SITE MAP SEARCH SITE Free News
October 20, 2006
I update this page on Fridays.
Click here for previous Free News reports in 2006.
To SEARCH this page, hit CONTROL-F; to find the next occurrence of your search, hit CONTROL-G.
SITE MAP SEARCH SITE Free News
October 20, 2006
I update this page on Fridays.
Click here for previous Free News reports in 2006.
To SEARCH this page, hit CONTROL-F; to find the next occurrence of your search, hit CONTROL-G.
USA Shrimp Imports in the
First Half of 2006
Volume and Value
On October 5, 2006, the United States Department of Agriculture's Aquaculture Outlook reported on USA shrimp imports for the first half of 2006.
In the first six months of 2006, USA shrimp imports increased 16 percent over the same period in 2005. They totaled 525 million pounds and were valued at 1.6 billion dollars, a 16 percent increase in quantity and an 18 percent increase in value. After declining in the first half of 2005, shrimp imports seem to be on the expansion track they exhibited in 2000 and 2004. While average prices for shrimp imports rose in 2005 and 2006, they remain much lower than in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Between 2000 and 2004, rapidly falling shrimp prices were a major factor in the expansion of shrimp imports. The average overall price for shrimp in the first half of 2006 was $3.11 per pound, up 6 cents per pound from 2005.
USA Shrimp Imports by Country in Pounds
(January to June 2006, in 1,000s of pounds)
Country
2006 Thailand
China
Ecuador
Vietnam
India
Indonesia
Brazil
Mexico
Bangladesh
Philippines
Other
Totals
USA Shrimp Imports by Country in Dollars
(January to June 2006, in 1,000s of dollars)
Country
2006 Thailand
Vietnam
India
China
Indonesia
Ecuador
Mexico
Bangladesh
Brazil
Philippines
Other
Totals
The growth in shrimp imports during the first half of 2006 was from larger shipments of frozen shrimp and prepared shrimp products. After declining sharply in 2005, shipments of frozen shrimp rose by 10 percent in the first half of 2006. However, even with this increase, shipments in the first half of 2006 were below those for the same period in 2004.
The majority of the increase came from larger shipments from Ecuador, Thailand and Indonesia, the largest single-country suppliers of frozen shrimp to the United States, accounting for 58 percent of total shrimp imports. The increased imports from these countries were partially offset by lower shipments from Brazil, India and China. Although the decline in imports from China between 2005 and 2006 was relatively small, China's shipments in this category are only a fraction of what they were in 2004, when it was the second largest supplier of frozen shrimp to the USA.
In the first six months of 2006, shipments of prepared shrimp products totaled 149.5 million pounds, up 31 percent compared to the first six months of 2005. Again Thailand and Indonesia showed the largest increases. While China's shipments of frozen shrimp products have declined, its exports of prepared shrimp products have risen rapidly. In the first half of 2006, shipments of prepared shrimp products from China were 50.5 million pounds, up 20 million pounds from 2005 and 37 million pounds higher than in the first half of 2004. China has shifted its product mix because of the stiff tariffs on its raw, frozen shrimp. In the prepared shrimp category, imports from Thailand, Indonesia and China accounted for 84 percent of the total.
USA shrimp imports for 2006 are expected to reach between 1.2 and 1.3 billion pounds, with a value from $3.75 to $3.85 billion. These estimates assume shrimp imports will follow their normal seasonal pattern through the remainder of 2006. The quantity and value of shrimp imports over the second half of 2006 will be heavily influenced by the status of the USA economy. A strong economy will allow for more personal expenditures at foodservice markets and restaurants. Shrimp prices will also be influenced by the pace of economic growth in Japan and the European Union, the two other major markets for shrimp.
Source: Aquaculture Outlook. David J. Harvey, Editor (phone 202-694-5177, email djharvey@ers.usda.gov). United States Department of Agriculture. Electronic Outlook Report from the Economic Research Service. LDP-AQS-24. October 5, 2006. Information: In addition to shrimp, Aquaculture Outlook covers catfish, trout, tilapia, salmon, mollusks and crawfish. You can download a PDF of it at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1375. You might also want to check out USDA's Aquaculture Briefing Room at http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/aquaculture.
