The European Shrimp Market

The First Half of 2007

With 356,000 metric tons of shrimp imports during the first half of 2007, Europe is the largest shrimp importer in the world!  Almost every country in Europe increased imports during the first half of 2007.

Country-by-Country

Spain: During the first half of 2007, Spain’s shrimp imports were up 16% over the first half of 2006.  China maintained its position as the leading supplier to Spain with an increase of 9% over the first half of 2006.  Ecuador also gained ground in Spain with a 35% increase, whereas Brazil continued to lose market share and saw its exports decrease by almost 40%.

Spain’s increase in shrimp imports was mainly due to an almost tripling of imports of boat-caught, Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) from Argentina.  According to Revista de la Industria Pesquera Argentina, Argentine shrimp catches reached 33,876 tons in the first half of 2007, the highest catches in the last 19 years.  Spain’s huge increase in imports can be explained by the drop in prices for Argentine shrimp from $13.29/kg in 2006 to $7.30/kg in the first half of 2007!

France: France’s shrimp imports during the first half of 2007 were at record levels compared to previous years, at more than 45,000 tons, an 8% increase on the first half of 2006.  In terms of value, however, the increase was only 2%.  Traditionally, the French market imports frozen, warmwater shrimp (80% of total imports) while the demand for prepared and preserved products is modest (15%) and demand for chilled products very limited (3%).  During the January-June 2007 period, Ecuador increased the volume of its exports to France by 60%, compared to the same period in 2006.

United Kingdom: Among the top European shrimp importers, the UK was the only country that experienced a decrease in shrimp imports, a 10% drop during the first half of 2007 compared to 2006.  This was true for both frozen products and processed products.  Iceland, the major supplier to the UK for prepared and preserved products, has witnessed a significant drop in its exports to the United Kingdom in recent years, from 9,200 tons in 2004 to 5,400 tons in 2007.  India and Denmark also registered a decrease in exports to the UK, while Indonesia and Thailand gained ground.  Although coldwater shrimp imports are declining, the UK remains the number one market in Europe in this category.  Main suppliers to the UK are Iceland (5,432 tons) and Denmark (4,474 tons).  France, Norway and Canada share the remaining portion with around 1,000 tons each.  Sources in Norway indicate that cooked and peeled deep-sea shrimp (Pandalus borealis) prices on the UK market are rising.  Indeed, an average 12% increase was reported for cooked and peeled shrimp between January and September 2007.  Cooked, shell-on prices are reported to be stable.

On July 14, 2007, the EU reduced import tariffs on cooked and peeled shrimp from non-EU countries.  Consequently, Canadian coldwater shrimp exports to the European market and the UK are expected to increase.

Italy: During the first half of 2007, thanks to a tripling of imports from Argentina, Italy experienced a big increase in imports at an exceptionally prices compared to previous years ($8.15/kg against $16.62/kg, compared to 2006, and $17.30/kg compared to 2005).  The Italian shrimp market continued to be characterized by the predominance of Ecuadoran imports, although they decreased slightly this year.  Italy is principally a warmwater shrimp consuming country; however, coldwater shrimp demand is noteworthy at more than 30% of total shrimp imports.  Coldwater shrimp is mainly of Argentine origin (3,644 tons, 36% of total coldwater shrimp imports) or from reexports through Spain (2,565 tons, 26%).

Germany: In recent years, German shrimp imports have shown a strong growth rate.  This trend continued during the first half of 2007 with an increase of more than 20% compared to the same period in 2006.  Shrimp imports to the German market are almost equally divided between frozen products (49%) and prepared and preserved products (45%), although processed products registered a higher growth rate.  Thailand, India and the Netherlands are the three major suppliers to Germany, each of them having provided around 3,500 tons of shrimp during the first half of 2007.

Source: GlobeFish.  Shrimp Market Report/Europe (http://www.globefish.org/index.php?id=4300).  Karine Boisset.  October 2007.

Country Reports

Australia

Sandworms

Over the 2006-2007 shrimp farming season (September–May), researchers at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre conducted water treatment trials using two species of Moreton Bay sandworms (Nereids) at the Bullock Creek Prawn Farm operated by Peter Spindler and Judy Butler.  They stocked the worms in sand filters and assessed their ability to reduce the organic debris in shrimp pond effluent.

The worms were stocked as juveniles.  As they grew and spread through the sand bed, the surface layers changed from green and fouled to a much cleaner appearance.  The network of burrows they created substantially increased the sand bed’s surface area and improved the condition of subsurface sediments.

