Indonesia Gets Serious About Shrimp Farming

In late November 2009, the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries made two announcements that will profoundly affect the country’s shrimp farming industry and could lead to a doubling of production over the next five years.

Government Will Stop Imports of Shrimp
for Export to Other Countries

On November 28, 2009, Fadel Muhammad, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, said the government planned to ban the importation of shrimp for export to other countries.  “The policy of allowing shrimp imports hurts businessmen and therefore it will be revoked,” he said.  “Domestic production must be increased and quality of the product must continue to be improved.”  Previously, when fishermen and farmers could not supply the demand for Indonesian shrimp, the country’s exporters would import shrimp, repackage it and market it abroad, a practice called “transshipping”.  The new import ban on shrimp should end that practice—and give a big boost to shrimp farming.

Currently, the government is encouraging intensive Penaeus vannamei farming.  In the next five years, the Ministry hopes to increase the production of farmed shrimp from 300,000–400,000 metric tons to 700,000 tons.

BUT

But right now, the production of farmed shrimp is on a steep decline almost everywhere in the country because of shrimp diseases.  An association of cold storage businesses in East Java has demanded that the government help it deal with the significant decline in shrimp exports caused by disease problems on the farms.

Indonesia expected to export 350,000 metric tons of shrimp by the end of 2009.  But, with many shrimp harvest failures, it now expects to export around 250,000 tons.  “We have seen many harvest failures this year because of viruses,” association chairman Johan Suryadarma said, adding that farmers could avoid outbreaks by farming disease-resistant shrimp.

Johan said shrimp exports could drop by up to 40 percent in 2010 if the government fails to help shrimp farmers cope with their problems.

Many farmers have abandoned their ponds rather than attempt to keep them clean, a costly undertaking.

Johan hopes the government will encourage farmers to return to their ponds, including those in Porong, Sidoarjo, which were abandoned following the Lapindo mudflow disaster.  “Before the mudflow, there were around 15,000 hectares of shrimp ponds in Porong,” he said.

Government Encourages End of Shrimp
Broodstock Imports from USA

On November 29, 2009, the government announced another move that should strengthen the shrimp farming industry.  To reduce broodstock imports from Florida, USA, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries encouraged shrimp farmers to use domestically produced Penaeus vannamei broodstock whenever possible.  Made Nurdjana, the ministry’s director general of aquaculture and fisheries, said that domestically produced broodstock is similar in quality to imported broodstock—and more affordable.

“The shrimp fry from local broodstock has a better chance of survival because of its high resistance to disease, and it can adjust to local climate conditions,” Made said.

According to Ministry data, Indonesia imports about 320,000 P. vannamei broodstock a year for an industry that requires about 900,000 a year.  By using domestic broodstock, Made expects to reduce imports to about 100,000 in 2010.  “Using local broodstock is more profitable for shrimp growers since it reduces production cost,” Made said.  The price of a pair of Florida broodstock is $32 to $43; a pair of locally produced broodstock, $5.30 to $8.00.

Iwan Sutanto, chairman of Shrimp Club Indonesia, an association of shrimp farmers, had earlier said that using the local broodstock could reduce production costs, which have been averaging about $3.18 a kilogram for P. vannamei, by up $0.21 per kilogram.

Made emphasized that the ministry was not forbidding growers from importing broodstock.  “If companies consider imported broodstock to support their production process, the ministry will not prohibit them,” he said.  “The country is eventually looking to export vannamei broodstock, targeting an output of 1.3 million broodstock per year.  ...We expect to export...broodstock in 2011.”  Indonesia will call its new strain of domestically produced Penaeus vannamei broodstock “Nusantara I”.

Global Gen

Will Indonesia be able to fulfill its broodstock needs and market surplus broodstock around the world?  The private sector has been planning for this eventuality for several years.  Here’s an example of one company that is already producing SPF broodstock and postlarvae for Indonesia—and exporting it to China.

