48 December 2011 Value-added products from aquaculture: A global trend A. A. Gonçalves and C. Kaiser Seafood products have attracted considerable attention as an important source of nutrients for human diet. The growth of farmed seafood production has increased quickly in the last few years, and at the same time there is an increase in consumers’ need or demand for convenience seafood products, such as lightly preserved products and “ready-toeat”, “ready-to-cook” or “ready-to-serve” seafoods, hygienically prepared and attractively packed convenience foods to match the changing needs of consumers. The seafood processing and marketing has become competitive all over the world and exporters are switching to value addition to increase profit. Value addition is the most talked word in the seafood processing industry because of the possibility of better realization of foreign exchange earnings and high unit value. The processing of value added products require improved harvest and post harvest technology. Emerging economies and industrialization in many former third world countries, as well as new second and first world countries are driving the demand for not only valueadded products, but protein alternatives. Poultry is the largest protein currently being consumed globally and it is obvious that demand will not be sufficient to feed the growing masses. Countries, such as China and India, are driving the protein commodities on a massive scale. As these countries continue to develop a growing middle class and appetite for quality and luxury goods, the demand for value-added products will continue to soar. Furthermore, fish and fishery products recorded the highest increase in price both in the domestic and export markets in recent years compared to any other items. However, the growth and development of fisheries sector is currently almost entirely depending on the export market performance. Globalization has further intensified competition among countries to capture this lucrative market. Product differentiation coupled with stringent quality controls and promotion of diversified value added products might immensely help us to face this severe competition and retain our position. Thus, the trend is away from commodity products, such as the traditional frozen blocks, and into value-added products. Everybody wants value added products and they are being more specific. As a result, companies should try to do as much processing at the source to fit these custom orders. Fig.. 1. Restructured shrimp (natural bonded)
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