Quality Assurance: Shrimp Industry in Bangladesh

Abstract

Quality aspects of seafood are very crucial for export as well as domestic use. Importers of shrimp products are exceedingly strict and conscious about quality. The quality of seafood products is assured not only in the processing industry but also at every stage of production, handling, transportation, and marketing. The production process must also comply with human rights and be carried out in an eco-friendly manner. ISO 9000 series standards, HACCP, and Codex procedures are effectively established to control quality as well as maintain product hygiene. The Seal of Quality is also a quality assurance program through which products are completely assured by complying with the conditions imposed on producing countries, particularly developing nations. The shrimp production cycle consists of fry collection, production, shrimp farming, transportation, processing, export, and marketing. A total of 141,352.54 ha of land is used for shrimp cultivation in Bangladesh. Rice fields are frequently converted into Bagda ponds ranging in size from 0.4 to 200 ha. About 50% of Bagda PL is collected from the wild and the remainder from hatcheries, while approximately 90% of Gaida PL is collected from wild sources. Beach seine nets, river set bag nets, hand push nets, pull nets, and other gears are used for PL and fry collection. A total of 79 small-scale hatcheries were operating in the country. Annually, an average of 43,000 tons of shrimp is produced. After harvesting, shrimp are transported from the capture site to processing factories within 24–36 hours. Fishers and middlemen transport the products through depots and agents to processing factories. Bangladeshi shrimp are exported to the USA, Japan, and European Union countries. During 2001–2002, Bangladesh earned Tk. 18,851 million (US$235 million) by exporting 30,000 tons of shrimp products. HACCP standards and principles, as well as EU requirements, are maintained at every stage of transportation and processing. There are three laboratories, located in Khulna, Dhaka, and Chittagong, for testing product quality to comply with HACCP standards and issuing certificates. In Bangladesh, the Seal of Quality program has already started its activities with registered seals. The Government of Bangladesh plays a major role in implementing and maintaining the Seal of Quality program.