For the last several years, Global Gen, a private sector company, has been developing its own line of domestically produced SPF Penaeus vannamei broodstock—and a network of associated hatcheries to distribute postlarvae throughout the country.  Leonardo (“Bong”) Tiro, Director of Global Gen, said, “By July 2008, we had already developed the first generation broodstock and subsequently tested the postlarvae in commercial ponds”.

Global Gen produces an average of one billion nauplii a month and sells them through 17 associate hatcheries that produce postlarvae (PL-10) for sale to farmers.

Global Gen SPF shrimp are free from:

Whitespot syndrome virus

Taura syndrome virus

Yellowhead virus

Baculovirus penaeid

Penaeus monodon-type baculovirus

Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus

Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis

Infectious myonecrosis

Hepatopancreatic parvovirus disease.

Global Gen also has alliances with three feed companies—CJ Feed, Matahari Sakti and Luxindo—that distribute its postlarvae to their feed clients.  The feed companies have a large customer base and provide farmers with technical support.  They like the idea of distributing high-quality postlarvae with their feed because quality postlarvae result in good production, and that makes the feed companies look good.

Bong says, “In Indonesia, we have been selling postlarvae at $3.50 per 1,000 since 2005, although our competitors have been reducing prices.  ...We only work with 45-gram males and 50-gram females that are eight months old.  We use the shrimp for only four months, compared to hatcheries that use broodstock for 7-12 months.  Each broodstock can spawn twice a week and ablation is sometimes used”.

In February 2009, Global Gen began to export broodstock to its subsidiary in Baguang, Guangdong Province, China, where it sells postlarvae for $26-$29 per 10,000 ($2.60 to $2.90 per 1,000).  Global Gen China has seven hatcheries producing 150 million postlarvae a month and the target is to increase to 25 hatcheries producing 500 million postlarvae a month.  The annual demand for postlarvae in Guangdong Province is 100 billion a year.

Information: Leonardo (“Bong”) Tiro (lbtirojr@yahoo.com).

Sources: 1. KOMPAS.com.  Indonesia to Stop Shrimp Imports.  November 29, 2009.  2. The Jakarta Post.  Cold Storage Business Seeking Help on Shrimper Harvests.  Agnes S. Jayakarna.  November 25, 2009.  3. Jakarta Globe.  Indonesia Tells Shrimp Farmers to Use Local Stock.  Arti Ekawati.  November 29, 2009.  4. FIS United States.  Govt Endorses Use of Domestic Broodstock.  Natalie Real (editorial@fis.com).  November 30, 2009.  5. AQUA Culture AsiaPacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email zuridah@aquaasiapac.com).  Creating Value for Vannamei Shrimp in Asia.  Zuridah Merican.  Volume 5, Number 6, Page 8, November/December 2009.  6. Bob Rosenberry, Shrimp News International, January 1, 2010.

Country Reports

Bangladesh

Jobs—Hatchery Technicians

Beach Hatchery Limited Company in Teknaff, Dhaka, Bangladesh has three positions open for hatchery technicians.

Qualifications: Postgraduates in biology/fisheries.

Description: Management of entire hatchery, including algae culture, maturation, larval rearing tanks and nurseries.

Closing Date: January 25, 2010.

Information: Shariful Ishlam, Managing Director, Beach Hatchery Limited, TMC Building, 52 New Eskaton Road, Dhaka, Bangladesh (phone 008801730042381, email shegufta@bangla.net).

Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world’s electronic aquaculture resources).  Jobs Directory in cooperation with the WAS Employment Service.  Search jobs.  Shrimp Hatchery Technicians, Position No.3.  December 25, 2009.

China

Shrimp Exports Soar

From January through October 2009, China’s shrimp exports were 77,887 metric tons valued at $474 million, up 145 percent and 210 percent, respectively, over the same period in 2008.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service).  China’s shrimp export value more than doubles in first ten months of this year.  Ken Coons (phone 1-781-861-1441, email kencoons@seafood.com).  Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 1-781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com).  December 10, 2009.