Normally, sand filters clog up over time with algae and debris; however, when worms are living in the sand they eat the organic debris and create a network of burrows that allow the water to pass through the layers.

The worm’s appetites and capacity to consume organic materials increased as they grew, but they were also able to go for long periods with no food at all, of particular interest to shrimp farmers who release varying amounts of waste during the growout season and idle their ponds over the winter.

The researchers are assessing the worm’s ability to deal with a range of conditions, and they are also going to determine the scale of worm operations needed to handle the effluents from a commercial shrimp farm.

Marine worms are recognized as one of the best diets for broodstock!

Source: Queensland Aquaculture News.  Editors, Ross Lobegeiger and Max Wingfield.  Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre, P.O. Box 2066, Woorim, Queensland 4507, Australia, phone 07-3400-2040, fax 07-3408-3535).  Sandworms trialed at prawn farm.  Paul Palmer.  Page 5, Issue 30, September 2007.

Chile

Patagonia Shrimp Farm

Patagonia Investment, which owns 1,000 hectares on Aysén Fjord (45.26° S, 73.00° W) that include thermal water rights, is currently seeking venture capital for a shrimp farm.  It has brought together a group of professionals whose main objective is to develop a nonpolluting, vertically integrated, intensive shrimp farm in the Aysén Region of Patagonia.

Hatchery: Initially, the project will produce white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus).  The hatchery will supply the necessary specific pathogen free (SPF) seedstock for the farming operation and sell surplus seed on the open market.  Presently, there are no commercial shrimp hatcheries in Chile.

Growout: Fiberglass growout tanks will be prefabricated using an in-house design (10’ wide x 30’ long x 4’ deep).  Shipped on flatbed trucks, in containers, or as break bulk cargo, they will be plumbed, wired and ready for installation anywhere in the country.  These systems will be engineered with the latest available technology in water purification to ensure that the incoming water is of ocean quality and that the minimal amounts of effluents conform strictly to all the jurisdictional laws concerning clean water.  Structures will be engineered to cover the raceways to further secure them against the weather and disease.

Feeds: The farm will formulate its own feeds.  Shrimp shells and heads will be processed and recycled into the shrimp feed.  These feeds will then be irradiated to assure that no pathogens are introduced into the ponds.

Processing: The farm will purchase a local, modern processing plant, which meets or exceeds all the latest HACCP standards.  Value-added IQF processing and freezing will be implemented when the more profitable live shrimp market is saturated.  By processing its own product the company expects to make from $0.50 to $1.50 per pound in additional profit.

Marketing: The farm will market its product to the lucrative live bait industry in the Aysén Region and to live shrimp markets throughout Chile.

Source: Investment Opportunities in Patagonia Chile.  Patagonia Shrimp Farm (http://patagonia-investment.blogspot.com/2007/10/patagonia-shrimp-farm.html).  October 3, 2007.

India

Job—Project Coordinator

The National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NCSA, a society under the Marine Products Export Development Authority, MPEDA) has an opening for a project coordinator.

Requirements: Postgraduate in Fishery Science/Marine Science.

Experience: 5 years field experience on shrimp/prawn farms and in shrimp/prawn hatcheries.

Salary: $560 a month.

Applications: on plain paper with biodata attached.

Source: Fisheries Call.  Job opening for the Post of Project Coordinator (http://sharevthme.blogspot.com/2007/10/job-opening-for-post-of-project.html).  Posted by dhruva_shining.  October 6, 2007.

Iran

Europe Upholds Shrimp Ban

The European Union has stopped importing shrimp from Iran on the pretext that Iran’s State Veterinary Organization did not submit required documents on time.  According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the State Veterinary Organization dispatched documents on the safety of Iranian shrimp six months ago, but the EU has yet to respond.

Iran has approximately 2,600 hectares of shrimp ponds, but that number will probably drop to 1,600 in 2008 due to storms in the south that inflicted heavy damage on shrimp farms.

Source: The FishSite.  Europe Upholds Shrimp Ban (http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/5404/europe-upholds-shrimp-ban).  October 9, 2007.

Thailand

Dan Fegan

In June 2007, Dan Fegan, former regional technical manager of aquaculture for Alltech Biotechnology, Inc., in Thailand, joined Cargill Animal Nutrition’s aquaculture team as a regional technical manager based in Bangkok.  In his new job, Fegan will be working mainly with fish farming, feeds and nutrition.

Source: Aqua Culture AsiaPacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email zuridah@aquaasiapac.com, webpage www.aquaasiapac.com).  Dan Fegan Joins Cargill’s Aquaculture Team.  Volume 3, Number 5, Page 39, September/October 2007.

