FDA Will Continue to Prevent
Shrimp Imports from China

Translated to Chinese Below

According to Benjamin L. England of FDAImports.com (legal counsel and advice on international trade), in a surprise policy shift, on January 10, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Seafood stated unequivocally that it will continue to prohibit most Chinese seafood firms from shipping certain products like shrimp and catfish to the United States, simply because it was “too cumbersome” for FDA to comply efficiently with its own rules or to apply its own recent Chinese inspection data to assess compliance with agency requirements.  England said, “FDA told me today that none of the inspections recently conducted in China will be used to exempt any new Chinese seafood processors from FDA import alert 16-131,” which has been in effect since August 2007.  “This comes as a real shock,” continued England.  “Everyone in the industry thought FDA was busy reviewing the inspection audits from late 2009 in order to assess which firms FDA could exempt from import alert 16-131.  Those Chinese firms have been sitting on the edges of their seats waiting for the new expanded exemption list and a new hope of exporting freely to the U.S.  FDA even told me and some of my clients in the early spring of 2009 that its inspectors would be going to China to conduct inspections for the purpose of expanding the exemption list.  This is a disaster for the Chinese seafood industry.”

Prior to August 2007, a Chinese seafood processor could ship seafood to the U.S. as long as it had a good history and there was no evidence of a problem with that firm’s product.  Then, in August 2007, FDA issued Import Alert 16-131: “Detention Without Physical Examination of Aquacultured Catfish, Basa, Shrimp, Dace and Eel from China,” under which all shipments of Chinese shrimp and catfish were automatically detained, requiring importers to test the product to prove it was not contaminated with antibiotics.  England said, “Those automatic Chinese seafood detentions cost money in terms of testing and storage and extensive delays, sometimes months at a time, before FDA would release the shipments one by one.”

The import alert, which remains in effect today, states that a Chinese seafood processor can be exempted from the alert if the firm successfully shipped five clean shipments to the U.S. (proven clean by private laboratory testing) and the firm submitted an inspection report conducted by an “appropriate” third-party inspection company or government agency.  It became clear soon after FDA issued that guidance, however, that there was no such thing as an “appropriate” third-party inspection company or government agency—not even the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Seafood Inspection Service (USDC/SIS), a sister federal agency, was “appropriate” in the eyes of FDA’s Office of Seafood.  This “appropriate” third-party inspection requirement, according to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, may not even be within FDA’s authority.  FDA has repeatedly testified that it needs broader authority to create third-party inspection programs for food firms, and Congress has offered that broadened authority in several bills, including the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009.  None of those bills have become law.

In the summer of 2008, and without any new grant of authority from Congress, FDA sent inspectors to China to audit AQSIQ—a Chinese agency similar to FDA—and USDC/SIS, which routinely inspects Chinese seafood processors.  Although FDA did not inspect any seafood facility, FDA did use the information obtained from these third-party inspection services coupled with FDA’s own observations during the inspections to assess the compliance status of each processor.  “FDA was auditing the auditors but able to see the actual operations because FDA was present during the audit,” England explained.  After those visits FDA concluded that neither AQSIQ nor USDC/SIS were “appropriate” third-party inspectors because they could not perform the inspections to FDA’s satisfaction.  In November 2008, however, FDA used the third-party inspections and the agency’s own observations to place about a dozen Chinese seafood processors on the import alert’s exemption list, sparing them from the costs and delays caused by the import alert.

In January 2009, FDA published a new program for using third-party inspection data, even though FDA had not been given any new authority to do so.  Soon thereafter FDA initiated a third-party certification pilot program and accepted five private firms that applied to be third-party inspectors.  FDA still had received no new authority from Congress to do so.  Finally, in autumn 2009, FDA sent agents to China again to supervise third-party inspection services under this new pilot program and a number of Chinese seafood processors were inspected, again with FDA present during the inspections.  Every industry participant believed FDA would again use its own observations, if necessary, to assess the compliance of the firms being inspected and exempt those seafood processors that were found to be in compliance.

