Country Reports

Australia

Maturation of Male Penaeus monodon

Australian researchers have embarked on a project to measure the fertility of male black tiger shrimp and to compare the maturation of males raised in tanks with those raised in ponds.  Perhaps their most interesting finding to date is that males begin to mature at around 20 grams, possibly explaining why females grow faster.  While the males divert energy to sexual maturation, the females use it to produce bigger tails.

Information: Greg Coman, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Australia (phone 07-3826-7320, email greg.coman@csiro.au, webpage http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au).

Source: Queensland Aquaculture News.  Editors, Ross Lobegeiger and Max Wingfield.  Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (Bribie Island Research Centre, P.O. Box 2066, Woorim, Queensland 4507, Australia, phone 07-3400-2040, fax 07-3408-3535).  Marine Prawn Research Update.  Brian Paterson.  Page 5, Issue 32, Received in August 2009.

Brunei

Wanted Foreign Laborers for Shrimp Farms

Shrimp farmers in Brunei prefer to hire foreign workers.  Ammilee Farahiyah, a local shrimp farmer, said that she was keen on employing foreign labor, particularly Indonesians, because they have more experience in aquaculture than locals.  “They (the local people) don’t have the mental capacity to follow things through,” she said, adding that external commitments such as weddings, funerals and other ceremonial duties often interfere with their work at shrimp farms.  She pointed out that working on a shrimp farm was not like working in an office.  She said the farm may need to harvest shrimps at 2:00 a.m., requiring all employees to be present.  “It’s not that we’re reluctant to get locals, it’s just that they don’t have the stamina to stay.”  Training inexperienced workers takes time and it’s wasted when they quit after a couple of months.  Everyone wants to get a job with the government, she said.

Source: BruDirect.com.  SMEs Explain Need for Foreign Workers.  September 8, 2009.

Ecuador 

Source: Boletin Informativo (Ecuador’s Camara Nacional de Acuacultura).  Editor, Jorge Tejada (jtejada@cna-ecuador.com).  Reporte de Mercado de Camarón Agosto/2009.  August 31, 2009.

France

Lallemand Animal Nutrition Shrimp Probiotics

Lallemand Animal Nutrition has announced that the European Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has voted to authorize its “zootechnical” probiotic Bactocell™ (a lactic acid bacteria, Pediococcus acidilactici) as a feed additive in salmonid and shrimp feeds, making it the first probiotic authorized for such use in aquaculture in the European Union.

In European animal nutrition, probiotics are classified as zootechnical feed additives, and as such are subject to very strict scientific assessments, requirements and regulations.  A panel of scientific experts investigates their identity, composition, quality, safety and efficacy on the target species.  It’s a lengthy process that requires a commitment in time and money from the manufacturer.

• In shrimp, Bactocell increases survival and growth.  The trials submitted with the application dossier unequivocally demonstrated beneficial effects in terms of growth, feed utilization and improved resistance to Vibrio.

Lallemand, Inc., is a privately owned Canadian company specialized in yeast and bacteria for animal nutrition, baking, winemaking and the pharmaceutical industries.

Information: Lallemand Animal Nutrition.

Source: Aquafeed.com (The free E-zine for aquafeed professionals).  Bactocell: the First Probiotic Authorized for Use in Aquaculture in the European Union.  Editor, Suzi Fraser Dominy (editor@aquafeed.com).  August 31, 2009.

Indonesia

Shrimp Exports from Lampung Province Drop

In the first half of 2009, the value of Lampung Province’s frozen shrimp exports fell 14% to $169.15 million, compared to the same period in 2008.

Four companies are currently engaged in the production and export of shrimp from Lampung: PT Central Pertiwi Bahari (CPB), PT Central Proteinaprima (CP Prima), PT Indo American Seafood and PT Indokom Samudera Persada.

Most of the big ponds in Lampung are found in Tulang Bawang District, while medium and small-scale shrimp ponds are found in the East Lampung, South Lampung and Pesawaran districts.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service).  Indonesia Reports Shrimp Exports from Lampung Province Off 14 Percent for First Half Year.  Ken Coons (phone 1-781-861-1441, email kencoons@seafood.com).  Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 1-781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com).  August 31, 2009.

Mexico

The World Aquaculture Society Meeting in Veracruz

If you have a last minute announcement about the World Aquaculture Society Meeting in Veracruz (May 25-29, 2009) that you would like to get in the last issue of Free News that will be posted before the meeting, please get it to me by Monday, September 21, 2009, and I’ll do my best to post it.  Product news welcomed.  Special event news welcomed.

Source: Bob Rosenberry, Shrimp News International, September 17, 2009.

Mexico

Probiotics and Antiviral Plants Reduce Mortality and the Prevalence of Whitespot

Abstract: In three experiments, researchers evaluated the protective effect of a probiotic mixture (PM) and antiviral plants against the whitespot syndrome virus (WSSV) in Litopenaeus vannamei.  The PM was composed of four lactic acid bacteria and one yeast strain.  The plant mixture was composed of Ocimum sanctum (basil, the herb) and other antiviral plants.  Shrimp in each experiment (weighing 2.7±0.7, 11.5±1.3, 11.70±2.5 grams) were cultured in 120-L plastic tanks and fed twice a day with a commercial feed in combination with the antiviral plants, bacteria and yeast.  Animals were monitored for the occurrence of WSSV by single-step and nested PCR.