China

Astaxanthin and Shrimp Larval Performance

Abstract: In this study, the effect of dietary astaxanthin on growth, survival and stress tolerance was determined in postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei.  An experiment was performed with postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 1.2 mg) fed four isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing four supplemented levels of astaxanthin (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg diet).  Shrimp fed diets containing 100, 200 and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg for 30 days showed higher weight gain (WG, %) and survival compared to the control (without supplementation of astaxanthin).  Specific growth rate (SGR, %/day) and final body wet weight (FBW, mg) showed the same pattern as WG.  There were no significant differences in growth performance (FBW, WG and SGR) among the groups fed the diets with astaxanthin supplementation at the termination of feeding trial.  Survival of shrimp in the control and 100 mg/kg diet treatments was significantly lower than that of shrimp in the treatments with 200 and 400 mg/kg diet.

After 9 days of a stress tolerance test, survival of shrimp in the 200 and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments was significantly higher than that of shrimp in the 0 and 100 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments (P < 0.05).

The researchers concluded that astaxanthin was a necessary ingredient for the development of larval L. vannamei.  Considering the effect of astaxanthin on growth performance and survival, the level of astaxanthin in the diet should be between 100 mg and 200 mg/kg.

Source: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.  Effect of Dietary Astaxanthin on Growth, Survival and Stress Tolerance of Postlarval Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.  Jin Niu, Li-Xia Tian (Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China ), Yong-Jian Liu, Hui-Jun Yang, Chao-Xia Ye and Wen Gao and Kang-Sen Mai.  Volume 40, Issue 6, Page-795, December 7, 2009.

Germany

Add Germany to Your List of Shrimp Farming Countries

[Computer translation with a little help from a friend]: In a 2,700-square-meter barn in Lower Affinghausen, approximately 45 kilometers south of Bremen, Henry Schroder and his son Marc run Marella Shrimp, a small shrimp farm that uses waste heat from a biogas plant to keep water temperatures at 30° C.  The shrimp pass through a series of tanks as they grow larger and reach harvest size in five to six months.  The project received financial support from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor.  From conception to completion it took around two and a half years to get the farm started.  “The way through the bureaucracy was rocky,” said Henry Schroder, 60, but he was able to get all the necessary permits.

On November 1, 2009, Marella Shrimp received its first air-shipment of 170,000 postlarvae from a shrimp hatchery in Florida, USA, and the farm expected a second shipment in mid-December 2009.  “We want to sell at Easter for the first time and expect to harvest three tons,” said Schroder.

How did the Schroders get involved in shrimp farming?  Schroder said, “During the cooking shows on television we saw that every other dish was either fish or shrimp.”  So his son Marc attended a shrimp-farming course in Texas, USA, and together they started the farm.

Source: Welt Online.  Bauer Sattelt auf Garnelenzüchter um (Farmer Saddles a Shrimp).  Von Vera Jansen.  December 1, 2009.

India

Tamil Nadu—Contract Farming

On December 12, 2009, nearly one hundred farmers attended a seminar on “Contract Shrimp Farming” organized jointly by the State Bank of India and the Oceanaa Group, a conglomerate with retail stores, food processing—and shrimp hatcheries.  Speaking at the seminar, Joseph Raj, chairman and managing director of Oceanaa, said that one of his group’s companies, Amalgam Marine Harvests, had signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Bank for extending loans to shrimp farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.  He said the financial arrangements with bank would be used to facilitating a system for contract shrimp farming.

Farmers with at least one hectare of ponds and a shrimp-farming permit from the Coastal Aquaculture Authority will be eligible for a contract with Amalgam Marine.  Farmers will receive $6,857 per hectare as a cash credit, repayable in six months, at an interest rate of 15 percent.

Amalgam Marine, which has its own shrimp hatchery with a capacity of 350 million postlarvae a year, will supply postlarvae, feed and chemicals.  It will also provide free technical service to the shrimp farmers and, at harvest, buy back the shrimp at the prevailing market price.

