Country Reports

Australia

Artemia Not a Vector

Artemia is not a vector in the transmission of Monodon Baculovirus (MBV) to Penaeus monodon.

Source: Electronical Larviculture Newsletter.  Editor Gilbert Van Stappen (gilbert.vanstappen@ugent.be).  Short Communication: Artemia Is Not a Vector for Monodon Baculovirus (MMBV) Transmission to Penaeus Monodon.  M. Sarathi, G. Balasubramanian, A. S. Sahul Hameed (cah_sahul@hotmail.com) and V. K. Sivakumar (School of Life Sciences, QUT GPO 2434, Brisbane Queensland, Australia 4001).  Issue 293.  July 15, 2008.

Bangladesh

Shrimp Hatcheries Suffer Huge Losses

Since the beginning of 2008, shrimp hatcheries (Penaeus monodon) have lost around $15 million because of a sharp decline in fry prices amid poor demand from farmers.  “The price fall in the global market affected us all,” said Yunus Chowdhury, executive director of al Sharaf, Ltd., one of the biggest hatcheries.  Yunus said he lost about $290,000 this year and had to cut production to limit his losses.  Most hatchery production takes place from January to July.

The high price of rice on local and international markets also prompted many farmers to switch to rice farming, said Main Uddin Ahmad, president of the Shrimp Hatchery Association of Bangladesh and the owner of MK Hatchery, which has incurred a loss of about $145,000 so far this year.  “Our production costs have increased due to the rise in the prices of feed and other production inputs such as diesel,” Main said.  This year the price of Bangladeshi shrimp dropped in the global market as it faced price competition from P. vannamei farmed in Vietnam, Thailand and China.

Source: The Daily Star.  Shrimp hatcheries suffer Tk100cr loss.  Sohel Parvez (sohel@thedailystar.ne).  July 31, 2008.

Brunei

International Workshop on Reducing the Cost of Shrimp Feeds

The Department of Fisheries and Integrated Aquaculture International, a consulting company that is developing specific pathogen free (SPF) giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) for Brunei, will conduct a workshop on shrimp nutrition on November 4-6, 2008.

Program

• Nutrition research as it relates to feed cost management

• New developments in plant and animal proteins

• Feed processing technology as a tool for cost management

• Feed formulas for cost management: technology, tools and experience

• Feed management, a way to optimize returns

Speakers

Dr. Ronald Hardy, Aquaculture Research Center, University of Idaho.

Mr. Don Lindsey.  Lindsey’s company, Solae, is working on replacing the fish oil in shrimp diets with soy products.  He will discuss plant proteins and oils.

Dr. Sergio Nates, Fats and Proteins Research Foundation.  Dr. Nates directs a program on rendered animal proteins and fats in aqua feeds.  He is also involved in developing certification programs for aqua feed manufacturers.

Dr. Peter Coutteau, INVE Feedmill Solutions.  Dr. Coutteau is a specialist in shrimp feed ingredients.

Mr. Paul Chen, Wenger Corporation.  Mr. Chen will speak about new developments in extrusion technology that provide low-cost feed formulation solutions through increased flexibility in raw material choice.

Mr. Richard Rossi, Feedsoft.  A mathematician and software expert, Mr. Rossi will talk about advances in feed formulation software.

Experts from Brunei Department of Fisheries and Integrated Aquaculture International who will address the workshop:

Dr. George Chamberlain will speak on integration for cost effectiveness.

Mr. Sabri Taha will speak about Brunei’s aquaculture feed industry and the feed management practices of farmers.

Dr. Victor Suresh will discuss ways of using formulations to lower feed costs.

Dr. Kumaraguru Vasagam will talk about ways to use research to lower feed costs.

Mr. Thomas James will talk about feed management as a way to reduce feed costs.

Field Trip: One day will be spent on a field trip that will take participants to the Department of Fisheries’ newly constructed Shrimp Nutrition Research Center and its SPF development facilities.

