Free News February 23, 2007

Aceh, Indonesia,Tsunami Recovery Plan
A Blogger Reports

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development have established a partnership with the private sector in Aceh (a special territory on the northern tip of Sumatra) and Nias (an island off the coast of Aceh) to rehabilitate the aquaculture industries that were destroyed by the giant tsunami of December 2004.

Before the tsunami, most aquaculture production came from brackishwater ponds (locally known as tambaks) that polycultured tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and milkfish (Chanos chanos) in low-lying coastal ponds. Of the 47,000 hectares in operation before the tsunami, 20,500 hectares were destroyed, causing a 70% loss in production in Pidie, Bireuen, Aceh Utara, Lhokseumawe and Aceh Besar.

The International Finance Corporation has placed an agribusiness team in Banda Aceh (latitude 5°, 32', 44.83", N, longitude 95°, 19', 9.59" E) to aid the recovery of the shrimp industry. Each village has an assigned Facilitator, supported by a Farmer Group Development Officer, a Marketing Officer and Program Assistant, in addition to expertise provided by a Shrimp Technical Specialist.

Blogger Reports

On February 13, 2007, David Lawrence, one of the team members, blogged: Today over forty shrimp farmers stopped by the IFC field office for a visit. I've never had shrimp farmers in the office before, but I have to say it was a lot of fun.

The farmers came from Bireuen, a district several hours east of Banda Aceh, where IFC recently launched its shrimp project. Shrimp is a key sector in Aceh, worth over $60 million annually and employing nearly 100,000 people.

IFC's program teaches shrimp farmers the best management practices and links them to markets. In the old days, shrimp farmers just pitched shrimp larvae into a pond and let them frolic for a while before scooping them up and selling them in local markets. Now, they're learning modern methods that reduce disease and lead to happier, healthier shrimp. Maybe we can link them to the IFC and World Bank cafeterias. There would be stampedes at lunchtime and our farmers would become rich.

The farmers came to my office for training in pond management. We also visited a shrimp hatchery and a shrimp farm that uses seaweed to filter its water. Seaweed reduces crop and environmental risks by filtering the shrimp wastes out of the water. Shrimp quality and yields improve, and the farmers can sell the seaweed.

Sources: 1. Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific Webpage. Jobs: Aquaculture Industry Development Program: Shrimp Technical Specialist (http://www.enaca.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=814). Posted by IFC_PEP_ACEH. August 6, 2006. 2. Private Sector Development Blog. Aceh Diary/Shrimp Day at IFC (http://psdblog.worldbank.org/psdblog/2007/02/shrimp_day_at_i.html). David Lawrence. February 13, 2007.

Country Reports

Australia
Shrimp Farming Manual

The Australian Prawn [Shrimp] Farming Manual--Health Management for Profit was officially released at the Australian Prawn Farmers Association annual conference in Cairns, Queensland, in July 2006--and is now available free online.

Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and developed and in collaboration with the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, the manual draws on extensive research conducted across the AustralAsia region. An easy-to-read guide to the best management practices, it contains a glossary, a long list of contributors, nice graphics and useful tabular data. The contents reflect the knowledge of a wide array of internationally recognized researchers and shrimp farmers. You can access the manual at http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/doc/ACIA-6XBTR9.

Source: Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific Webpage. Australian Prawn Farming Manual now available online. Posted by Simon Wilkinson. February 9, 2007.

Ecuador
El Niño

The current El Niño is weakening and expected to be gone by May 2007! There is considerable uncertainty in the forecasts for periods after May 2007. For a long report on shrimp farming and El Niño Click Here.

Information: Climate Prediction Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, NOAA/National Weather Service, Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304 USA; and NOAA/National Weather Service, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Climate Prediction Center, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746 USA.

Source: Climate Prediction Center (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/index.html). El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/index.shtml). February 8, 2007.

India
The Dumping Effect

In 2006, shrimp dumping duties and associated bonding requirements imposed by the USA reduced shrimp exports to the USA by nearly 50%. From $485 million in 2005, exports dipped to $252 million in 2006.

Source: The Financial Express. Rural Economy/Anti-dumping duty slashes shrimp exports to US by 50% (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=154527). Ajayan. February 12, 2007.

