International fisheries trade experts meet in casablanca

A meeting of experts in international sea products trade and food security is held in Casablanca this Jan.27-30.

The meeting, to ponder on food security in exporting developing countries, is part of efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to fight malnutrition.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Moroccan fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes, said decision makers find it difficult to choose between meeting domestic demand of sea products, and selling them to get the necessary reserves in hard currency.

Arab states have sea riches able to ensure them food security at affordable prices, provided that resources be exploited, distributed and marketed rationally, director of the specialized magazine "Info Samak," said.

According to FAO statistics, world imports of sea products are currently worth US$ 50 billion, and exports worth US$ 54 billion.