Country Reports
Bangladesh
Blame It on the Hatchery Technicians
Insiders say the shrimp hatchery business is run by foreign technicians, mainly Indians, Thais and Filipinos. They say the technicians pose a serious threat to the industry because they use antibiotics, abuse the environment and do not pass the hatchery technology on to the local people. Around 70 foreign technicians are now working in 57 shrimp hatcheries. A group of entrepreneurs recently initiated a move to have the industry run by Bangladesh technicians, but this proved unrealistic because there were only ten qualified, homegrown technicians in the country. On September 24, 2006, Abdullah Al Noman, Fishery and Livestock Minister, reached a decision to make mandatory the transfer of hatchery technology to Bangladesh technicians. Nizam M. Selim, chairman of the Bangladesh Shrimp Development Alliance, said the hatcheries produce four times as much postlarvae as the country's 50,000 hectares of ponds require.
Source: The Daily Star. Business/Shrimp hatcheries at stake (http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/06/d61006050152.htm). Jasim Uddin Khan. October 5, 2006.
Bangladesh
Shrimp Stuffed with Barley and Cement
Recently, Europe returned eighty containers of shrimp from Bangladesh because the shrimp were allegedly carrying impurities like barley, cement and other substances that had been stuffed into them to increase their weight. The small group of exporters involved in this incident say--not true. They say the shipments were rejected because a necessary processing chemical was found in the shrimp.
Source: The Financial Express. Insuring the quality of exported products (http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=10/4/2006§ion_id=5&newsid=39669&spcl=no). Enayet Rasul. October 4, 2006.
Brunei
Integrated Aquaculture International
The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources has tapped the expertise of USA-based Integrated Aquaculture International (IAI) to help farmers rear virus-free shrimp that will pass quality checks in the USA, said Deputy Minister Dato Paduka Hamdillah Abd Wahab. IAI's technical director George Chamberlain said his team will enable shrimp farmers to produce large shrimp for niche markets in the USA.
Information: Dr. George Chamberlain, Integrated Aquaculture International, LLC, 5661 Telegraph Road, Suite 3A, St. Louis, MO 63129 USA (phone 314-293-5500, fax 314-293-5525, email georgec@integra.prserv.net, webpage http://www.integratedaquaculture.com/index.html).
Source: The Brunei Times. Shrimp farmers eye lucrative US mart (http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=7043). October 10, 2006.
Brunei
Farmers Voice Grievances
During a dialogue between shrimp farmers and the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, several shrimp farmers voiced their grievances on issues facing the industry, like long delays in loan processing, the absence of a feed mill, water pollution and marketing problems.
The government said the shrimp farming industry was too small to support a feed mill.
In the upcoming 9th National Development Plan, the government will allocate $70 million to promote shrimp farming.
Source: Borneo Bulletin. Prawn entrepreneurs lament delays, water pollution and marketing issues (http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/tue/oct10h4.htm). Achong Tanjong. October 10, 2006.
Canada
SemBioSys Genetics, Inc.
SemBioSys Genetics, Inc., a Canadian biotechnology company produces high-value proteins from genetically modified safflower seeds. For the past two years, some farms in northcentral Washington (USA) have grown the seeds as an ingredient for shrimp feeds sent to South America. The goal is to boost the shrimp's immune system and protect them from viruses, said Rick Keon, a company spokesman.
Information: Andrew Baum, President and Chief Executive Officer, SemBioSys Genetics, Inc., 110 - 2985 - 23rd Avenue, Calgary, Alberta T1Y 7L3, Canada (phone 403-250-5424, fax 403-250-3886, email bauma@sembiosys.com, webpage http://www.sembiosys.com).
Sources: 1. CNW Group, Ltd. (Canada NewsWire Group, online news releases). SemBioSys announces 2004 year-end operational and financial results (http://www.newswire.ca/en/info/about.cgi). March 15, 2005. 2. Checkbiotech.org. Washington farmers raise modified safflower for drug firm (http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=13651&start=1&control=176&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1). October 10, 2006.
Egypt
Wants Shrimp
We want to import all sizes of Gulf of Mexico white shrimp, about 40 containers a week. We need information on prices, payment conditions, delivery schedules and the quality of the product.
Information: Nasser Attia, The International Group Import and Export, 89 Saudi Company Building Al Sawah, Cairo, Egypt (nasserattia@hotmail.com, phone 002022569501).
Source: Email to Shrimp News International from Nasser Attia on October 5, 2006.