Sources: 1. The Hindu.  Oceanaa to Enter Retailing.  R. Ravikumar.  April 19, 2008.  2. The Hindu.  Contract Shrimp Farming Methods Elaborated.  December 13, 2009.

India

Job—Shrimp Feed Mill

A leading aquafeed manufacturer in the state of Andhra Pradesh has a position open for an assistant manager at a shrimp feed mill.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical or agricultural engineering, or a degree in
science.

• Maximum age, 38.

• A minimum of 4-6 years experience in pellet mills and shrimp feed production.

• Must speak the Telugu language.

• Residents of India only.

• Closing Date: January 31, 2010.

Information: vinnyvishal@gmail.com.

Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world’s electronic aquaculture resources).  Jobs Directory in cooperation with the WAS Employment Service.  Search jobs.  Manager/Asst. Manager—Feed Mill.  December 26, 2009.

Malaysia

Shrimp Control Traffic Better Than Humans

In East Malaysia, in the state of Sabah, around the town of Kunak, a small shrimp farming industry has gained attention by getting the town to place three shrimp statues in one of its traffic roundabouts.

Source: Daily Express.  Kunak Prawn Replicas Completed.  December 12, 2009.

Mexico

Particle Size for Larval and Postlarval Shrimp

Abstract: The success of shrimp larval food depends not only on its nutritional profile but also on its physical characteristics, like particle size, and little information exists on the ability of larvae to handle and consume particles of different sizes.

The present investigation evaluated the effect of feed particle size on feed efficiency in Litopenaeus vannamei larvae and postlarvae.

A basal diet, formulated to contain approximately 50% crude protein and 12% lipids, was ground and sieved to obtain different feed particle size ranges (<53, 53 to 106, 106 to 150 and 150 to 250 micrometers = μm).  A feeding trial was conducted, starting when larvae reached zoea-III stage and ending at PL-6.  Every day a sample of 100 larvae or 30 postlarvae was transferred to two experimental units (2-liter plastic containers) per treatment.  The larvae were not fed for two hours, and then the feeding trials began.

After 30, 60 or 90 minutes of feeding time, they were collected and fixed in formalin solution (4% in seawater).  ...Results showed that all feed particle size ranges were readily ingested by all larval stages.  In zoea-III and mysis-I, feed incidence was similar and not significantly different between the different particle sizes.  Starting from mysis-II, however, feed incidence with particle size <53 μm was significantly lower than with the particle size range of 150-250 μm.  Maximal feed intensity was observed in the first 30 minutes for all stages evaluated, but this behavior was more evident with larval stages (zoea-II to mysis-III).  In general, the best feed efficiency was obtained with the feed particle range of 106 to 150 μm.  The results showed that the particle size ranges evaluated did not affect feed acceptance in shrimp larvae and that feed intensity (amount of feed consumed) diminished with increasing larval stage, regardless of the feed particle size.

Information: John Cooksey, World Aquaculture Conference Management, P.O. Box 2302, Valley Center, California 92082, USA (phone 1-760-751-5005, fax 1-760-751-5003, email worldaqua@aol.com, webpage https://www.was.org/Main/Default.asp).

Source: The Abstracts of World Aquaculture 2009 (on CD).  Particle Sized Preference of Larvae and Early Postlarvae of Litopenaeus vannamei.  Ernesto Goytortúa-Bores, Roberto Civera-Cerecedo (rcivera04@cibnor.mx) and Marco A. Cadena-Roa (Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Mar Bermejo # 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, BCS 23090, México).  Veracruz, Mexico, September 2009.

Oman

Job—Shrimp Pond Technician

Bentoot Seafood Products has a job opening for a pond technician that requires seven years experience in managing shrimp ponds.  Duties will include: PL stocking, feeding, water quality sampling and harvesting.

Closing Date: March 7, 2010.