India
Crabs

Bhubaneswar...Chilka Lake (also spelled Chilika Lake) is a brackish water coastal lake in the state of Orissa, which varies in size from 1,165 square kilometers in the monsoon season to 906 km² in the dry season. An innovative approach to crab farming has been initiated by the Chilika Development Authority. Crab "fattening" will be tested in two villages, Mirzapur and Mahisa, using inexpensive bamboo cages that can be made by the villagers. A twenty-day holding period increases the value of the crabs threefold. Two species of crabs, Scylla serrata and Scylla tranquebarica, will be tested.

Source: Kalinga Times. Project for crab fattening and crab culture launched in Chilika (http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news/20070213_Project_for_crab_fattening.htm). Bhubaneswar. February 14, 2007.

Indonesia
Prices

The prices that farmers receive for black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in Tarakan (an island in the Celebes Sea, off the east coast of Kalimantan) are rising. Traders believe the rise is due to the yen's depreciation, off-seasons in other shrimp farming regions and increasing demand for tail-on/shell-off product. Prices for the 16/20s rose to around $12.60 during the week of February 5-9, 2007, a 50 percent increase from the previous week! Market participants foresee further increases in demand in March and beyond because inquiries from the United States and Europe remain strong.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). Prices of Indonesian black tiger shrimp rise on strong demand from U.S. and Europe. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). February 12, 2007.

Iran
Short-Term Contract for Shrimp Farm Technician

Hilsa Aqua, an Oman Company, is looking for a temporary shrimp farm technician with a master's degree in fisheries, marine biology or aquaculture for just one crop, beginning in April 2007, in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Closing Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2007. Hilsa Aqua will provide food, accommodations, a monthly salary of $1,000 and part of your transportation costs.

Information: M. Chandrasekar (phone 96824509544, email hilsaqua@yahoo.co.in).

Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world's electronic aquaculture resources, http://aquanic.org/index.htm). Jobs Directory (http://www.aquanic.org/Text/job_serv.htm)/In cooperation with the WAS Employment Service. Search jobs (http://aquanic.org/jobs/search.asp). Shrimp Farm Technician (http://aquanic.org/jobs/jobinfo.asp?jobid=2278). Posted February 11, 2007.

Malaysia
Blogger Checks Out Shrimp Farm

This is from a blogger in Malaysia:

We all went to check out a shrimp farm on Langkawi, an island off the northwest coast. The two guides that took us on our tour of the farm were really good guys and couldn't have been friendlier. Regardless, it's difficult to hold a group's attention for a long period of time when talking about the farming of shrimp. This isn't to say that it was wholly uninteresting. The farm was built on land that used to belong to the Malaysian government.... The area used to be covered with mangrove trees.... However, all of the mangroves had to be cleared to make way for the foundations of several rectangular, artificial ponds that could be pumped full from the sea. They mostly raise tiger shrimp, which are a favorite around Southeast Asia and can grow up to the size of your forearm. Our guides said that when it comes to the tiger shrimp business, the bigger the better. These shrimp either get sold to local restaurant owners or get packed in ice and shipped off to the fish markets in Kuala Lumpur, which is about 600 kilometers south of Langkawi. After checking out all the ponds, we had an amazing lunch at the restaurant that the farm runs on site. I actually had a little appetizer while we were still out at the ponds. The guides asked if anyone wanted to try a fresh, raw shrimp straight out of the pond and I couldn't turn that type of offer down! Still "kicking" just moments ago, it was definitely the freshest shrimp I've ever eaten. Back at the restaurant everyone else ordered cooked shrimp. They had all sorts of shrimp dish varieties, some of which were never mentioned by Forrest Gump. I had a spicy soup called tomyum. It had enough chilies in it to knock me on my ass and send me to my bunk for the afternoon to rest my swollen belly. Apparently at the shrimp farm, they're often troubled by eagles that snatch shrimp from the ponds. I don't think I've ever seen as many eagles anywhere as I have in Langkawi, so it's not really surprising that they would take advantage of the availability of a veritable shrimp buffet.

Source: Agronautics. Last Days in Southeast Asia (http://tomsargovoyageblog.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/last-days-in-southeast-asia/). Posted by Tomonargo. February 12, 2007.

Mexico
Sonoran Shrimp Farms Owe Banks $120 Million

Seventeen shrimp farms in San Ignacio Rio Muerto, Sonora, involving more than 500 families, owe Banrural, a government bank specializing in agriculture loans, $120 million. Complicating the situation, Banrural is undergoing restructuring and has already taken possession of some of the farms.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). Sonora shrimp farmers owe Mexican bank $120 million after disease outbreak, low production. Translated by Angel Rubio Canas. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). February 16, 2007.