On January 10, 2010, however, during a conversation with FDA’s Office of Seafood, FDA reports the inspections were only to advance the new third-party certification pilot program, which it hopes to implement, and nothing else.  Therefore, none of the facilities inspected by FDA in 2009 will be evaluated for exemption from import alert 16-131.  FDAimports.com owner, Benjamin England notes, “This shift in policy is wholly unknown to and unexpected by the Chinese seafood industry or U.S. seafood importers or, I dare say, the Chinese government.  Everyone is waiting for FDA to issue its new exemption list.  Apparently, FDA would rather travel to China to do what it does not have the authority to do and not do what it clearly has the authority to do.  It makes no sense to me whatsoever.”

At this point, no firm can be added to the exemption list without an inspection by an “appropriate” third party.  ...Rather than performing the functions FDA has the authority to perform, namely conducting inspections of seafood processors, FDA spent its resources traveling to China to perform functions it does not have the authority to perform, namely advancing a pilot third-party inspection program that even the agency’s Commissioner doubts FDA has the statutory authority to implement.

Shrimp News Thanks Benjamin L. England

at FDAImports.com for This Translation

FDAImports.com 法律顾问公司总裁应革难博士(Dr. Ben England)说，FDA（美国联邦食品药监局）在2009年告诉我和一部分我的中国顾客，他们将去中国检查水产品企业以决定是否放宽免受”进口警戒 16-131公报”（Import Alert 16-131）约束的厂商名单，但美国联邦食品药监局的水产品办公室(U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Office of Seafood)今天很明确的告诉我，因为FDA不便遵守本身订出的规则和依据他们最近对部分中国水产品生产工厂的检查资料以决定是否放宽豁免名单，他们 会继续”主动扣留”（DWPE）大部分中国水产品公司销美的虾和鲶鱼类产品。这消息将令一些期待FDA会依据最近检验结果以放宽免受FDA”进口警戒 16-131公报”约束的名单而让他们的养殖虾产品能顺利销美的厂商大失所望。这消息对某些中国水产品生产厂商来说是很不幸的。

在2007年8月前，只要中国水产品公司有很好的产品质量安全记录和没有足够证据显示产品违反FDA的进口规定，出口的水产品都能顺利的销入美 国。但FDA在许多抽样检验中发现中国水产品含有违禁或超标的兽药残留对人体不利，在2007年8月公布了”进口警戒16-131公报：不需要检验证据的 主动扣留从中国进口的养殖鲶鱼，巴萨鱼，虾，鲮鱼和鳗鱼” (Import Alert 16-131)。根据此公报，在进口商提出从中国进口的养殖鲶鱼，巴萨鱼，虾，鲮鱼和鳗鱼等水产品不含任何未经允许使用的药品之前，FDA主动扣留 （DWPE）该批进口水产品。这项公报大大增加了被主动扣留的中国水产品的检验和仓储费用，还有加上等待检验和FDA裁定是否放行的时间上耽搁，对中国水 产品生产厂商造成很大的不便和增加销货成本。

FDA在”进口警戒16-131公报”中规定任何中国水产品厂商想免受进口警戒的约束，需要连续5批销美产品都通过私营检验公司的清洁检查合格而 且还要水产品制造厂商提出”合适的”第三方检验机构或政府单位发给的检验报告。但在FDA的规定中所提到的”合适的”第三方检验机构或政府单位事实上根本 不存在。即使美国商业部的水产品检验室（U.S. Department of Commerce’s Seafood Inspection Service (USDC/SIS) 在FDA的眼中，也不是”合适的”。FDA局长韩波博士（Dr. Margaret Hamburg）说美国国会没有授权FDA建立所谓的”合适的”第三方检验。FDA过去一再要求国会授权让他们为食品企业建立第三方检验项目，而国会也提 出了一些授权FDA如此做的草案，但这些草案都尚未被通过成为正式法规。