United States

Kentucky—Job

Magnolia Shrimp is looking for an assistant shrimp hatchery manager for a production facility in Beaver Dam, Kentucky.

Information: Brian M. Boudreau (phone 270-792-9288, email brianboudreau01@yahoo.com).

Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers, “shrimp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com”).  Subject: [shrimp] Assistant Shrimp Hatchery Manager/Shrimp Hatchery Technician.  From: brianboudreau01@yahoo.com.  October 18, 2007.

United States

South Carolina—Wild American Shrimp Wants Five Cents a Pound

Wild American Shrimp, Inc. (WASI), has announced a self-funding plan to secure the future of its certification and marketing program for the domestic shrimping industry.  Previously, WASI was funded by federal government grants.  Beginning in January 2008, WASI will be funded by a combination of federal assistance, voluntary industry contributions, foundation grants—and a fee of five cents a pound for each pound of shrimp that gets stamped as “Certified Wild American Shrimp”.  Dennis Henderson, President of WASI, said, “Our approved suppliers told us they are ready to make a financial contribution for the value that the certification seal offers and the marketing support that we provide.  This, combined with our own fundraising initiatives, will enable us to continue to promote, support and ultimately grow our important domestic industry for years to come.”

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service).  Wild American Shrimp will charge suppliers 5 cents a pound to use WASI label beginning in 2008.  Ken Coons (phone 781-861-1441, email kencoons@seafood.com).  Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com).  October 5, 2007.

United States

Tennessee—Freshwater Prawn Farming Conference

The U.S. Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association will hold its next annual meeting on December 7-8, 2007, at the Radisson Hotel Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee.  The program will feature university research and workshops on pond construction, stocking, growout, harvest and marketing.

A block of rooms has been reserved for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, December 6-8, 2007.  You can make reservations by calling the Radisson Reservations toll free number (800-333-3333).  It’s important to use the group name (US Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association) when booking to make sure you receive the group rate.  You can view the Radisson Hotel facility at http://www.radissoncom/nashvilletn.com.

Information: Dolores Fratesi, Lauren Farms, Inc., 655 Napanee Road, Leland, MS 38756 USA (phone 662-390-3528, email usprawngrowers@yahoo.com, webpage www.laurenfarms.com).

Source: Prawn Tales (the newsletter of the U.S. Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association).    Editor, Mike Frinsko.  2007 National Prawn Association: Time to Make Plans.  Volume 6, Issue 1, Page 3, Late Summer 2007.

United States

Virginia—Recirculating Aquaculture Conference

The Seventh International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture will be held in Roanoke, Virginia on July 25–27, 2008.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and the Aquaculture Engineering Society (AES) are calling for technical papers to be submitted to editors.  Authors must submit a short abstract to Dr. George J. Flick (Virginia Tech) for review and consideration.  Abstracts must be received by February 1, 2008.  Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by February 15th and will receive detailed instructions for submission of full papers.  Final manuscripts must be submitted to George J. Flick by April 15, 2008.

Abstract Guidelines

1. Abstracts should be concise, between 250-500 words (roughly one typewritten page).

2. Use single spacing, a 12-point font and 2.5 cm (1 inch) left and right margins.

3. Titles should also be concise, but clearly relate the subject of the article.

4. Include the names of the authors, their affiliations and addresses.

5. Submit the abstract by email and paste it into the body of the email message; do not send it as an attachment.  Please ensure that your file is virus free.

6. Submit your abstract to Dr. Flick (aqua@vt.edu) no later than February 1, 2008.

If your abstract is accepted, you will be asked to submit a revised abstract with your paper (by April 15, 2008) for publication in the conference proceedings.

If you would like to suggest a symposium topic, contact Dr. George Flick, Jr., at flickg@vt.edu.

Source: Email to Shrimp News International from George Flick, Jr. (flickg@vt.edu) on October 9, 2007.

United States

Washington State—Aquaculture Certification Council

TraceRegister has been selected as the traceability company for the Best Aquaculture Practices certification program.  Seafood facilities that seek BAP certification and inspections through ACC must participate in the TraceRegister program.

Research shows that food retailers—more than any other link in the food chain—are universally recognized as the most influential monitors of food safety, whether in the United States, European Union or Asia.  Decades of experience have shown that when a product makes consumers sick, retailers and restaurant operators do not blame the food manufacturer; they blame their supplier.

