Abstract
The projected increase in aquaculture production by 2030 will mostly occur in countries of Asia and Africa, including Bangladesh. The pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) produced in Bangladesh, the second-largest producer globally, is mainly consumed by low-income domestic consumers and is poorly demanded in international markets. One reason for this is the yellow flesh of fish; consumers generally in mainstream international markets prefer to fish with white flesh. Reviewing secondary evidence and analyzing primary data, this article assesses the underlying reasons for the discolored pangasius flesh in Bangladesh and synthesizes strategies for avoiding discoloration to induce exports. The findings indicate that farming practices with high stocking density, infrequent water exchange, high organic matter in pond water, and the growth of carotenoid-containing cyanobacteria contribute to the discoloration of pangasius flesh. Artificial and natural pigments in feed and poor post-harvest handling of fish are also contributing factors. Furthermore, a positive correlation between water exchange, price, and yield at the farm is found, which indicates that farm-gate price and yield per hectare can increase with more frequent water exchange. The findings of this study provide strong evidence that improved aquaculture practices can solve the problem of discolored pangasius flesh and establish an export-oriented pangasius industry in Bangladesh.
Highlights
The projected increase in aquaculture production by 2030 will occur mainly in countries of Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh (Kobayashi et al, 2015)
Vietnamese pangasius farms are characterized by an average pond size of 3000m2 with a depth of 4m, the stocking density of 14 fish/m3, and high yield (Lefevre et al, 2011)
The reason is that the pangasius produced in Bangladesh often has yellow fillets, compared to the white fillets from Vietnam, which have greater consumer acceptability and command a higher market price
Summary
The projected increase in aquaculture production by 2030 will occur mainly in countries of Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh (Kobayashi et al, 2015). The demand for cultured fish is increasing in many developed and developing countries because of rising income, urbanization, and decreasing supplies from captured fisheries (Kobayashi et al, 2015). To meet the increasing demand for fish, the world will depend mainly on aquaculture, especially from Asia. There exist problems in achieving full market potential, both domestically and internationally, due to the poor quality of fish. The yellow flesh color of pangasius from Bangladesh makes it less preferred by customers both in the domestic and export markets. Solving the problems of fish quality may enhance export from Bangladesh and increase prices at the domestic market, which will safeguard the small-scale producers. The knowledge provided on the yellow color may benefit aquaculture producers in other countries that face a similar problem
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