Pakistan
New $34 Million Project

Islamabad...The government plans to initiate a five-year, $34 million shrimp farming project that will promote shrimp farming on 2,000 hectares of coastal land in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The project will include four new hatcheries, four renovated hatcheries, eleven demonstration farms (3 in Sindh and 8 in Balochistan), and six demonstration markets (2 in Punjab, 2 in Sindh, 1 in Balochistan and 1 in the North-West Frontier). Provincial governments will lease the land to private sector investors for the hatcheries, farms and markets.

Source: TheNews. Rs2bn aquaculture, shrimp farming project planned (http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=42639). February 14, 2007.

Thailand
Australia Rules

On February 13, 2007, a group of 50 shrimp farmers, led by Thai Marine Shrimp Farmers' Association president Dr. Surapol Pratuangtum, submitted a letter to a representative of the Australian embassy in Bangkok requesting that the Australian government reconsider its implementation of new import risk analysis procedures that would block shrimp imports from Thailand. Those procedures require certificates that say the Thai shrimp is not carrying any shrimp viruses, viruses that could affect Australia's production of farmed and wild shrimp.

In early February 2007, Jaranthada Karnasuta, director-general of Thailand's Fisheries Department, said that a working group had already prepared information on Thai shrimp and farming standards and would submit the document to Australian agencies when they meet on February 15, 2007. Biosecurity Australia will begin formulating its final decision on Thai imports on February 22, 2007. In 2006, Thailand exported $60 million worth of shrimp to Australia.

Source: MCOTNews. Thai shrimp farmers protest new Australian import rules (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=27912). February 13, 2007.

Thailand
Charoen Pokphand Foods

Agriculture conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) is placing more emphasis on research and development of food products and processing with a "farm-to-table" strategy. In early February 2007, Adirek Sripratak, president and chief executive of CPF, said his company spent millions on its shrimp R&D center last year. The center, which employs 30, is the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Source: The Nation. CPF puts more focus on R&D (http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/12/business/business_30026579.php). Achara Pongvutitham. February 12, 2007.

United States
California--Shrimp News International

There will be no Free News report next Friday, March 2, 2007, because I'll be at "Aquaculture 2007", a World Aquaculture Society meeting in San Antonio, Texas (February 26 to March 2, 2007).

If you attend "Aquaculture 2007", look me up, give me your card, and I'll add you to my mailing list for some interesting announcements. If you want to take a ten-minute peek at my most recent book, World Shrimp Farming 2006, I'll keep a couple of sample copies with me at all times. If you want to purchase a copy, ask for the special cash discount. If you have news to report, I'll take down your story.

Source: Bob Rosenberry, Shrimp News International, February 23, 2007.

United States
Florida--Wanted Vannamei for the Middle East

Tom Frese, president of AquaSol, Inc., an aquaculture consulting company, posted to the Shrimp List: We are looking for farm-raised Penaeus vannamei on behalf of a client in the Middle East. Product specifications: shell-off, tail-off, head-off, in ice block, with every block containing between 1.5 to 2.0 kilograms net. Sizes: 41/50, 51/60, 61/70, 61/80, and 71/90. Receiving port: Port Said, Egypt. Please include photos of your product and all other details with your offer. First shipment would be in March 2007, with one 20-foot container every 20 days.

Information: Tom Frese, AquaSol, Inc. (phone 305-662-7134, fax 305-662-7139, email tjffarms@aol.com, webpage http://www.fishfarming.com).

Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers, "shrimp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com"). Subject: [shrimp] buyer of farm-raised shrimp. From: tjffarms@aol.com. February 20, 2007.

United States
Hawaii--Oceanic Institute

Researchers at the Oceanic Institute produce 120,000 Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) every year by raising 500 shrimp from each of 240 genetically distinct families, said program director Dr. Shaun Moss. How does he tell one family from another? By implanting a tag in every tail. "It's a labor of love," said Moss. "Each shrimp is picked up and injected with a color tag that can be seen under the cuticle."

OI's family-based selective breeding program has increased the weight of harvested shrimp by 8.3 percent per generation over three generations. The survival rate has improved by 7.9 percent per generation. Researchers and private maturation faculties in Hawaii have developed families that show survival rates of greater than 90 percent when they were fed food containing the Taura syndrome virus.