Information: Benoit Hillion (bentout@omantel.net.om).

Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world’s electronic aquaculture resources).  Jobs Directory in cooperation with the WAS Employment Service.  Search jobs.  Shrimp Pond Technician.  December 30, 2009.

Saudi Arabia

Lots of Jobs

Laurence Evans (ecotao@yahoo.com) writes:

I am staffing a new shrimp farm in Saudi Arabia.  Located south of Jeddah, the farm has thirty-five 2.2-hectare ponds.   Fenneropenaeus indicus will be grown in aerated ponds.  Stocking of the first ponds is planned for March 20, 2010, so we need to fill these positions quickly.  We need to fill the following positions:

• An experienced farm manager

• A quality control person to handle lab tests, microbiology and environmental compliance

• Two pond technicians, four pond supervisors and 18 pond feeders.

• An administrative manager

• An accountant

• A stores manager

• A workshop manager

• A logistics manager

• Drivers and a cook

In addition to the above long-term jobs, I will need two or three skilled aquaculture specialists for hands-on work during startup (2 to 3 months).  The farm does not have a hatchery or processing plant, so these skills are not needed.

Information: Send CVs to ecotao@yahoo.com.

Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers).  New Shrimp Farm, F. Indicus.  December 24, 2009.

Thailand

Thai Union Frozen Products Invests in Chitin and India

Thai Union Frozen Products, a processor of seafood products under the brand name “Chicken of the Sea”, plans to achieve total sales of $3 billion by 2012.

In Samut Sakhon, Thailand, Thai Union has set up a production plant in partnership with Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. (Japan), to produce and export seafood byproducts—including chitosan from shrimp shells.

Thai Union has also invested $1.2 million in Avanti Feeds, Ltd., the second largest shrimp feed producer in India, giving it a 14.99% stake in the company.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service).  Thai Union Foods Sees Good Year for Seafood in 2010, US Division Approaching $1 Billion in Sales.  Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 1-781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com).  December 15, 2009.

Thailand

Shrimp Exports Up

Thailand’s shrimp farming industry is doing well despite the global economic crisis.  Exports are expected to reach $3 billion by the end of 2009.

The Thai Shrimp Association reported the country’s shrimp export value for the first 10 months of 2009 at $2.3 billion, an 8% increase over the same period in 2008.  Exports have shown significant growth in all markets, including the American market.

The surge in Thai exports is partially due to a sharp drop in exports from Indonesia.  Thailand’s shrimp production is projected to reach as much as 540,000 tons in 2009 with an export value estimated at $3 billion, compared to $2.5 billion in 2008.

Source: FoodBizDaily.com.  Thai Shrimp Sales Reach $3 Billion.  December 10, 2009.

United States

California—Hollywood, Forrest Gump’s Shrimp Boat Cut in Half

Tom Berenger, star of the movie Platoon, said, “A friend of mine had his shrimping boat in Forrest Gump, which paid off his mortgage.  At the end they bought his shrimp boat and now they want to cut it in half, and Planet Hollywood wants to buy it.”

Planet Hollywood bought the boat and says one half will be dry-docked at a restaurant in Los Angeles, the other half at a restaurant in New York.

Source: ContactMusic.com.  Forrest Gump Boat to Be Cut in Two for Planet Hollywood.  December 7, 2009.

United States

California—Shrimp News International, Search Page Update

I’ve made some changes to this site’s search page.  Previously, I recommended that you not attempt to sort search results by date because that feature did not work very well.  It’s still not perfect, but it works much better now, especially on results from the Free News Page, serving up the most recent items first.  When your search results appear, you must click on the "Date" option in the upper right hand corner of the search results page to activate this feature.  Sometimes your search results will contain items from the Free Reports Page that are completely out of chronological order.  As I learn more about scripting the search engine, I should be able to work these kinks out of the system.

Click here if you would like to check out the Search Page.

Source: Bob Rosenberry, Shrimp News International, January 1, 2009.