The PM and powdered antiviral plants added to the commercial feed showed an increase in survival and a decrease in the prevalence of WSSV in shrimp.  The results showed that both the PM and the powdered antiviral plants can provide protection against WSSV.

Source: Aquaculture Research.  Probiotic Microorganisms and Antiviral Plants Reduce Mortality and Prevalence of WSSV in Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Cultured Under Laboratory Conditions.  Viridiana Peraza-Gómez, Antonio Luna-González (aluna@ipn.mx, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Sinaloa, Boulevard Juan de Dios Bátiz Paredes 250, Guasave, Sinaloa 81101, Mexico), Ángel Campa-Córdova, Melina López-Meyer, Jesús A Fierro-Coronado and Píndaro Álvarez-Ruiz.  Volume 40, Issue 13, Page 1481.  Published online on April 26, 2009.

New Zealand

Video—Freshwater Prawn Farm

Not your run-of-the-mill freshwater prawn farm, Huka Prawn Park is geothermal, runs a fish-out operation for prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a tourist shop and a restaurant.  It even has a driving range called “Killer Prawn Golf”.  You guessed it!  The golfers get to hit balls into the prawn ponds.

For a three-minute video interview with one of the farm’s owners, click on the link in the Source below.

Source: YouTube.  Fresh Water Prawns Farm byAsiatravel.com.  August 25, 2009.

Philippines

Thailand’s CPF Builds Shrimp Feedmill

Charoen Pokphand Foods, Plc. (CPF), the flagship of the Charoen Pokphand Group, plans to build a $41 million, 30,000-ton shrimp feedmill on the island of Cebu.

Adirek Sripatak, CPF’s president and CEO, said the company’s net income for the first six months of the year rose to nearly $117 million on sales of $2.2 billion.

Source: Bangkok Post.  Business/CPF to Invest B1.5bn in Philippines.  August 26, 2009.

Thailand

Shrimp Farmers Submit New Plan to Stabilize Prices

Shrimp farmers plan to submit a plan to the government that supports a new program to stabilize shrimp prices.  It would replace the current price support scheme that has caused huge financial burdens on the government and taxpayers for years.  Poj Aramwattananont, honorary adviser to the Thai Frozen Food Association, said the current program “deepened corruption” and did little to improve prices.

Under the new program, Poj said the government will set reference prices based on production costs, export prices, exchange rates and farmers’ profits.  If market prices fall below the reference price, the government will absorb the difference.

Source: Boletin Informativo (Ecuador’s Camara Nacional de Acuacultura).  Editor, Jorge Tejada (jtejada@cna-ecuador.com).  Thai Shrimpers Back Price Stabilization Plan.  August 26, 2009.

Thailand

The Rubicon Group

The Rubicon Group, a major Thai shrimp exporter, expects to export $300 million in shrimp to the USA in 2009, up from $260 million in 2008.

In January 2009, The USA Department of Commerce excluded the Rubicon Group from dumping duties on frozen shrimp sold in the USA.

According to the Thai Frozen Foods Association, the promising USA market and a more stable baht helped increase Thai shrimp exports in the first half of 2009 to 152,114 tons, from 138,673 tons in the same period last year.  Export revenue also rose to just over a $1 billion from $920 million a year earlier.

Average export prices for shrimp dropped to $6.40 per kilogram, down from $6.77 in 2008.

The United States imports more Thai shrimp than any other country.  In 2008, it imported 154,000 tons, representing 46% of Thai shrimp exports.

Rubicon Group head Poj Aramwattananont said the USA economic recession had affected shrimp sales to the food service sector because consumers have stopped eating out.  “Like many countries, USA consumers prefer buying raw materials or semi-finished meals to cook at home, creating strong retail sales,” he said.  The trend led the company to focus more on the retail market and it has ambitions to increase its retail sales volume to 70% soon, from the current 30% to 40%.  It plans to offer more ready-to-eat and semi-cooked products for the USA market.

Source: Bangkok Post.  Zero Duty Brightens Rubicon Outlook.  Walailak Keeratipipatpong.  August 27, 2009.

Thailand

Blogger’s Pictures of a Friend’s Harvest

For sixteen pictures of a shrimp harvest in Thailand, click on the link in the Source below.  The series of pictures begins with workers sorting and icing the harvest and ends with pictures of the actual harvest.  The blogger says:

“Next we drove to the pond to watch the harvesting process.  Workers were dragging a net across the pond from one end to the other.  This part of work is outsourced to a specialized contractor.  The operator has more than a hundred teams, each with about a dozen workers!  So one can imagine the vibrancy of harvesting biz in this region!  But according to another friend, the scale of farming output here is small compared to southern Thailand.”

Source: South-of-bangkok.blogspot.com.  South of Bangkok and Beyond.  Harvest Time at a Shrimp Farm.  August 24, 2009.

