The New Nation - Internet Edition

From Munir Uddin Ahmad, Khulna

The team leader of US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) Brett Lawson Koonse said that if Bangladesh intends to achieve the goal in exporting shrimp she has no alternative to following the "Good Aquaculture Practice" strictly.

In an exclusive interview with The New Nation on Thursday, Mr. Brett further said that Bangladesh has tremendous opportunity to export shrimp in America or any other countries in the world if she produces qualitative shrimp adopting "Good Aquaculture Practice".

Mr. Brett is leading an eight member team to train up the trainers of Bangladesh in a five day's training course begins on Monday in the city last.

The resource persons from Joint Institute for Food and Safety and applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) and the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) are conducting the training course.

The five day's long training course was jointly organized by Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) and Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association.

Total 47 persons including 10 professors from Khulna, Dhaka, Mymenshing and Chittagong University, 24 officers from research institute of fisheries department, 3 shrimp farmers and four exporters are participating in the training course as trainers those will further train up the people engaged in shrimp sector in grass root levels.

Mr. Brett said that the United States imports 85% shrimp of her total yearly consumption. The US imported 2, 81,890 Metric tons of shrimp till July 2009 and 2, 79,496 Metric tons last year. When Thailand exported 1, 82,371 Metric tons, Indonesia 83,990 tons, India 15,179 tons but Bangladesh could export only 13,748 Metric tons last year.

Bangladesh could fetch this huge US market if she produces safe and qualitative shrimp following "Good Aquaculture Practice" in shrimp sector. This formula is being followed by many other countries like Brazil, Philippine, India, Thailand, China and Indonesia, he said.

The community health safety would be also ensured through this practice, he added.

Executive Director of BSFF, D. Mahmudul Karim and Public Health Analyst, US FDA Ms. Christine Louise Hileman were present on the occasion.

The team also visited some of the shrimp farm and processing factories and expressed satisfaction it was learned.

BFFEA Vice President Sk. Md. Abdul Baki and Executive member Humaun Kabir told New Nation that BFFEA would strictly follow the same advised by the USFDA and JIFSAN for our own interest.

The other members of the team are Consumer Safety Officer US, FDA Mr. Stanley George Serfling, Consumer Safety Officer US, FDA Ms. Kaniz Fatema Shireen, Professor JIFSAN Thomas Edward Rippon, Professor Andrew Martin Lazur, Professor D. Michael H. Schwarz and Professor Michael Lee Jahncke.

The team left the city today following a concluding session of certificate awarding ceremony to the participants.