TraceRegister, Inc., offers affordable technology that makes it possible for buyers and sellers to trace, at the click of a button or mouse, a shrimp’s origin, what it was fed, if and when it was medicated and how it was harvested, processed, labeled and shipped.  This traceability complies with both USA country of origin labeling requirements and those specified by European Union food safety authorities.

BAP-certified farms, for example, must maintain production records for each pond that include data on postlarvae, chemical use, effluent water quality and harvest.  This information must also be added via the Internet to the TraceRegister traceability system.

Information: Bill More, Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc., 12815 72nd Avenue, Northeast, Kirkland, WA 98034 USA (phone 425-825-8634, fax 425-671-0146, email wrmore@comcast.net, webpage http://www.aquaculturecertification.org).

Source: The Global Aquaculture Advocate (http://www.gaalliance.org).  Editor, Darryl Jory (dejry2525@aol.com).  TraceRegister Provides Online Traceability For BAP Facilities.  Durward James Hindle III (TraceRegister, Inc., 119 First Avenue South, Suite 440 Seattle, Washington 98104 USA, http://www.traceregister.com).  Volume 10, Issue 5, Page 32, September/October 2007.

Vietnam

Moana Technologies Sets Global Price for Improved Penaeus monodon PLs at $15 per 1,000

Moana Technologies has tested some of its new, genetically improved Penaeus monodon postlarvae in Vietnam.  For the tests, small volumes of PLs were imported, grown to maturity and spawned.  In March 2007, PLs produced from those spawns were stocked into 6-7 demonstration ponds in Vinh Chau, Soc Trang Province.  In April 2007, a limited number of PLs were also supplied to 12-15 shrimp farmers.

At Asian Pacific Aquaculture 2007 (Hanoi, Vietnam, August 13-15, 2007), Yuan Wang, Moana’s CEO, said:

“We have harvested our demonstration ponds so that we could have some results to present at this show.  We used stocking densities of 30 PL/m² in accordance with industry practice.  The culture period was 120 days and survival was 76%, which is higher than the industry average of less than 66%....  The average growth rate was 0.25g/day, and at lower stocking densities, it was 0.3g/day [That’s more than two grams a week!].  We are very pleased with these results as harvest volume was 7.2 tons/ha of 30-35g shrimp....  The ex-farm price of this size shrimp was $5.9 a kilo on July 24, 2007.  Overall we are pleased with the results, especially since growth was uniform and shrimp appearance was good.  ...Our customers are delaying harvest by 30-35 days to obtain larger size shrimp”.

“So far, we have conducted trials in more than 50 ponds and no diseases have been reported in any of the ponds.  There were reports of diseases in neighboring farms.  We also closely followed current practices in Vietnam.  Stocking density is usually low, but with one customer, we stocked at 45-50 PL/m².  Our objective is to work within the parameters of commercial Vietnamese farming practices.  In this way, we can present something meaningful that they can relate to on a day-to-day basis”.

“Our real commercial work will be after the Vietnamese new year in February/March 2008.  Since our customers want this fast we will start with our leased infrastructure.  By 2009, we will go full scale in our new multiplication center.  We have set global pricing for the PLs at $15 per 1,000.”

“Together with each supply, the company provides a certificate for the farmers.  The pedigree is coded in the shrimp origin data. PLs are specific pathogen free for a list of viral diseases....  As new diseases become a threat, they will be added to the list.”

“The customer will be guaranteed that it is a genuine Moana product.  We make delivery direct to the end user.  We do not use middlemen or brokers.  At the farm, we will open the box and supervise the stocking into the customer’s ponds.”

“Before we deliver, our extension and sales team will inspect the ponds.  They will ensure that the farm has a basic program on biosecurity, or they will help the farmer put together a biosecurity program.  This is important to make the best of the PLs.  However, once the PLs are in the ponds, it becomes the responsibility of the farmer to use good management practices including guarding the shrimp from disease introduction so that a successful harvest can be achieved.”

After Vietnam: In India, Moana will work with two companies and the National Fisheries Development Board on the introduction of its new PLs.  After India, Moana’s PLs will be introduced into Thailand, where the market for the black tiger shrimp is...small in comparison to Vietnam and India.  Once the markets are opened in India and Thailand, Moana plans to enter other markets in Asia, the Middle East and, later on, Latin America.

Source: Aqua Culture AsiaPacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email zuridah@aquaasiapac.com, webpage www.aquaasiapac.com).  Moana/Full-Scale Marketing of SPF BT Post Larvae in Vietnam.  Amani Al-Yaquot and Charles M. James.  Volume 3, Number 5, Page 38, September/October 2007.