在2008年夏天，FDA未经国会授权便派员到中国考核中国国家质量监督检验检疫局(AQSIS)和美国商务部水产品检验办公室 (USDC/SIS)的检验作业。据应革难博士(Dr. Ben England)说，FDA的观察和考核结果认为AQSIQ和USDC/SIS的检验作业都没有达到FDA所要求的满意程度。虽然在那次审核中，FDA并 未实地检查中国水产品生产企业，但FDA根据从以上两个单位得到的检验资料和本身的观察结果，推断生产水产品外销美国的一些企业是否合乎FDA的进口要求 标准，而在2008年11月，豁免了12家中国水产品生产企业不再受限於”进口警戒16-131公报”（Import Alert 16-131）的约束。

虽然FDA到目前为止仍未获得国会授权，但FDA在2009年1月公布了使用第三方检测资料的新方案。FDA进行了第三方检验的试点计划并接受了 5家私营公司为第三方检验单位。2009年秋季FDA再度派员到中国考察此第三方检验试点计划的施行效果，并检验了几家中国水产品生产企业，原来的计划是 打算用此项检验结果以决定是否在 “进口警戒16-131公报”中豁免这几家企业。

但今天FDA水产处官员对应革难博士(Dr. Ben England)说，他们上次去的目的只是在促进推动第三方检验试点计划草案，并未考虑放宽被豁免的水产品生产企业名单。应革难博士(Dr. Ben England)说大家原来都以为FDA会根据这次的检验，公布一些新的被豁免企业名单， 这项政策的改变，出乎水产品生产企业，进口商，甚至中国官方的意料之外。

到目前为止，没有一家企业可以加入从”进口警戒16-131公报中”豁免的名单而不经过”合适的”第三方检验机构的检验。事实上，这”合适的”第 三方检验机构根本不存在。应革难博士(Dr. Ben England)认为FDA应该做被国会授权的生产工厂检验工作而不应该浪费资源到中国做些没有被授权的推动第三方检验机构检验的项目。他说甚至连FDA 的局长都怀疑FDA有没有法定的权力去推行这个项目。

FDAImports.com公司是美国专门为进出口企业向FDA争取合法权益的法律顾问公司，为多位曾在FDA和美国农业部任过职的律师组成。 FDAImports.com公司的负责人应革难法学博士(Dr. Ben England) 曾在FDA服务17年担任过要职，有很深的人脉关系容易取得最新FDA的信息和动向。据我们所知，FDA还未对其它组织公布此项最新消息。

Information: Benjamin England*, Benjamin L. England and Associates, LLC, FDAImports.com, 6420 Dobbin Road Suite, Columbia, Maryland 21045, USA (phone 1-410-740-3403, fax 1-443-583-1464, email rdquinn@fdaimports.com, website www.FDAImports.com).  *Admitted to the bar in the states of Maryland and Florida and the District of Columbia.

Sources: 1. PR-Canada.net.  FDA Says “No Way” to Chinese Shrimp Imports: FDA Ignores Its Own Inspection Data and Refuses Chinese.  January 10, 2010.  2. Email to Shrimp News International from Rick Quinn at FDAImports.com.  Subject: Chinese News Release.  January 13, 2010.

Country Reports

Bangladesh

Exports of Freshwater Prawns to the European Union Resume

On January 11, 2010, Bangladesh resumed exports of freshwater prawns to the European Union (EU), after a six-month, self-imposed suspension.  The government halted exports as a preemptive measure because over 50 consignments of prawns bound for Europe were cancelled by importing countries in January 2009.  The importers found antibiotics (nitrofurans) in the prawns.

Source: The New Nation.  Shrimp Export to EU Resumes Tomorrow.  January 10, 2010.

Ecuador

El Niño Update

During December 2009, El Niño continued to grow stronger and is now expected to last at least through April/May/June 2010.

