Shrimp exporters to stopbuying fish from Oct 24

Sonia H Moni Shrimp exporters will stop buying fish from October 24 in protest against the artificial weight hike of prawns by unscrupulous traders. Eight companies in Khulna have stopped buying fresh water prawns to protest the malpractice under which jelly and other substances were injected into the shrimp variety. Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association (BFFEA) president Kazi Shahnewaz told the FE the association has decided to boycott prawn sellers and depot owners from October 24. "The tendency of pushing different substances into shrimp to raise weight has reduced now, but it was massive even one month back. If the malpractice continues, it could be a threat to the goodwill of our country to the importers and in the international shrimp market as well." "We have decided in our board meeting on October 3 to stop buying this sort of fish from October 24". He said, members of BFFEA have urged the government to make the people aware of the bad practice of injecting artificial substances into shrimp. He added: "The colour of weight-hiked shrimp is fade. So if anybody finds weight hiked shrimps he or she should inform the local police." A vice president of BFFEA said, "Eight companies of Khulna had stopped buying fresh water prawns from the sellers, middlemen and depot owners for seven days last month." "This initiative helped a lot curb the practice of increasing artificial weight increase, but we want an end to this sort of activities and as a part of it we are going to stop buying shrimp from end of this month." He said the government has already started taking different steps like destroying artificially weight -gained fish and imposing fine on unscrupulous businessmen through Rapid Action Battalion and police. He said, BFFEA will start discussion with all members of stakeholders of the sector of 14 upazilas under Satkhira, Bagerhat and Khulna districts before October 24. Bangladesh exported shrimps worth about $450 million in 2010-11, according to the BFFEA. The country exports shrimps to different countries including the United Kingdom, European Union member countries, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States of America.