United States

Hawaii—Dr. Tony Ostrowski Named President of the Oceanic Institute

Anthony C. Ostrowski, PhD, has been named president of the Oceanic Institute.  Ostrowski was previously OI vice president and director of the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program, one of OI’s largest research programs.  OI is a non-profit, private research institution dedicated to research, technology development and education in marine aquaculture, biotechnology and coastal zone management.  It is affiliated with Hawaii Pacific University, the largest private university in the state.

Source: Hawaii Pacific University.  Ostrowski Named President of Oceanic Institute.  December 11, 2009.

United States

Hawaii—Dr. Shaun Moss Named Director of the Marine Shrimp Farming Program

Shaun Moss, PhD, has been named vice president for Research and Development at the Oceanic Institute, and he will also serve as director of the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program, an integrated multi-state research program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The program is dedicated to developing and transferring technologies, products and services to the domestic shrimp farming industry.

Source: Hawaii Pacific University.  Dr. Shaun Moss Named Vice President for Research and Development of Oceanic Institute.  December 14, 2009.

United States

Missouri—Global Aquaculture Alliance

In mid-October 2009, the Global Aquaculture Alliance, the Aquaculture Certification Council and the Potential Partnership for Alliance Officers met with representatives of the Monterey Bay Aquarium to discuss collaboration among the groups.

Monterey Bay has a strong seafood sustainability program that it uses to educate consumers.  The Global Aquaculture Alliance offers a comprehensive platform to determine compliance with sustainability issues throughout the aquaculture supply chain.

Information: Global Aquaculture Alliance, 5661 Telegraph Road, Suite 3A, St. Louis, Missouri 63129, USA (phone 1-314-293-5500, fax 1-314-293-5525, email homeoffice@gaalliance.org, webpage http://www.gaalliance.org).

Source: The Global Aquaculture Alliance.  Best Aquaculture Practices News.  November 2009.

United States

Texas—Free PDF Report on Biofloc Research

For a free, nine-page, report that summarizes Dr. Tzachi Samocha’s trials with Penaeus vannamei in a super-intensive, biofloc raceway system, click here.  One of the trials might have set a world’s record for the most production of shrimp—close to 100,000 kilograms per hectare per crop!  The report is loaded with information on water quality parameters and production results.  The PDF is Samocha’s report to Zeigler Bros., the shrimp feed company that supplied the 35% protein diet for the trials.

Information: Tzachi Samocha, PhD, Regents Fellow and Professor, AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory, 4301 Waldron Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418, USA (phone 1-361-937-2268, fax 1-253-390-6081, email tsamocha@ag.tamu.edu, website http://ccag.tamu.edu/mariculture/flour_bluff_mariculture/index.php).

Source: Email From Tzachi M. Samocha to Shrimp News International on November 28, 2009.  Use of No Water Exchange and Zeigler 35% CP HI Diet for the Production of Marketable Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, in a Super-Intensive Raceway System: A Summary Report Prepared for Zeigler Bros.  Tzachi Samocha.  November 28, 2009.

United States/India

Washington DC—Collard Greens and Curried Prawns

On November 24, 2009, at their first state dinner, President Obama and his wife, Michelle, hosted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and his wife, Gursharan Kaur.  In honor of the guests—both vegetarians—the meatless menu included a mix of Indian and American favorites.  One of the dishes was collard greens and curried prawns.

Source: The New York Times.  Modern Flourishes at Obamas’ State Dinner.  Rachel L. Swarns, with contributions from Helene Cooper.  November 24, 2009.

United States

Kentucky—Yummy Shrimp Taco

Yum! Brands, Inc., is a Fortune 500 corporation that operates or licenses Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Wingstreet, Long John Silver’s and A&W restaurants.  Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world’s largest fast food company with over 36,000 outlets in more than a 110 countries and territories.  In 2008, Yum!’s global sales totaled more than $11 billion.