Germany
Wants Vannamei
I'm the biologist in charge of the shrimp trials at MariFarm, the R&D facility of the Ecomares Group in Germany. For several years we have been developing and testing recirc systems for an intensive production of tropical shrimp. We plan to start our first production cycle in our new pilot scale system as soon as possible. We're urgently searching for SPF Penaeus vannamei postlarvae. We want 100,000 PLs every two months. Our facility in Kiel is pretty close to the Hamburg airport.
Information: Marcus Thon, ECOMARES MariFarm, Bülker Huk 24229 Strande, Germany (phone 49-(0)43-66110-0, fax 49-(0)431-66110, email marcus.thon@ecomares.com, webpage http://www.ecomares.com/main.php).
Sources: 1. The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers, "shrimp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com"). Subject: [shrimp] Request for PL of L. vannamei. From: marcus.thon@ecomares.com. October 16, 2006. 2. Ecomares Group Webpage (http://www.ecomares.com/main.php). October 17, 2006.
India
Small Farm For Sale
Is anyone interested in buying a small shrimp farm with four ponds in the state of Maharashtra on the West coast of India? Rajiv.
Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers, "shrimp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com"). Subject: [shrimp] Farm for sale. From: Joe Lala at whiteibis2001@yahoo.co.in. October 11, 2006.
Indonesia
Probiotics
In the September/October 2006 issue of Aqua Culture Asia Pacific, Catur Widi Darwiyono, a shrimp farmer in Indonesia, asked Dan Fegan, regional technical manager of aquaculture for Alltech Biotechnology, Inc., a supplier of probiotics, if shrimp farmers could produce their own probiotics from starter cultures:
Dan Fegan: Unless you carefully control the conditions and know exactly what you're going to end up with, making your own probiotics from starter cultures is not recommended. Controlling the cultures is very difficult and the older they get, the more difficult it is to control contamination.
There are so many commercial probiotics on the market that it is difficult to decide which will be effective for the range of conditions (temperature, pH, salinity, organic load) in any one pond. Ideally, you should understand the principles of probiotics and buy something that has solid research behind it rather than culturing it yourself. On-farm fermentation systems are prone to contamination, and may even contain human and shrimp pathogens. Companies that produce microbial cultures such as Alltech and Novozymes take great care to maintain sterilized equipment and controlled conditions for fermentation to prevent the entry of undesirable or pathogenic bacteria.
Many products contain a long list of bacteria, some of which are unlikely to be present in the product or viable in the pond. I believe in the scientific use of probiotics, but I am concerned that many commercial products are simply ineffective and their use may result in further consumer concerns over food safety and damage our efforts to produce and market shrimp internationally.
Researchers are studying what are known as "unculturable" bacteria which are dominant in the environment, but which we cannot grow in the laboratory. Their role in pond environments is likely to be far more important than we currently understand.
Information: Daniel F. Fegan, Regional Technical Manager of Aquaculture, Alltech Biotechnology Corp., Ltd., 209/1 CMIC Tower B, 17th Floor, Sukhumvit 21 Road (Asoke), Khlongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand (phone +66-2-260-0888, fax +66-2-260-0886, email dfegan@alltech.com, webpage http://www.alltech.com).
Source: Aqua Culture Asia Pacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email zuridah@aquaasiapac.com, webpage www.aquaasiapac.com). Q&A with Dan Fegan on the shrimp physiology and pond environment. Volume 2, Number 5, Page 21, September/October 2006.
Singapore
Polychaete Distribution Center
Seabait, Ltd., a supplier of marine worms for shrimp maturation facilities, has announced a new global distribution agreement with Zagro Singapore, Pte., Ltd., of Singapore. Zagro is manufacturer and global distributor of a wide range of nutrition and protection products for livestock, crops and aquatic animals. The distribution agreement means that Seabait's worms will be available, not only in the USA, Central and South America, Africa and the Middle East, but also in Asia via the distribution agreement with Zagro. Seabait grows polychaetes on plant-based feeds under biosecure conditions from known broodstock.
Information: Tony Smith, Managing Director, Dragon Feeds, Ltd., Units 43-44 Endeavour Close, Port Talbot, South Wales, United Kingdom (phone 44-1639-896777, fax 44-1639-883173, email tony.smith@dragonfeeds.com).
