Arabia came in first place among the countries importing Yemen
fish, Egypt was in second place and then Vietnam, France.

On ports through which fish products were exported, the Aden Seaport
topped Yemen's ports and then the al-Tiwal crossing on the
Yemeni-Saudi border.

Yemen is making major efforts to boost non-oil sectors, at a time
when experts say that oil is deeply declining in the country.

FR