Expected El Niño impacts during January-March 2010 include drier-than-average conditions over Indonesia and more rain in coastal Peru and Ecuador.  For the contiguous United States, potential El Niño impacts include above-average precipitation for the southern tier of the country, with below-average precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, while below-average temperatures are expected for the southcentral and southeastern states.

Source: Climate Prediction Center.  El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion (a downloadable PDF or Word file).  January 7, 2010.

Ecuador

Reference Prices January 2010

December 2009 Price Report

Source: Boletin Informativo (Ecuador’s Cámara Nacional de Acuacultura).  Editor, Jorge Tejada (jtejada@cna-ecuador.com).  Precios Referenciales del Camarón.  January 14, 2010.

Indonesia

CP Prima Misses Bond Payment

On January 8, 2010, Bapepam-LK, the agency that supervises Indonesia’s financial institutions and markets, demanded an explanation from PT Central Proteinaprima (CP Prima), the largest shrimp farm in the world, over reports that one of its subsidiaries failed to make interest payments on bonds worth $325 million.

Bapepam-LK real sector division chief Anis Baridwan said that his office sent a letter to CP Prima management asking for further clarification in relation to the default.  Anis said the letter was triggered by reports published in Fitch Ratings, which downgraded CP Prima’s credit rating to C because of the company’s inability to repay some bondholders.  Aside from demanding an explanation, the letter also requested the company explain its next move in handling the situation.

In September 2009, CP Prima’s cash reserves stood at $21 million, enough to cover its operational expenses, but not enough to pay up to an estimated $17 million to bondholders.

Source: The Jakarta Post.  Market Regulator Queries CP Prima on Bond Defaults.  Ika Krismantari.  January 8, 2010.

Indonesia

CP Prima Blames Missed Bond Payment on Shrimp Virus

On January 11, 2010, embattled shrimp farmer PT Central Proteinaprima (CP Prima), the largest shrimp farm in the world, blamed a shrimp virus outbreak as the main reason for failing to meet a bond interest payment that was due in December 2009.

Trading in CP Prima stock was suspended on January 8, 2010, after Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the company’s bond rating following the missed payment.

In December 2009, Erwin Sutanto, CP Prima’s president/director, said the infectious myonecrosis virus has devastated the company’s shrimp production.  Harvest volumes plunged from 8,486 tons in January 2009 to 3,536 tons in September 2009.  Production at the company’s main Central Pertiwi Bahari farm plummeted from 5,728 tons in January to below 433 tons in September.

IDX director Eddy Sugito said trading in CP Prima’s shares would remain suspended until the exchange is satisfied with the company’s explanation.  “We will meet the company’s board this week to clarify several things, such as the bond restructuring, the company’s financial performance and the handling of the virus.  After we get sufficient data and disseminate the information to investors, then we may lift the suspension,” he said.

Shrimp expert Mathew Briggs said the virus outbreak hit CP Prima’s Central Pertiwi Bahari farm in March 2009.  He said that if the proper measures were taken, shrimp production at the affected farms could be raised again.  “After adopting enhanced standard operating procedures and other techniques to improve disease resistance, the affected shrimp farms should return to normal production,” Briggs wrote in a report in November 2009.  He added, however, that there was a danger that similar diseases could hit the company’s other shrimp farms this year.

Source: Jakarta Globe.  CP Prima Blames Shrimp Virus for Bond Hitch.  Ardian Wibisono.  January 11, 2010.

Myanmar

Shrimp Workers Strike

On January 7, 2010, in a sign of growing unrest at Rangoon’s factories, about 100 female workers at a shrimp-processing factory in the city’s western suburbs went on strike.  One person said the issue was workers’ rights; another said the issue was salaries.  When Win Shein, the Ministry of Labor’s deputy director, arrived at the scene with police officers, security was tightened around the factory.

Source: The Irrawaddy.  100 Factory Workers Strike in Rangoon.  January 8, 2010.

