Tilapia fillets. (Photo: Regal Springs)

Chiapas start tilapia fillet exports

Chiapas, the leading tilapia producer in the country, will begin exporting fillets of this fish in November.

This was announced by the company Regal Springs president, Rudolph Lamprecht, after meeting with the local governor, Juan Sabines Guerrero.

"It is here in Chiapas where we have the maximum volume of water in Mexico, which is why we are investing here. This year we have produced 10,000 tonnes, 100 per cent for the local, national market, but with the new plant that is ready for production, we will export 20,000 tonnes next year and in a maximum of five or six years we will obtain 70,000 tonnes, employing over 2,000 people," said the entrepreneur.

Regal Springs, which has its sales offices in the US and in Europe, began an ambitious project in Chiapas after the success of its operations in Indonesia and Honduras. This state of southern Mexico is one of the less economically developed, but it has large reserves of natural resources, such as the abundance of freshwater in Grijalva river system. Almost 70 per cent of the country's freshwater is contained in Grijalva-Usumacinta, where the reservoirs of the main hydroelectric centres in Mexico are ideal for farming tilapia in floating cages.

After thorough studies of the environmental and social impact, Regal Springs stocked the fist tilapia fingerlings in February 2007 and in September of that year its first harvest was obtained in Acuagranjas Dos Lagos, in the municipality of Ostuacán.

Lamprecht highlighted the company made an investment of USD 30 million, which is stated to be "one of the highest investments" in the history of Chiapas.

"With a production of 10,000 tonnes, we are committed to being the leading tilapia producer in the six years’ period, and today we are the first tilapia producer in Mexico," he added.

The executive acknowledged the characteristics of Chiapas are ideal for investments.

"There is significant support from the Government, which is very positive and which helps a lot and gives me great confidence to invest in this state, and I have a very interesting vision for the future," he explained.

Governor Sabines Guerrero stressed that the state has "a quality product, an organic product and another hallmark that makes Chiapas stand out," and he welcomed the company's decision to start exporting fillets from next month, Chiapas Hoy reported.

Currently, Acuagranjas Dos Lagos employs 450 workers directly and supports regional development that empowers local fishers to also obtain greater Nile tilapia production by breeding this species.

By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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