Source: Aqua Culture Asia Pacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email zuridah@aquaasiapac.com, webpage www.aquaasiapac.com). Global Distribution Unit in Singapore for Polychaetes. Volume 2, Number 5, Page 42, September/October 2006.
United States
California--Help
I would appreciate it if someone with some experience could help me find information or direct me to where I could find someone in the area to talk to about starting a shrimp farm. I would like to start it inland, in a greenhouse, in Livermore, California. I have guessed at some of the beginning costs, but I am looking for a more detailed analysis on the viability of indoor/small-scale shrimp farming. I am not an aquaculturist, but I am very interested in shrimp farming as a supplemental business.
Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world's electronic aquaculture resources, http://aquanic.org/index.htm). Shrimp Discussion Group (http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/discuss/shrimp.htm). Starting indoor in Northern California (Central Valley) (http://www.aquanic.org/discuss/_shrimp/00000ff8.htm). From: nathan_alan_grant@yahoo.com. October 9, 2006.
United States
California--Shrimp News International
Hot off the press, World Shrimp Farming 2006. Excerpts and detailed Table of Contents at http://www.shrimpnews.com/WSF2006.htmp.
United States
Michigan--Can Produce Shrimp Cheaper than China Can
On October 16, 2006, Russ Allen, owner of Seafood Systems, Inc., a small shrimp farm and consulting company in Okemos, received $200,000 from the agricultural segment of the 21st Century Jobs Fund (a state program designed to spark high-tech investment and create new jobs). "Ultimately, when we go to commercial production, we'd like to bring 1,000 to 1,500 new jobs to Michigan," says Allen, who produces 200 pounds of shrimp a week in a barn behind his house. With his cutting edge technology, Allen sees no limit to the progress he'll make with his share of the funding. "With the numbers we produce here, we can produce shrimp in the state of Michigan cheaper than anywhere else in the world. We can compete with China...and bring jobs back from China to Michigan," says Allen. Information: Russell Allen, Seafood Systems, Inc., 3450 Meridian Road, Okemos, MI 48863 USA (phone 517-347-5537, fax 517-347-4999, email shrimpone@aol.com).
Dallas Weaver, a shrimp farming consultant and water quality expert in California, responded to Allen's statements: "I like Russ and he has done some good work in the area, but for him to state that he can compete with China with recycle systems is totally wrong. Since he has been at this long enough to know better, it appears that his statements are political and probably necessary to get the tax payers money. The political/bureaucratic types are naive enough to believe such garbage. PS: in the age of the internet, you can no longer restrict you political statements to the target audience." Information: Dallas Weaver, Ph.D., Consultant, Scientific Hatcheries, 8152 Evelyn Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92646 (phone 714-960-4171, cell 714-614-3925 emial deweaver@surfcity.net, webpage www.scientifichatcheries.com).
Sources: 1. WILX.com. Additional Funding for Michigan-Made Jobs (http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/4412071.html). Lauren Zakalik. October 16, 2006. 2. Michigan.org (http://www.michigan.org/index.asp). Tour (http://www.michigan.org/medc/21stcenturytour). October 16, 2006. 3. The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers, "shrimp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com"). Subject: Re: [shrimp] News = Michigan/Russ Allen/$200,000. October 19, 2006.
Venezuela
Chavez
Recently, Nikolas Kozloff, author of Hugo Chavez: Oil, Politics, and the Challenge to the U.S., interviewed Jorge Hinestroza, an environmentalist and professor of sociology at the University of Zulia. During the interview, Hinestroza criticized the government's environmental policy, especially in relation to the oil industry, but he also touched on the shrimp farming industry around Lake Maracaibo. Located within the western state of Zulia. Lake Maracaibo is the center of the petroleum industry. Historically, it has been plagued by oil spills and pollution.
Now, duckweed has spread across the surface of the lake, blocking out the sun and changing the habitat for all the fish and other organisms that live in the lake.
Nikolas Kozloff: What caused the duckweed?
Jorge Hinestroza: I don't think duckweed is a chronic problem because it emerged suddenly in 2003. I believe it thrives on the effluent from the shrimp farms that began production in 2000. Half the shrimp farms in Venezuela operate around Lake Maracaibo.
Source: Venezuelanalysis.com. Hugo Chavez's Achilles Heel: The Environment/Interview with Jorge Hinestroza (http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1847). Nikolas Kozloff. October 9, 2006.
