Processamento de produtos da piscicultura no estado do Pará: uma alternativa para agregação de valor?

Abstract

Continental fish farming is the most developed aquaculture branch in the State of Pará, withprojects in its 144 municipalities. Its products supply the local market, being sold mainly inthe form of fresh whole fish in open markets, public markets, supermarkets and local fishshop. In this context, the growing consumer demand for practicality and longer shelf life tendsto create opportunities for adding value. The objective of this study was to analyze technicaland economic viability of the processing of fish farming products in the territory of State ofPará. The official data on aquaculture production made available by the Instituto Brasileiro deGeografia e Estatística defined the species evaluated, their production and the distribution ofthe enterprises. Subsequently, a survey was carried out on the number of industrialestablishments with sanitary inspection, their location, classification and experience with fishfarming products. This information was related to the analysis of the technical and economicfeasibility of fish processing. Black pacu Colossoma macropomum, hybrid tambatingaColossoma macropomum x Piaractus brachypomus, red pacu Piaractus brachypomus,Arapaima Arapaima gigas and hybrid Amazon pintado Pseudoplatystoma reticulatumxLeiarius marmoratus were the fish identified as susceptible to processing, adopting volumeand market as criteria. The Immediate Geographical Region of Paragominas assumed aprominent role in the production, followed by the Immediate Geographical Region of Marabá.It was found that 42 industrial establishments were in operation, 26 with Federal InspectionService, six with State Inspection Service and 10 focused on edible artisanal products. TheImmediate Geographical Region of Belém concentrated the largest number of initiatives, butonly three had processed fish from fish farming and sporadically. The economic viability ofprocessing was compromised by the low competitiveness of the production chain in theterritory of State of Pará, as a result of the informality in the activity, the price of inputs andthe deficient social organization. The local culture of prioritizing the consumption of freshwhole or gutted fish sold in public spaces, the high production cost of fish farming and thecompetition with prime cuts of fish from fishing represent the main obstacles to adding valueto the products analyzed, while the access to institutional markets would be the greatestopportunity, especially for edible artisanal products aimed at school lunches.