NONTHABURI, July 3 (TNA) — The Commerce Ministry is monitoring closely the prices of fish that is falling due to a global economic slowdown.
Deputy Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara said the global economic slowdown weakened consumers’ purchasing power and the prices of many farm products had to be reduced.
She denied that the growing imports of fish caused the declining prices of local fish. The imports were for export-oriented processed products and for restaurants and were different kinds from local fish, she said, referring to imported mackerel, salmon, trout and cod.
She also said that governmental organizations including the Foreign Trade Department, the Fisheries Department, the Marine Department and security organizations were ready to tackle any influx of fish products including those from illegal fishing to protect the prices of local fish.
Fish products including processed ones were important Thai exports and generated more than 185 billion baht of national income yearly. Thailand was the world’s biggest exporter of canned tuna and processed sardines, Ms Chutima said. (TNA)