Moss said: "U.S. consumers represent the largest shrimp market in the world yet domestic production of farmed shrimp is low. Our research shows that selective breeding techniques for shrimp can help make this a more profitable venture and draw more farmers to grow shrimp in the U.S., thereby increasing food security and growing the domestic economy."

According to the state Department of Agriculture, shrimp farmers in Hawaii sold $2.8 million worth of product in 2005, up from $2.25 million in 2004.

Information: Shaun Moss, Ph.D., Director, Shrimp Department, The Oceanic Institute, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795 USA (phone 808-259-3310, fax 808-259-9762, email smoss@oceanicinstitute.org, webpage www.oceanicinstitute.org).

Sources: 1. Star Bulletin. Isle institute succeeds in shrimp breeding/The Oceanic Institute is focusing on Pacific white shrimp (http://starbulletin.com/2007/02/16/news/story09.html). Jim Borg (jborg@ starbulletin.com). February 16, 2007. 2. Eureka Alert. AAAS Panel/Sustainable aquaculture critical to feed the world (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/dc-aps021407.php). Stacey Viera (National Fisheries Institute, email sviera@nfi.org, phone 703-752-8891). February 16, 2007.

United States
Hawaii--The Oceanic Institute

Clete Otoshi, named the 2006 Employee of the Year at the Oceanic Institute, works under United States Marine Shrimp Farming Program Director Shaun Moss. With an eye toward 2007, Otoshi and Moss have set their sights on the development of a super-intensive, recirculating growout system. Otoshi says: "This year we are excited about the opportunity to demonstrate this technology in a commercial-scale system. We have been working to retrofit our 337 m² round pond and plan to stock it at the end of February [2007]."

Information: Clete Otoshi, The Oceanic Institute, U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795 USA (phone 808-259-3141, fax 808-259-3121).

Source: Industry Briefs (The newsletter of the United States Marine Shrimp Farming Program). Paula Bender, Editor and Webmaster (pbender@oceanicinstitute.org). Otoshi encourages others at OI. Volume 13, Number 1, Page 7, January 2007.

United States
Mississippi--Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

The University of Southern Mississippi is investing heavily in marine aquaculture at the Cedar Point Campus of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. The centerpiece of the program is the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, currently the home of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory's shrimp production facilities that comprise five buildings, one of them a prototype, commercial-scale marine shrimp growout facility.

Research focuses on profitable, biosecure, closed systems capable of producing large, fresh shrimp. Collaboration with agricultural economists ensures that the research addresses profitability.

Nearly $20 million is dedicated to the construction of facilities at the site. Potential funding from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the United States Congress could more than double that figure. An 11,000-square-foot Aquaculture Visitors' Pavilion is currently under construction.

John Ogle, a 31-year veteran of marine aquaculture programs at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and his team have recently completed two studies and harvested two crops from the commercial-scale prototype facility.

Information: John Ogle, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 7000, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 USA (email john.ogle@usm.edu).

Source: Industry Briefs (The newsletter of the United States Marine Shrimp Farming Program). Paula Bender, Editor and Webmaster (pbender@oceanicinstitute.org). GCRL expansion includes visitor and research facilities. Jeff Lotz and Bill Hawkins. Researcher focuses on post-Katrina recovery. Linda Skupien and John Ogle. Volume 13, Number 1, Pages 1 and 4, January 2007.

United States
New Jersey--Epicore Second Quarter Results

Epicore BioNetworks, Inc., a public corporation registered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, supplies probiotics and hatchery feeds to shrimp farmers worldwide. Its shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange in Toronto under the symbol EBN. Its business offices are in East Hampton, New Jersey.

In its second quarter report for fiscal year 2007 (covering the company's business during October, November and December 2006), Epicore reported:

Sales set a record, 41% higher than last year, $711,100 versus $504,600. Gross profit increased from $373,700 to $534,500. Net income was $138,400, versus $61,100. Expenses were $385,700, 24% above last year's second quarter.

The second quarter is usually one of Epicore's weakest because the shrimp farming industry is located predominately in the northern hemisphere and experiences a winter slowdown at the end of the year. This year, however, sales increased in the Southern Hemispheres because of strong markets in Indonesia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Ecuador has become Epicore's biggest customer, representing over 40% of sales. Asian sales were dominated by India, where Epicore has an excellent distributor, and Indonesia, where the distributor is benefiting from a well-organized marketing program.