Registration Fee: $250, covers lunches, tea, refreshments, workshop materials and the field trip.  Hotel rooms in Brunei range from $90 to $150 per night at four and five-star hotels.

More Information: Detailed information on the workshop will be available in the second announcement scheduled to be released in September 2008.  If you are interested in attending the workshop and would like to receive the second announcement, contact Victor Suresh (below) before August 21, 2008.

Information: Victor Suresh, Integrated Aquaculture International (email victors@integratedaquaculture.com, webpage http://www.integratedaquaculture.com).

Sources: 1. The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers).  Subject: Shrimp Feed Cost Workshop, November 4-6, 2008.  From: Arul Victor Suresh (avsuresh9@yahoo.com).  July 30, 2008.  2. Email from Victor Suresh to Shrimp News International.  Attachment: First Announcement.doc.  July 30, 2008.

Ecuador

2008 A Record Year for Shrimp Farming, So Far

During the first six months of 2008, the volume of shrimp exports surpassed exports during the first half of 1998, which was a record year.  According to statistics from the National Chamber of Fisheries, between January and June of 2008, 152 million pounds of shrimp, worth $340 million, were exported.  In volume, the country exported 14% more shrimp than during the same period in 1998.  Prices were higher in 1998, however, so those exports were worth $488.2 million.

In May 2008 shrimp exports set an all-time record: 34.1 million pounds, worth $76.9 million.  Although volume declined in June 2008, exports were still 15.6% above June 2007 levels.

Caesar Monge, president of the Ecuadorian Chamber of Fisheries, maintains that the elimination of trade barriers, like the dumping duties instituted by the United States, allowed for the expansion of sales.  Ecuador exports approximately 43% of its shrimp to the United States and 16% to Spain.

Source: Ecuador Investing.  Ecuador Shrimp Exports Reach New Record.  July 29, 2008.

Indonesia

One Farm Will Produce 100,000 Metric Tons in 2008!

PT Central Proteinaprima, the world’s largest shrimp farm, posted a 42 percent rise in sales to $409 million in the first half of 2008, compared to the first half of 2007.  Production in the period rose to 48,952 metric tons, approaching the 57,000 metric tons produced in the whole of 2007.  Gross profit rose in the same period by 50 percent to $82.5 million, from $54.7 million in the first half of 2007.  CP Prima also produces and markets probiotics for shrimp farms.

Vice president director Mahar Sembiring said the production increase was largely a result of the company’s pond revitalization program, which began in 2007 and will be completed in 2009.  “The company clearly has the potential this year to double last year’s production,” Mahar said.

Most of the company’s ponds are co-run and developed with thousands of local shrimp farmers.  The company provides loans and postlarvae to the farmers, who in turn sell their production to the company.

Source: The Jakarta Post.  CP Prima ups revenue as output rises.  August 5, 2008.

Malaysia

Biotech Firm Finds Fortune in Prawn Farming

Four years ago, Bionovar started out as a biotechnology firm that produced probiotics, but customers for its products, which help to break down sludge that builds up in shrimp ponds, were hard to come by.  The market was saturated with competitors touting similar products to jaded and skeptical customers.  So the start-up company took a daring step: It diversified its business to become a major customer of its own product by going into the shrimp-farming business.  And it has not looked back since.

It now runs a 50-hectare shrimp farm in Malaysia that produces 600 tons of giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and western white shrimp (P. vannamei) every year.  It also has shrimp farms in India and will be expanding into China soon.

The move into shrimp farming has produced good returns.  Its profits from shrimp farming are now greater that those from probiotics.  Revenues in 2007 were $1 million.  In 2008, revenues are expected to be several times that amount.

Bionovar, believing that its success in shrimp farming is due to its biotech origins, has a research facility at Nanyang Polytechnic, where it continues to improve its probiotics.  But, it no longer offers its products for sale.  Instead, it keeps them for its own use and thereby maintains a competitive edge over other shrimp farmers.

Other notes on Bionovar:

 • It has started work on antiviral products.

