KUWAIT CITY, Jan 24: In an unprecedented move to bolster food security through the fisheries and meet growing local demand, the Kuwaiti Fishermen Union released a ton of imported fish into the local market last Friday -- its first practical step after obtaining a general fish import license from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The newspaper toured the fish market in Sharq to assess its readiness to receive imported shipments of various fish species and to gauge the impact of this move on supply and price stability. Chairman of the Union Abdullah Al-Sarheed, Director of the Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Faisal Al-Ansari, and Director of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Eng. Salem Al-Hay were present during the tour. The visit included monitoring the fish unloading process at the stalls of the Union, as well as ensuring compliance with health and regulatory regulations. Sales and customer turnout were also observed, with citizens and expatriates expressing their satisfaction with the variety of fish available and the prices offered. In a statement to the newspaper, Al- Sharheed pointed out that this step is in line with the commitment of the Union to guarantee the availability of imported fish in the local market at affordable prices for everyone.

He emphasized that the Union sells fish at cost price to support the consumers. He asserted that the Union, immediately upon obtaining its general import license, prepared a comprehensive plan to regulate the flow of imported fish into the country. He said air freight was chosen as the primary option despite the higher cost, because it is one of the safest methods for preserving the quality of perishable food products, especially fish. He expects prices in the local market to decrease gradually in the next few weeks, as the supply increases and reaches optimal levels with the start of the local summer fishing season. He indicated that the import plan includes daily shipments to Sharq market, ranging between two to four tons of various types of fish.

He said the first shipment came from Pakistan, while the next shipments will be from Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Iran and Bangladesh. He added that a team from the union will travel to Indonesia in the coming hours to finalize agreements for new shipments. On the other hand, Al-Hay praised the efforts of the Union in providing diverse fish alternatives. He affirmed that the arrival of the first shipment of imported fish and its distribution at the Sharq Market and the stalls of the Union increased fish supplies and stabilized prices.

Al-Hay confirmed that this step supports the food security system in terms of fish resources and meets the need of consumers for diverse protein sources. He added the PAAAFR is keen on continuously coordinating with the concerned authorities to ensure the safety of the products and their compliance with health standards. Regarding the fishermen operating the stalls, the newspaper observed full adherence to the published prices and types of fish offered, amidst a huge turnout of shoppers who appreciated the variety of products and the range of prices to suit different segments of the market.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff