Free News June 29, 2007

FDA Detains Imports of Farm-Raised Shrimp From China

On June 28, 2007, the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a broader import control of all farm-raised catfish, basa, shrimp, dace (related to carp) and eel from China. FDA will start to detain these products at the border until the shipments are proven to be free of residues from drugs that are not approved in the United States for use in farm-raised aquatic animals.

This action by FDA, a part of the USA Department of Health and Human Services, will protect American consumers from unsafe residues that have been detected in these products. There have been no reports of illnesses to date.

“We’re taking this strong step because of current and continuing evidence that certain Chinese aquaculture products imported into the United States contain illegal substances that are not permitted in seafood sold in the United States,” said Dr. David Acheson, FDA’s assistant commissioner for food protection. “We will accept entries of these products from Chinese firms that demonstrate compliance with our requirements and safety standards.”

During targeted sampling from October 2006 through May 2007, FDA repeatedly found that farm-raised seafood imported from China were contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for this use in the United States.

The contaminants were the antimicrobials nitrofuran, malachite green, gentian violet, and fluoroquinolone. Nitrofuran, malachite green, and gentian violet have been shown to be carcinogenic with long-term exposure in lab animals. The use of fluoroquinolones in food animals may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics.

None of these substances is approved for use in farm-raised seafood in the United States, and the use of nitrofurans and malachite green in aquaculture is also prohibited by Chinese authorities. Chinese officials have acknowledged that fluoroquinolones are used in Chinese aquaculture and are permitted for use in China.

The levels of the drug residues that have been found in seafood are very low, most often at or near the minimum level of detection. FDA is not seeking recall of products already in USA commerce and is not advising consumers to destroy or return imported farm-raised seafood they may already have in their homes. FDA is concerned about long term exposure as well as the possible development of antibiotic resistance.

The FDA action includes conditions under which an exporter can be exempted from FDA’s detention action by providing specified information to the agency. This information must demonstrate the exporter has implemented steps to ensure its products do not contain these substances and that preventive controls are in place. The additional import controls placed on seafood from China will last as long as needed.

FDA may allow the entry into the United States and subsequent distribution into the marketplace of individual shipments of the Chinese farm-raised seafood products if the company provides documentation to confirm the products are free of residues of these drugs.

Additional Information: Questions and Answers on FDA’s Import Alert on Farm-Raised Seafood From China (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/seadwpe.html).

Source: USA Food and Drug Administration Webpage. FDA News/FDA Detains Imports of Farm-Raised Chinese Seafood/Products Have Repeatedly Contained Potentially Harmful Residues (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01660.html). Media Inquiries: Michael Herndon (phone 301-827-6242). June 28, 2007.

Insignificant Amounts of Melamine Get into Some of Zeigler’s Shrimp Feeds

Uniscope, a Colorado firm, founded in 1975, manufactures and markets a complete line of pellet binders, water stability binders, anti-bridging agents, pellet lubricants, and additives for use in the production of pelleted and extruded animal feeds. Small amounts of one of its products, Aqua-Bond, which contains melamine, got into Zeigler’s pelleted and crumbled shrimp feeds. Zeigler’s extruded shrimp feeds and shrimp larval feeds do not contain Aqua-Bond. Uniscope got the Aqua-Bond from Tembec BTLSR.

The New York Times reports: On May 30, 2007, federal officials announced that Tembec BTLSR, a Canadian forest products company with a small chemical plant in Toledo, Ohio, USA, was using melamine to make binding agents that ended up in feed for livestock, fish and shrimp.

Dr. David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food protection at the USA Food and Drug Administration said the levels of melamine and melamine-related compounds in Tembec’s products were far lower than those found in the wheat flour from China that ended up killing pets in the USA. Consequently, the authorities thought the contamination did not appear to pose a risk to human health. Nevertheless, it issued a voluntary recall on finished feed made with Aqua-Bond.

Rush PR News reports: The USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting livestock and fish/shrimp feed manufacturers about a voluntary recall of products used in feed production because several have been found to contain melamine and related compounds.

Based on the levels of melamine and related compounds in the initial ingredients, FDA estimated the probable level of melamine and related compounds in livestock feed at less than 50 parts per million (ppm). The estimated amount in shrimp feed was less than 465 ppm.

FDA advises feed manufacturers to recall finished feed that is made with Aqua-Bond. FDA advises those who mix their own feed to contact their feed manufacturer.

The Tembec and Uniscope products also reportedly contain a urea formaldehyde resin-type ingredient. FDA is investigating its use in the Tembec and Uniscope products and will take appropriate regulatory action if warranted.

Uniscope’s Press Release: Johnstown, Colorado, USA...Uniscope, Inc., recently informed the Food and Drug Administration that a sample of resin incorporated into a binding agent for animal feed tested positive for the chemical compound melamine. The melamine in the resin comes from our supplier who added it without Uniscope’s knowledge or consent. These types of resin products have been historically used in animal feeds. Uniscope has received no reports of any illness or deaths associated with these products. In addition, the company has seen no publicly available information that would lead it to believe that its products pose any adverse consequences to the health of humans or animals. Information: Charles Russell (303-549-3130), Uniscope Inc., P.O. Box 1039, 310 South 1st. Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 USA (phone 970-587-4614, fax 970-587-4372, email customerservice@uniscope-inc.com, webpage http://www.uniscope-inc.com).

Zeigler’s Press Release: In cooperation with the USA Food and Drug Administration, Zeigler Bros., Inc., is issuing a voluntary nationwide recall of its pelleted and crumbled shrimp feeds. Zeigler is recommending that its customers immediately stop feeding its pelleted and crumbled shrimp feed products. It is in the process of providing the entire shrimp feed product list on its website (www.zeiglerfeed.com).

The recalled products contain Aqua-Bond, which has been found to contain the chemical melamine and related compounds. Aqua-Bond is used in the production of pelleted and crumbled shrimp feeds. It is used in a much lower concentration than similar ingredients used in the recent pet food recall.

No other Zeigler products are involved in this voluntary recall. Only Zeigler pelleted and crumbled shrimp feeds are formulated with Aqua-Bond. Zeigler extruded shrimp feeds and shrimp larval feeds do not contain Aqua-Bond and are not included in the recall.

Zeigler is working closely with the FDA and with Uniscope, its supplier for Aqua-Bond, to provide timely product information and immediate recall instructions to its customers. Zeigler is not aware of any instances of ill health effects in shrimp fed with Zeigler pelleted and crumbled shrimp feeds. Information: Zeigler Bros., Inc., P.O. Box 95, Gardners, PA 17324 USA (phone 717-677-6181, fax 717-677-6826, email info@zeiglerfeed.com, webpage www.zeiglerfeed.com).

FDA has issued a safety/risk assessment on melamine that can be viewed at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/melamra.html. For more information on melamine, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine#Reported_widespread_use_in_Chinese_feed_and_food.

Sources: 1. The New York Times. Business Day/Melamine Discovered in Feed Agent. Andrew Martin. May 31, 2007. 2. Rush PR News. Tembec and Uniscope Voluntary Recall Feed Ingredients (http://www.rushprnews.com/press/archives/123812). Anne Howard (www.annehowardpublicist.com). May 31, 2007. 3. Uniscope’s Webpage (http://www.uniscope-inc.com/). Melamine Press Release with FDA Explanation (http://www.uniscope-inc.com/Uniscope_%20Press%20Release%203%20final.pdf). May 31, 2007. 4. Zeigler’s Webpage (www.zeiglerfeed.com). News Release. Zeilger Issues a Voluntary Recall on Pelleted and Crumbled Shrimp Feeds (http://www.zeiglerfeed.com/pdf/Zeigler_Press_Release_May_english.pdf). May 31, 2007.

Country Reports

Belize

Shrimp Farm For Sale

Company: West Indies Tides

Location: Maya Beach, Belize

Price: $20,000,000

Closing Date: July 15, 2007

Contact: Paul duX (phone 501-622-3858, email pdux_aquamon@yahoo.com).

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). Investor opportunity of a lifetime (http://aquanic.org/jobs/jobinfo.asp?jobid=2463). Posted June 25, 2007.

China

Penaeus vannamei Production

China is now producing about one million metric tons of Penaeus vannamei a year. About 80% of China’s production is consumed in country, mainly in places like Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). China’s turn to being an enormous shrimp consuming country putting pressure on vannamei prices. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). June 21, 2007.

Ecuador

Expalsa

Expalsa, a fully integrated shrimp farm in Ecuador, has announced that it has been accredited with a ISO 22000 certification by the Société Générale de Surveillance. Together with its subsidiaries and joint ventures, SGS provides inspection, verification, testing and certification services through a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

The ISO 22000 standard defines food safety management requirements for companies that need to meet and exceed safety regulations all over the world. It can be used by all organizations in the supply chain from farmers to food services, to processing, transportation, storage, retail and packaging.

According to Expalsa spokesperson Humberto Trujillo, “This is part of our continuous process of improving our systems in order to provide our customers with the safest product available.”

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). Expalsa, an Ecuadorian shrimp exporter, is one of first seafood companies to be certified to ISO 22000. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). June 21, 2007.

Egypt

We Need Shrimp Know-How

We at Bustan Trading are pioneers in fish farming and wish to add shrimp farming to our activities, but we do not have the know-how. We are looking for consultants and companies that could construct turnkey shrimp farms and hatcheries for us.

Information: Mahmoud A. Wahab (email ramy.mahmoud@link.net, fax 0020222735796).

Source: Email to Shrimp News International from Mahmoud A. Wahab on June 17, 2007.

India

Crocodiles Protect Mangroves from Shrimp Farmers

Kendrapara, Orissa...In a novel experiment to prevent the destruction of mangroves, forest department personnel have let loose 48, large, captive-bred crocodiles in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary to ward off human interference and shrimp farmers.

Source: Kalinga Times. Crocodiles let loose to save mangrove forest (http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news/20070618_Crocodiles_let_loose_to_save_mangrove.htm#). Manoj Kar. June 18, 2007.

India

Penaeus monodon Job

Moana India (Pvt.), Ltd., the first SPF Penaeus monodon project in India is looking for technical staff for its hatchery and farm.

Salary: Best in the industry commensurate with the qualification and experience

Qualifications: Graduate/post graduate in aquaculture or fisheries

Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in the field

Closing Date: June 30, 2007

Information: Sulfikar (moanaindia@gmail.com)

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 Hatchery/Farm Technician (http://aquanic.org/jobs/jobinfo.asp?jobid=2459). Posted June 19, 2007.

Indonesia

Opposition to CP Prima

Shidiq Moeslim, Chairman of the Indonesian Shrimp Commission, made some negative comments about the planned takeover of PT Dipasena Citra Darmaja, a major Indonesian shrimp farming company, by a consortium led by Thailand’s PT Central Proteinaprima (CP Prima). He said that if Dipasena is sold to the CP Prima consortium, the farm would be used to generate foreign exchange for Thailand and contribute nothing to the development of fisheries in Indonesia.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). Indonesian shrimp commission voices opposition to Dipasena purchase by CP Prima. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). June 19, 2007.

Mozambique, Africa

Strategic Investment Opportunity

• Integrated aquaculture facility

• Modern EU-approved seafood processing plant

• State-of-the-art shrimp hatchery

• Feed mill

• Operational 500-hectare shrimp farm

• Fully permitted with exports to European Union, United States and Japan

• Trained workforce

• A pristine environment

Information: Charles F. Woodhouse, Woodhouse (phone 1-352-371-0101, fax 1-202-478-0851, email cfw@woodhouselaw.com).

Source: Fish Farming International (http://www.fishfarminginternational.com). Editor, Kenny McCaffrey (kenny.mccaffrey@informa.com). Advertisement. Strategic investment opportunity. Volume 34, Number 6, Page 10, June 2007.

Myanmar

Prisoners Rebuild Shrimp Farms

On May 14, 2007, a hurricane hit the coast of Myanmar and damaged 75% of the shrimp farms in the state of Arakan, which has 150,000 acres of shrimp ponds. On Akyab Island, about 80 kilometers west of the state capital of Rakhine, prisoners at Akyab Prison have been forced to rebuild its 15-acre shrimp farm, confiscated from local villagers five years ago. Prison authorities have also hired out prisoners to work on the reconstruction of other shrimp farms that were damaged by the hurricane.

Source: Narinjara. Prisoners Forced to Work on Shrimp Farm Reconstruction (http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=1307). June 15, 2007.

Philippines

Free PCR Tests for Shrimp Farmers

For shrimp farmers in the Philippines, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center is going to provide free nested polymerase chain reaction tests for shrimp viruses.

Information: SEAFDEC/AQD Brackishwater Station (phone 033-527-3016 and 033-336-2965, webpage www.seafdec.org.ph).

Source: The Visayan Star. SEAFDEC: Ensure biosecurity for shrimp farms (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2007/June/18/businessnews2.htm). June 18, 2007.

Saudi Arabia

Partner Wanted

Saudi Mariculture owns 300 hectares of land north of Jeddah that it wants to develop into an integrated shrimp farm. It has the necessary permits and is looking for partners to help develop the project.

Information: general manager, saudimariculture@yahoo.com.

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). Business partner in shrimp project in Saudi Arabia (http://aquanic.org/jobs/jobinfo.asp?jobid=2458). Posted June 18, 2007.

Thailand

Farmers Selling Directly to Consumers

Phuket...In order to help the island’s suffering shrimp farmers, the Phuket Provincial Internal Trade Office (PITO) has set up a “Blue Flag Shrimp Festival” to sell farm-raised shrimp directly to consumers for just $3.07 a kilogram until the end of September 2007. PITO Chief Somphot Sangkhapong said 1,500 kilograms of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) are harvested daily in the province. “We have about 30 shrimp farms in Phuket, almost all of them in Thalang. Most of them switched from raising giant tiger prawns to Pacific white shrimp, but now there is a glut in the market and prices have fallen,” Somphot said. The problem in Phuket reflects a nationwide trend, decreasing export sales and domestic production continuing to rise. Thai Frozen Foods Association president Poj Aramwattanont said that last year shrimp exports from Thailand reached 193,764 metric tons.

Source: Daily News. Shrimp gets ahead with ‘blue flag’ promotion (http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?fromsearch=yes&Id=5764). June 19, 2007.

United States

Arizona—Desert Sweet Shrimp Farm

Gary Wood, whose family owns Desert Sweet Shrimp, a small shrimp farm in Gila Bend, said that in taste tests at fairs and exhibits, his shrimp wins 95 percent of the time. Wood said his shrimp is lower in iodine and contains less salt and no additives.

“There’s probably no better place to grow them,” said Craig Collins, the farm’s manager. According to Collins, the desert heat speeds the shrimp’s growth, and the calcium in the area’s aquifer allows the exoskeleton to harden quickly, so they peel easily. “We offer the finest quality you can buy,” he said, while working on a customer’s 100-pound order for a wedding in New York.

“We sell mostly through the Internet,” Wood said. The farm used to sell its shrimp to wholesale brokers and specialty markets such as AJ’s Fine Foods, Whole Foods Market, and Sprouts, but was losing out to foreign suppliers.

The Wood family farm is the last of four Arizona farms that raise shrimp. One of the four, a farm in Hyder, has had more success converting to tilapia, a popular white fish, Wood said.

Wood counts a Phoenix resort and a Maricopa County restaurants as steady commercial customers.

He said the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago buys his shrimp to feed its exhibit animals because the product is pure. Wood is talking about supplying other aquariums.

Desert Sweet Shrimp harvests shrimp from its ponds in mid-October, packs it in ice, and trucks it to a Phoenix processing plant 60 miles away. Although Wood says shrimp with its head intact is one criteria of high quality, the plant processes his shrimp headless and deveined “because that’s what customers want.” Additives such as sodium tripolyphosphate, used to retain moisture and add weight, are not used. The shrimp is then packed in dry ice and delivered to customers by FedEx.

Wood said, “We don’t ever discharge the water.” The water from the ponds is used to irrigate other crops, alfalfa and olive trees.

Source: The Arizona Daily Star. Desert shrimp (http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/188064). Vern Lamplot. July 20, 2007.

United States

Louisiana—Lawsuit Against State Policies

Piazza’s Seafood World, a Louisiana seafood distributor, claims state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom is doing an illegal end-run around a federal court decision in his crusade against foreign seafood. Piazza is suing Odom in Baton Rouge federal court, alleging the commissioner is overstepping his authority in testing seafood for antibiotics. The company claims Odom is misusing state Agriculture Department regulations to seize imported seafood and tie it up in red tape to prevent it from going to market in Louisiana and other states. Piazza claims Odom has targeted it because the company successfully fought a state statute regulating labeling on imported products.

Piazza argues in the lawsuit that only the USA Food and Drug Administration and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals have the authority to regulate the content of food products. DHH can’t seize or regulate items that aren’t intended for consumption in Louisiana.

Odom says he has a year-old formal agreement with DHH that gives him the authority to test for pesticides and antibiotics.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). Piazza sues State of Louisiana over campaign against imported seafood. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). June 15, 2007.

United States

New Jersey—Eastern Fish Co.

Eastern Fish Company’s Sail Brand proudly presents its “Supreme” all-natural, hand-processed, chemical-free, sustainably raised shrimp from Mexico (and soon Thailand), raw or cooked in 1-pound bags. The shrimp are spawned, grown and processed under strict controls to ensure the freshest, highest-quality product possible with complete traceability from the hatchery to the customer. The shrimp are never exposed to chemicals, antibiotics or additives. Strict testing by both government and independent laboratories is conducted at all phases of production. Assurance inspectors monitor every phase of production to ensure compliance with all national and international laws governing responsible aquaculture.

Information: Eric Bloom, Eastern Fish Co., 300 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Teaneck, NJ 07666 USA (phone 800-526-9066, webpage www.easternfish.com).

Source: SeaFood Business (www.seafoodbusiness.com). Editor, Fiona Robinson (frobinson@divcom.com). Special Advertising Section. Eastern Fish Co. Page 10, June 2007.

United States

South Carolina—Waddell Mariculture Center

The Waddell Mariculture Center has proven the economic viability of shrimp mariculture during two years of full-scale field trials. Using a closed-loop greenhouse system, it is now possible to farm shrimp profitably in practically any environment in the USA. The possibility of a production level in excess of 60,000 pounds of shrimp per acre per crop has been exhibited, and new methodology allows for the production of three or even four crops per year.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service). New shrimp farm planned in South Carolina. Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com). June 15, 2007.

United States

Texas—Wild-Caught Shrimp Taste Better Than Farm-Raised Shrimp

The characteristic flavor of wild-caught shrimp is caused by bromophenols, a group of chemicals found in bottom dwellers, like shrimp.

A Texas A&M research report, which examined research from a variety of studies on seafood across the globe, verifies that the taste of wild-caught shrimp is not only discernable from and better tasting than farmed shrimp, but also that no method exists for farmed shrimp to effectively mimic the taste of wild-caught shrimp. The characteristic flavor of wild-caught shrimp is caused by bromophenols, a group of chemicals found in saltwater seafood. The source of bromophenol compounds in shrimp’s muscle tissue is from their natural diet.

Also, the varieties of shrimp found in American waters each have their own distinguishable taste because of bromophenols. For example, muddy sea bottoms have higher bromophenol concentrations than do sandy or shelly sea bottoms.

The difference in taste between wild-caught and pond-raised shrimp is detectable by the average person, not just shrimp connoisseurs. The Texas A&M researchers found that a significant number of taste panelists could differentiate between the two in all four of their taste tests. Consumer taste tests confirmed that shrimp raised on commercial shrimp feeds tasted bland.

With the chemicals responsible for wild shrimp’s flavor identified and recognized globally, shrimp feed millers have explored using bromophenols, but have repeatedly failed to produce detectable differences in taste. Also, adding bromophenols to feeds is very expensive.

Source: Food Ingredients First. Wild-Harvested Shrimp’s Natural Diet Responsible for its Unique Flavors (http://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/newsmaker_article.asp?idNewsMaker=14225&fSite=AO545&next=3). June 15, 2007.