 • Earlier this year, it set up a distribution arm to sell shrimp to gourmet restaurants and
households in Singapore.

 • It has raised another $5.7 million for its shrimp farms.

Source: A Little Red Dot Research.  Biotech firm finds fortune in prawn farming.  Chua Hian Hou (email chuahh@sph.com.sg),  July 31, 2008.

Mexico

Sonora—Record Production Forecast for Fifth Year in a Row

In the northwest state of Sonora, shrimp production in 2008 is forecast to set a record for the fifth consecutive year.  In 2007, production reached 69,000 tons, and this year there are 2,000 more hectares in production, and there seems to be no presence of whitespot, according to Miguel Humberto Olea Ruiz, president of the Committee for Aquaculture Health of Sonora.  Last year there were a number of cases of whitespot in Agiabampo; this year, after an exhaustive analysis, no positive casees have been found, Olea Ruiz added.

Last year the number of farms that were certified to export product to the European market was 13; this year that number will jump to 40.  Expectations for exports to the European Community are great, especially since the EU is not accepting product from China.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service).  Forecast for higher Mexican farmed shrimp production from Sonora this year, more exports to Europe.  Translated by Angel Rubio Canas.  Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com).  July 30, 2008.

Netherlands

Bio-Flocs

We have a company in the Netherlands that specializes in bio-floc shrimp farming, and we have a biosecure shrimp farm, where we do bio-floc research.  Our goal is to develop and optimize this technology worldwide.

We are developing a culture system for the white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) that recycles the wastes right in the tank.  We also have substrates in the tank to increase stocking densities and to provide in situ biofiltration.  We’re working on feeds, stocking densities, microbial community management—and the recycling of waste within the system with “Bio-floc Reactors”.

We offer consulting services worldwide.  We can help you design and construct an indoor or outdoor bio-floc shrimp farm.

Information: Leon Claessens, Aquaculture Farming Technology, Poststraat 8, 5801 BC Venray, Netherlands (phone 0031-614-898-768, fax 0031-478-550054, email info@aquaculture-ft.com, webpage http://www.aquaculture-ft.com).

Sources: 1. Email to Shrimp News International from Leon Classens at Aquaculture Farming Technology.  Subject: Website news/New Company Offers Bio-floc Technology.  August 1, 2008.  2. Aquaculture Farming Technology’s website on August 6, 2008.

Thailand

Wants Shrimp Farming Consultant

I would like to start an indoor shrimp farm.  I don’t have any experience, so I’m searching for a consultant on a permanent basis to follow and direct my operation.  I need to start this farming project in a professional way, as a business, so the development size will be one of the main issues.  I do not need a consultant for only the beginning; I need a permanent consultant.  I will sign a long-term contract.  I live in the Bangkok area.

Information: enzo.miracapillo@gmail.com.

Source: Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific Webpage.  Shrimp farming consultant need.  July 29, 2008.

Thailand

What’s DDP Pricing?

We are DDPSHRIMP.COM, and we have one mission—to offer qualified USA seafood importers “Delivered Duty Paid” (DDP) shrimp from Thailand.  Everyone knows that importing shrimp from duty-able countries is a tremendous risk to your business.  You never know if the factory you are currently buying from on a CNF (cost and freight) basis will end up with a duty rate adjustment following the USA Department of Commerce annual review.

DDPSHRIMP.COM will provide you offers from Thailand on a DDP basis.

Fill in the form on our Request for Quote (RFQ) Page, and we will send you an offer based on your requirements.  All factories quoting DDP are currently green ticket factories and have a long track record of exporting quality products to the USA.  All factories are HACCP, BRC (British Retail Consortium) and ACC (Aquaculture Certification Council) approved facilities with the highest level of food safety and traceability assurances.  DDPSHRIMP.COM provides quotes based on unlimited volume requirements, specialized packaging and annual contracts.

Under the picture of a shrimp farm on the company’s home page, there are a number of tabs.  Check out the DDP Defined tab, the Terms of Use tab and, especially, the News tab.

