Regional authorities and the fishing sector have agreed on a joint strategy to strengthen the production and export of blue crab in Zulia state, with a focus on protecting the entire chain and ensuring the continuity of the harvest.
The meeting, led by Governor Luis Caldera and Minister Juan Carlos Loyo, brought together representatives of fishermen and spokespeople from 22 processing plants , who reviewed protocols and coordinated measures in anticipation of the start of the season in the Lake Maracaibo area.
Alliance to protect the blue crab chain
The public and private sectors agreed to a common front with the aim of safeguarding the activity, maintaining transparency and ensuring the sustainability of a key sector for the regional and national economy.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the guideline is to maintain the activity without interruptions and with all operational safeguards, taking all necessary precautions so that the season progresses normally.
Sector dimension and territorial scope
The species, closely linked to the waters of Lake Maracaibo, involves some 15.000 fishermen in Zulia , supported by a fleet of 4.000 boats and an industrial park of 22 plants, with a mainly export-oriented focus.
The harvesting and processing of blue crab extends across 12 municipalities in Zulia , as well as specific areas in the states of Mérida and Trujillo, forming a productive network that covers a large part of western Venezuela.
Safety and quality control protocols
During the meeting, a detailed review of the export protocol was carried out, with special attention to security measures, traceability measures and product safeguards to comply with international market standards.
The actions include process verification, internal audits and coordination with competent bodies, in order to make the season a success in terms of quality, regulatory compliance and logistical performance.
Voices from the processing sector
Francisco MartÃnez, president of Caiproca and the San Ignacio processing plant, praised the collaboration between institutions and companies, emphasizing the commitment of the business community to protecting the activity and coordinating with the security forces.
For his part, Mario Albornoz, from the Vikingo processing plant, defined the start of the harvest as an "atypical" moment and asked for operational support to safeguard production, ensuring adequate conditions for fishermen, suppliers and plants.
Harvest horizon and immediate priorities
The agreed roadmap seeks to ensure that activity does not stop , that product integrity is maintained, and that the confidence of international customers is preserved, by reinforcing each link in the production chain.
With this public-private coordination, Zulia aims to consolidate its position in the blue crab foreign market, relying on stricter controls , greater coordination with the fishing sector, and permanent monitoring of the blue crab chain to maintain volume, quality, and sustainability.