Thailand

The Return of the Tiger—CPF Develops SPF Broodstock

In 2004, tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) represented more than 85% of Thailand’s shrimp exports of 200,000 metric tons.  Then tiger exports plunged to 5,000 tons in 2008 and to 2,000 tons in 2009.

“The fall in the tiger shrimp industry is due largely to whitespot disease detected from imported shrimp breeding stock,” said Sujint Thammasart, executive vice-president of Charoen Pokphand Foods.  Also, the rapid growth and high productivity of white shrimp (P. vannamei), which can yield 12 to 19 tons per hectare, led farmers to abandon tiger shrimp.

In 2010, CPF plans to increase exports of tiger shrimp to about 1,000 to 2,000 tons, from total shrimp exports of 50,000.

Vet Sujint, who has been engaged in research and development for the aquaculture business for years, said, “We have been successful in developing specific pathogen-free (SPF) tiger breeding stock in greenhouses.”  He recommends that farmers enter into contracts with buyers, like cold-storage operators and food processors, before stocking tigers, so they have a buyer at harvest time.  He said farmers will find a nice niche if they produce large tigers, about 20 to 25 per kilo, rather than the smaller, 60 to 70 per kilo sizes produced by white shrimp farmers.

Demand for tiger shrimp is quite strong in Europe and Japan, where India and Vietnam are the major suppliers.

The Office of Agricultural Economics expects Thailand’s white shrimp to face tough competition from production in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Source: Bangkok Post.  Business/Economics/Black Tiger Shrimp Make a Comeback.  Walailak Keeratipipatpong.  January 11, 2010.

Thailand

Asian Aquaculture Network

The Asian Aquaculture Network (AAN) is a regional professional network that promotes sustainable aquaculture in Asia.  It aims to help farmers operate profitable and environmentally friendly farms.  Dr. Farshad Shishehchian, President and Founder of AAN, says, “We are creating and facilitating networking, technology transfer, information exchange and collaboration among our members that will link them together in a regional professional network.  Moreover, we will provide information and news about aquaculture through our quarterly magazine.  A supplier directory will also be published on a yearly basis with a free online version for our members.  Furthermore, we will hold annual conferences and seminars on various subjects related to practical aquaculture operations and techniques.”

Information: Dr. Farshad Shishehchian, President and Founder, Asian Aquaculture Network (email info@asianaquaculturenetwork.com, website http://www.asianaquaculturenetwork.com).

Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers).  Asian Aquaculture Network (AAN).  January 11, 2010.

Thailand

Delaying the Activation of Tiger Eggs with Magnesium

From abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether magnesium (Mg2+) is required to activate the eggs of the giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon and whether manipulation of magnesium levels could be used to delay the process and thereby be used to synchronize egg activation.  Female P. monodon broodstock were allowed to spawn in artificial seawater containing magnesium at varying levels: 100% (normal), 50%, 20% and 0%.  Egg activation occurred normally at 100% magnesium, incompletely at 50% and 20% and did not occur at all with 0% magnesium.  The fertilization rate with 100% magnesium was 83%, but fertilization failed to take place in all the other groups.  Following the 20% magnesium level treatment, the fertilization rate was restored from 0% to 76% when magnesium levels returned to normal.  This study suggests that the level of magnesium in seawater plays a vital role in P. monodon egg activation and that commencement of this process could be delayed by manipulation of the magnesium level during and immediately after spawning.

Source: Aquaculture Research.  Delay of the Egg Activation Process in the Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon by Manipulation of Magnesium Levels in Spawning Water.  Pattira Pongtippatee, Roengsak Luppanakane, Pinij Thaweethamsewee, Pornpimol Kirirat, Wattana Weerachatyanukul and Boonsirm Withyachumnarnkul (boonsirm@yahoo.com, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Shrimp Genetic Improvement Center, Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Center of Excellence for Shrimp Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Chalerm Prakiat Building, 4th Floor, Mahidol University, 272 Rama 6th Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand).  Volume 41, Issue 2, Pages 227-232.  Published online on July 6, 2009.