Information: http://www.ddpshrimp.com/index.html.

Source: DDPShrimp.com’s website.  July 31, 2008.

Thailand

CPF to Switch Emphasis from Shrimp Production to Shrimp Marketing

Mr. Adirek Sripratak, the chief of Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), which runs one of the largest integrated shrimp farming operations in the world, has ambitious plans for the next five years, including brand building, better distribution and new food products.

CPF produces about 40% of the country’s animal feed and an estimated 173,000 metric tons of shrimp a year.

Over the next five years, the larger portion of its annual investment budget, approximately $1.3 to $1.5 billion, will be shifted to foreign operations.  The objective is to deliver food to thousands of retail markets and food service operators across the nation including Tesco Lotus, the KFC restaurant chain, and CP Freshmart, the CPF-owned retail chain.

Mr. Adirek is confident that there are enormous markets for food products in foreign countries, especially in China, India and Russia.

Sales from foreign operations accounted for about 17 to 18 percent of CPF’s total revenue in 2007.

To increase sales in Europe, CPF will add sales offices in Poland, Portugal and Greece, bringing the number of its sales offices to 21.

A number of food products under the CP brand are now available in 40 countries.

Source: Bangkok Post.  CPF Shifts Focus to Brand Building.  Walailak Keeratipipatpong.  August 4, 2008.

Uniteds States

Hawaii—Marine Shrimp Farming Program Gets $2.3 Million

The Oceanic Institute, the home of the USA Marine Shrimp Farming Program and an affiliate of Hawaii Pacific University, has received a federal grant of nearly $2.3 million to conduct shrimp farming research.

“Shrimp is the No. 1 consumed seafood product in the United States at 1.4 billion pounds annually,” said USA Senator Daniel Inouye.  “A robust shrimp farming industry does not exist in our nation.  This grant from the Department of Agriculture is an opportunity for Hawaii and the Oceanic Institute to take a leading role in the creation of an American shrimp farming industry.”

Information: Anthony Ostrowski, Ph.D., Director of the United States Marine Shrimp Farming Program, The Oceanic Institute, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795 USA (phone 808-259-3109, fax 808-259-3121, email aostrowski@oceanicinstitute.org, webpage http://www.usmsfp.org/).

Source: The website of the United States Marine Shrimp Farming Program (http://www.usmsfp.org).  Paula Bender, Editor and Webmaster (pbender@oceanicinstitute.org).  OI shrimp program gets $2.3M federal grant.  August 4, 2008.

United States

South Carolina—Waddell Mariculture Center, Correction

In the August 1, 2008, issue of Free News, I reported that the Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton, a marine research facility of the Department of Natural Resources, purchased a line of disease-free, Pacific white shrimp that had been raised in captivity for 20 years at a Florida shrimp hatchery.  Not true.  Waddell purchased some postlarvae from the hatchery, that’s all, not a line of broodstock.  Click here, to view my original source for this item.

Source: Bob Rosenberry, Shrimp News International, August 13, 2008.

United States

Washington, DC—Secretary Leavitt Blogs

In his previous blog, Mike Leavitt, Secretary of the USA Department of Health and Human Service, the parent agency of the Food and Drug Administration, delivered a message to the shrimp exporters of the world.  In his current blog, he said:

When we presented our import safety plan to President Bush, I told him it would require additional money.  The President committed to seeking additional funding.  Congress has made a down payment that will support crucial steps, including expanding FDA’s international presence and improving its scientific and information technology infrastructure.  But it will require sustained investment over the next several years to achieve long-term import safety.

Legislative action is also needed.  We need Congress to provide the FDA with authority to mandate third-party certification in certain high-risk categories when voluntary measures aren’t working.

The role of the FDA will change in regard to the issue of import safety.  I will explain my vision for this role in more detail in my next entry.

Source: Mike Leavitt, Secretary of the USA Department of Health and Human Service.  His blogsite.  Safety at the Speed of Life—Blog 5.  July 25, 2008.

Classified Advertisements
How To Advertise