Information: William Long, Chief Executive Officer, Epicore BioNetworks, Inc., 4 Lina Lane, East Hampton, NJ 08060 USA (phone 609-267-9118, fax 609-267-9336, email epicore@gbsias.com, webpage www.epicorebionet.com).

Source: Email to Shrimp News International from Bill Long. Subject: Epicore Quarter Two Fiscal 2007 Results. February 16, 2007.

United States
South Carolina--Wanted Summer Interns

Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton has some summer internships open for fisheries biologists. Applicants must be enrolled in a college program that has an emphasis on biology, aquaculture or the fisheries. Interns will assist with research projects involving marine invertebrates, fish and shrimp in ponds, raceways and recirculating systems. Interns will participate in setting up experiments, feeding and sampling of animals, collection and analysis of water quality data, data entry and analysis, and maintenance of experimental systems. Interns will also help with other projects at the facility as required. The positions are full-time (40 hours a week), and some overtime may be required. Most of the work will be conducted outdoors in hot or possibly inclement weather. Salary $750 per month, onsite housing provided, closing date Friday, March 30, 2007.

Information: Dr. Heidi Atwood, Waddell Mariculture Center, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 809, Bluffton, SC 29910 USA (phone 843-837-3795, extension 131, email atwoodh@dnr.sc.gov).

Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world's electronic aquaculture resources, http://aquanic.org/index.htm). Jobs Directory (http://www.aquanic.org/Text/job_serv.htm)/In cooperation with the WAS Employment Service. Search jobs (http://aquanic.org/jobs/search.asp). Summer Internship (http://aquanic.org/jobs/jobinfo.asp?jobid=2267). Posted February 6, 2007.

United States
Texas-Bowers Shrimp Farm

On February 15, 2007, at its annual banquet, the Palacios Chamber of Commerce honored Bowers Shrimp Farm as the 2006 Palacios Business of the Year. Accepting the award, Harold Bowers, owner of the shrimp, catfish and redfish farm, gave credit to his wife, Cheryl, and children for the farm's success, joking, "When you have a big family, you learn to work hard."

Richard Rhoades, last year's winner who presented the award, said: "This year's Business of the Year began several years ago when the owner graduated from Palacios High School in 1958, and began farming 80 acres of rice with his father. He slowly built up his farming operation and by 1970 he was farming 450 acres with his uncle and purchased his first block of farmland. He grew crops typical to the area, including rice, milo, beans and cotton. In the early 1980s government programs began forcing farmers to use less land in their operations. He began to look for ways to diversify and discovered aquaculture. ...In 1989 three ponds were stocked with redfish and six ponds with shrimp. The redfish were killed in a hard winter freeze. The decision was made to expand the operation and raise more shrimp while still experimenting with fish production."

"In 1994 a plant was built to process and store the unique crop. Throughout the year the company employs approximately 50 people to operate the office, plant, and farms. During processing, the plant employs around 120 workers who grade, head and prepare the shrimp for market. In 1995, the decision was made to expand to Central America [Belize], where he could raise three shrimp crops a year and provide his customers with a continuous supply."

"This business currently raises 830 acres of shrimp on its three shrimp farms with a production of 4 million pounds of head-on shrimp expected this year."

Information: Harold Bowers, Bowers Shrimp Farm, Route #1, Box 534, Palacios, TX 77465 USA (phone 361-972-2414, fax 361-972-2422, email bowers@bowershrimp.com, webpage www.bowershrimp.com).

Sources: 1. The Bay City Tribune. Palacios honors man, woman, business (http://www.baycitytribune.com/story.lasso?ewcd=2ecc3199716c6891). Sarah Wells. February 18, 2007. 2. Palacios Beacon Online. CofC Award Banquet Honors Johnston, Johnson and Bowers Shrimp (http://www.palaciosbeacon.com/home/news.shtml#newsitem1172083816,97801). Richard Rhoades. February 21, 2007.

Vietnam
Amanda Foods Gets Three Stars

The Amanda Foods Group has received Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC) accreditation for its hatchery, farm and processing plant, making it the first company in Southeast Asia to receive "three stars", one of only six companies in the world to receive three stars from ACC. The other five are in Latin America.

Information: William R. More, Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc., 12815 72nd Avenue NE, Kirkland, WA 98034 USA (phone 425-825-7935, fax 425-650-3001, cell 206-321-0795, email wrmore@comcast.net, website www.aquaculturecertification.org).

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). Amanda Foods Group becomes first 3-star ACC certified shrimp facility in Asia. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). February 13, 2007.