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi—Al Jaraf Fisheries

In Abu Dhabi, one of seven states in the United Arab Emirates, Al Jaraf Fisheries, part of the PAL Group of Companies, runs a 49-hectare shrimp farm on a private island not far from Abu Dhabi City, the capital of the Emirates.  The farm has the capacity to produce 1.5 to 2 metric tons of live/fresh shrimp a day.  It has 38 one-hectare ponds, 18 half-hectare ponds and one two-hectare pond.  On average, survivals are 75 percent.  Dr. Gopakumar, manager of the farm, said that after four to five months, he hopes to harvest five to eight tons of shrimp per hectare.  He added, “We have another farm on a 24-hectare water spread area in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi.”  Al Jaraf Fisheries intends to market its shrimp live/fresh in the Emirates.

Dr. Gopakumar said the Emirates had an estimated daily demand for live/fresh shrimp of 11 metric tons.  He said, “The available fresh shrimp in the market are at least one or two days old.  They are dipped with preservatives like metabisulfite to increase shelf life of the product”.  A different market exists for frozen shrimp.  Most of it is imported from neighboring Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman, and the rest comes from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

“There are several small shrimp farms in the Emirates that produce shrimp for the private consumption of their owners.  Emirate residents are deprived of the availability of live shrimp in the market because the country has not explored its potential, despite the availability of enough land close to the sea water,” Dr. Gopakumar said.

In order to meet the daily demand of 1 to 1.5 tons in Abu Dhabi and 7 to 10 tons in the other Emirates, new farms are needed, he said.  Al Jaraf Fisheries provides technical consultancy and seedstock to entrepreneurs interested in starting shrimp farms.

The Biggest Shrimp Ever Caught: Dr. Gopakumar, manager of the farm, said the biggest shrimp ever caught was a 435-gram tiger shrimp netted off the coast of Mumbai in western India.  He said it is being kept as a specimen at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Kochi, India.

Source: Gulfnews.com.  Abu Dhabi Farm Feeds UAE’s Growing Appetite for Shrimps.  Binsal Abdul Kader.  Picture Credit: Rabindranath.  January 9, 2010.

United States

Wanted—A Fungicide for Treating Shrimp Eggs and Larvae

This exchange took place on the Shrimp List, a mailing list for shrimp farmers:

Agus Budiono (goesboed@yahoo.com): Is there a fungicide other than Treflan for treating Penaeus vannamei eggs and larvae?

John Birkett (jbirkett42@yahoo.com): Nothing works as well as 2 to 5 parts per billion Treflan to clean eggs and disinfect zoea.  It’s a pity that Dow Chemical, the producer of Treflan, hasn’t registered it for aquaculture use.  Treflan has a biological stability of 180 minutes in water.

The fungus Lagenidium is very common on shrimp eggs and later on zoea.  There is no probiotic that works on it, and mortalities can reach 30 to 50% when it hits zoea.  Animals that die generally leave spores around that lead to future outbreaks, but after the mysis stage Lagenidium is no longer a problem.

Abraham Joseph (microbioster@gmail.com): Hi Mr. Agus, Not all probiotics can stop fungi.  You have to use specific probiotics that can release metabolic compounds that inhibit fungal growth.

Agus Budiono (goesboed@yahoo.com): Dear Mr. Abraham Joseph, Thanks for your explanation.  Do you have the names of specific probiotics that can inhibit fungi?  We don’t use Treflan on our larvae.

Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers).  Fungicide.  December 20–31, 2009.

United States

Washington DC—WWF to Release Draft Certification Standards for Shrimp in Indonesia

The World Wildlife Fund standards for the shrimp aquaculture industry will be presented and discussed on March 9-10, 2010, in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Feedback from the meeting will be used to ensure that the final standards address the key negative environmental and social impacts associated with shrimp farming.

