The Mexican government intends to set additional 5,000 hectares of aquaculture in the country over the next year in order to increase productivity and provide a greater supply of these products, ensured the head of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) José Calzada Rovirosa. On opening the 2015 Economic Forum on Fisheries and Aquaculture, the federal official said that the current surface is around 120,000 hectares, which are destined for aquaculture in national territory so the minimum has been estimated to reach around 125,000 hectares at the end of 2016. In addition, he further stressed that, according to FAO forecasts, in 2023 aquaculture production value will exceed that of fishing, hence the importance of developing the productive niche. Currently, in Mexico 70 per cent of the total catch is performed in the sea, and the remaining 30 per cent is carried out in aquaculture. But in value, Calzada Rovirosa stressed that 60 per cent corresponds to the capture fisheries and aquaculture reaches 40 per cent. SAGARPA head noted that, on instructions from President Enrique Peña Nieto, a strategic plan is driven to detonate the potential of the fisheries sector This plan includes five areas: the sector management, activity monitoring, promotion of production (which includes aquaculture), marketing and market development as well as integration of the production chain. The secretary announced that next week a working trip to China will take place with the aim of consolidating existing markets in that country as well as develop new business opportunities for Mexican producers. With regard to the ruling announced last week by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as to sustainable tuna fishing in Mexico, Calzada Rovirosa stressed that Mexico has shown in every forum that the country uses the "best fishing gear sustainably for future generations." "Precisely, what the WTO said is: Mexico is right in terms of sustainability and the right to markets," he said. He highlighted that this subsector generates 70,000 direct and indirect jobs and the value of the tuna industrialized production can reach USD 600 million. For his part, the national commissioner of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Mario Aguilar Sanchez, stated the newly released ruling by the WTO in favour of sustainable tuna fishing in Mexico is a success for the national fisheries sector, particularly fishermen, who have already proved the worth of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. In this regard, he stressed that Mexico reiterates its support for the implementation of the Code, which for 20 years has been maintained as a reference for international aquaculture and fishing governance. Source - http://www.fis.com