Greg Creed, president and chief concept officer for Taco Bell USA, while outlining the company’s opportunities in the United States, said in the first quarter of 2010 Taco Bell will launch a new, $2.79, Pacific Shrimp Taco, featuring six marinated shrimp.

Sources: 1. QSRweb.com.  Yum! Outlines Plans for Growth, New Menu Opportunities.  December 10, 2009.  2. Wikipedia.  Yum! Brands.  Website visit on December 16, 2009.

United States

Shrimp Wins National Geographic Nature Photo Contest

A panel of National Geographic judges has selected the winners for the 2009 National Geographic international photography contest from more than 200,000 submissions.  William Goodwin’s Shrimp in Sponge won in the nature category.  It shows a peppermint shrimp in a branching vase sponge about 75 feet down in Bonaire’s Margate Bay.  Lighting was achieved with an HID torch shining on the outside of the sponge.  The photographer, working upside down, had to approach as close as possible without touching or disturbing the shrimp or the sponge.  Click on the link below to view the eight other contest winners.

Source: Guardian.co.uk.  National Geographic International Photography Contest Winners.  December 10, 2009.

United States

Washington DC—Shrimp Imports in the First Ten Months

USA shrimp imports in the first ten months of 2009 fell just shy of the one-billion-pound mark, to 984 million pounds, down 3.3 percent from the same period in 2008.

After rebounding in March, April, May and June, USA shrimp imports have dropped in each of the past four months.  In October, they totaled 133 million pounds, down 7.8 percent from October 2008.  USA shrimp imports typically peak in October, as retailers and restaurant operators load up for the winter holiday sales surge.

Amongst the top 10 suppliers to the USA market, shrimp imports from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bangladesh all declined significantly in October.  Shrimp imports from Vietnam dropped 37.8 percent and those from Malaysia, 53.4 percent.

Shrimp imports from Thailand, last year’s No. 1 supplier, however, were up 9.9 percent in October, to 49 million pounds, and shrimp imports from Ecuador, the No. 3 supplier last year, were up 8.3 percent, to 8.5 million pounds.  In the first 10 months of this year, shrimp imports from Thailand and Ecuador were up 3.3 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.

Source: SeafoodSource.com.  Editor Steven Hedlund (shedlune@divcom.com).  Seafood News/Supply and Trade/U.S. Shrimp Imports Still Off Mark.  December 15, 2009.

Venezuela/Iran

Iran Will Help Venezuela with Shrimp Farming

In Caracas, on November 25, 2009, Venezuela and Iran inaugurated a new binational development fund and signed accords aimed at boosting Venezuela’s agricultural and industrial production.  Among the accords signed during the visit, Iran agreed to help increase Venezuela’s production of rice, vegetables, milk, corn, seafood—and shrimp.

Source: VenezuelAnalysis.com.  Venezuela and Iran Inaugurate Binational Fund, Advance Bilateral Relations.  James Suggett.  November 26, 2009.

Vietnam

Spiny Lobster Farming

Abstract: With a coastline of 3,260 kilometers and more than 4,000 coastal islands, Vietnam has great potential for seacage aquaculture.  Seacage culture of spiny lobsters started in the province of Khanh Hoa in 1992 and has expanded significantly around southcentral Vietnam since 2000.  Panulirus ornatus is the most important farmed species, but P. homarus, P. stimpsoni and P. longipes are also farmed.  In 2006, there were more than 49,000 cages producing approximately 1,900 tons of product, valued at about $90 million.  In late 2006, however, “milky disease” hit the industry and production declined to an estimated 1,400 tons in 2007.

This paper reviews the status of spiny lobster farming in seacages in Vietnam and identifies the major technical and socioeconomic constraints to further development.

Source: Spiny Lobster Aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific Region.  Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.  Editor, K.C. Williams.  Lobster Seacage Culture in Vietnam.  Lai Van Hung and Le Anh Tuan (email leantuan@dng.vnn.vn, College of Aquaculture, Nha Trang University, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam).  ACIAR Proceedings No.132.  November 2009.