The Dialogue’s 16-person Global Steering Committee produced the draft standards.  The committee members’ decisions on what to include in the final standards will be based on their own experiences and expertise, as well as feedback received from the 400-plus people who have attended shrimp dialogue meetings.  Committee members will also incorporate what they have heard during outreach meetings with small-scale shrimp producers, industry leaders and other stakeholder groups.

The draft shrimp standards are expected to be released on WWF’s website for public comment in February 2010.

The goal of the shrimp dialogue, which began in 2007, is to create measurable, performance-based, global standards for the shrimp farming industry.  It follows the international guidelines for standard setting developed by the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL).  The World Wildlife Fund is the only aquaculture certifier that uses the ISEAL standard.

If you are interested in attending the meeting, contact Eric Bernard at ebernard@wwf.fr or Desy Cut at cdesyana@wwf.or.id by February 15, 2010.  For more information about the Dialogue, go to http://www.worldwildlife.org/shrimpdialogue.

Information: Jill Schwartz, Senior Communications Officer, Aquaculture, World Wildlife Fund (phone 1-202-290-6526, email jill.schwartz@wwfus.org).

Source: Press Release.  World Wildlife Fund.  Global Shrimp Aquaculture Sustainability Standards to be Presented in Indonesia.  January 7, 2010.

Vietnam

Chinese Raiding Vietnam’s Shrimp Crop

Tran Van Linh, general director of Thuan Phuoc Seafood Company in Da Nang City, complained that Chinese seafood processors are seriously lacking shrimp and are rushing to Vietnam to purchase white shrimp.  In central Vietnam, Chinese buying has led to shortages at processing plants.

Source: Vietnam Net Bridge.  White Leg Shrimp—A Seafood Star.  January 7, 2010.

Vietnam

WWF Working with Small-Scale Shrimp Farmers in the Mekong Delta

Shrimp farm, after shrimp farm, after shrimp farm—the Mekong Delta is home to more than 500,000 small-scale shrimp farmers, making it the largest community of shrimp farmers in the world!

While the shrimp farmers’ commitment to sustainability is strong, they have few resources for making sustainability a reality.  That’s where the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and several other entities—including the Mekong River Commission and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development—step in.  They are using a three-pronged approach to help small-scale shrimp farms become more sustainable by:

1. Creating cooperatives

2. Implementing better management practices (BMPs)

3. Improving traceability

WWF fills a similar niche in India and Thailand, which, like Vietnam, have mostly small farms.

At the heart of the strategy being implemented by WWF is the creation of cooperatives (also known as “clusters”) that include 20 to 25 families on adjacent or nearby farms.  Already, 21 cooperatives exist in Ca Mau and Soc Trang provinces, two of the most important shrimp farming regions in the country.  “We try to meet monthly so we can keep each other informed about what is happening in the community,” said Nguyen Dang Khoa of the Luong Thuoc Shrimp Cooperative in Ca Mau.  “I think it is helping us become better farmers.”

Being in a cooperative will also be an advantage if the farmers want to adopt the global standards for responsible shrimp aquaculture being developed by the Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue, a roundtable coordinated by WWF.  Farmers in cooperatives will be eligible to become certified as a group, a move that will reduce the cost associated with becoming certified.  The standards are expected to be completed in mid-2010.

WWF is also communicating with government officials (including extension workers) on how to implement BMPs and how to deal with the issues related to certification so they can provide direct assistance to shrimp farmers.

Discussions are underway with some of the advanced cooperatives to develop a traceability system for small-scale, shrimp farmers in the Mekong Delta.

Information: Jill Schwartz, Deputy Director/Senior Communications Officer, World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1193, USA (phone 1-202-822-3458, email jill.schwartz@wwfus.org, webpage http://www.worldwildlife.org).

Source: World Wildlife Fund Webpage.  Aquaculture/Helping Small-Scale Farmers Become Big Players in the Global Shrimp Market.  Jill Schwartz.  No Date.  Site visit on January 11, 2010.