United Arab Emirates

Job—Abu Dhabi

A company in Abu Dhabi has a position open for a shrimp hatchery manager.  The job requires a degree in aquaculture, fisheries or mariculture.  Duties will include broodstock maintenance, nauplii production and water quality management.

Salary: Based on experience

Closing Date: October 10, 2009

Contact: Email juliekuruttu@yahoo.co.in.

Source: AquaNic (The Aquaculture Network Information Center, a gateway to the world’s electronic aquaculture resources).  Jobs Directory in cooperation with the WAS Employment Service.  Search jobs.  Hatchery Technician (http://aquanic.org/jobs/jobinfo.asp?jobid=3221).  Posted September 5, 2009.

United States

Hawaii—Shrimp Farming Technology Meeting

Oceanic Institute’s Shrimp 2009 Conference, “Integrated Technologies for Advanced Shrimp Production,” will be held October 13-15, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The conference will focus on the current status of shrimp farming technology worldwide and provide information on biosecurity, disease management and genetic improvements.

This small, 3-day conference offers participants many opportunities for interaction and discussion with the renowned plenary speakers.

Plan to stay an extra day and tour The Oceanic Institute on Friday, October 16, 2009.

The Program and Presenters

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Mirroring Each Other—Shrimp Farming in the East and the West (I.C. Liao)

Maturation of the Global Shrimp Farming Industry: Challenges and Opportunities (Shaun Moss)

Challenge to Innovative Aquaculture Technology for Sound Production of Kuruma Shrimp Penaeus japonicus in Japan (Shunsuke Koshio)

Performance of a Closed Recirculating System with Foam Separation, Nitrification and Denitrification Units for Intensive Culture of Kuruma Shrimp Penaeus japonicus (Yoshihiro Suzuki)

Environmental Management of Shrimp Farms in Asia to Promote Healthy Shrimp and Reduce Negative Impacts (Claude Boyd)

Studies for Genetic Improvement of Shrimp in China (Jianhai Xiang)

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Global Status of Significant Infectious Diseases of Farmed Shrimp (Don Lightner)

Emerging Diseases in Shrimp Culture: Overview of Viral and Bacterial Diseases in America (Marcela Salazar)

Evolutionary Context for Shrimp Health Management (Jeff Lotz)

Kuruma Shrimp: Development and Evaluation of Real-Time, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Penaeid Viruses (Toshiaki Itami)

Advances in Diagnosis and Prevention of White Spot Disease Using Molecular Technologies (Grace Chu-Fang Lo)

Application of RNA Interference to White Spot Syndrome Virus Inhibition in Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon (Pongsopee Attasart)

Kuruma Shrimp—Expression Analysis of Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Kuruma Shrimp Treated with DNA Vaccine against White Spot Disease Virus (Masahiro Sakai)

Kuruma Shrimp: Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing of White Spot Disease Virus (WSDV) in Kuruma Shrimp Penaeus japonicus by Using Sequence-Specific, Double-Stranded DNA (Raja Sudhakaran)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Integration of Quantitative and Molecular Genetics in Shrimp Breeding (John Benzie)

Selective Breeding of Penaeus japonicus and Penaeus monodon (Nigel Preston)

Genetic Improvement and Farming Technological Innovation of Fleshy Shrimp Penaeus chinensis in China (Qingyin Wang)

Kuruma Shrimp/Identification and Expression Analysis of Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene in Kuruma Shrimp Penaeus japonicus (Mari Inada)

Exploitation and Application of DNA Markers in the Breeding Program of Chinese Fleshy Shrimp, Penaeus chinensis (Jie Kong)

Genetics of Shrimp Penaeus vannamei Reproduction (Ana Ibarra)

Effects of Inbreeding on the Performance of Pacific White Shrimp Penaeus vannamei: Consequences to Breeding Companies and Commercial Farms (Dustin Moss)

Genetics of Disease Resistance in Shrimp (Arun Dhar)

Reproductively Sterile, All-Female Penaeid Shrimp: Progress on Technology Development (Melony Sellars)

Information: Cheng Sheng Lee, Executive Director
, Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, 
The Oceanic Institute, 
41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, 
Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795, USA (phone 1-808-259-3107, email cslee@oceanicinstitute.org, webpage
 http://www.oceanicinstitute.org).

Sources: 1. Email to Shrimp News International from Pat O’Bryen on May 26, 2009.  2. Email from Cheng Sheng Lee (cslee@oceanicinstitute.org) to Shrimp News International on September 4, 2009.

United States

Indiana—Freshwater Prawns, Great Pictures and Video

The outstanding feature of this two-minute video is the high resolution of the photography (compared to other videos on YouTube).  With banjo music in the background, you see some good close ups of prawns, but more important, you get to see how a small prawn farm markets its product and image with video technology.

Information: Robin Nix, Owner, R&R Shrimp Farm, Midway, Indiana, USA (http://www.rrshrimpfarm.com).

Source: YouTube.  Starred Photos (Announcing Shrimp Harvest, September 12, 2009).  September 1, 2009.

United States

Louisiana—Jindal

The Associated Press reports:

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has asked the Food and Drug Administration to increase “enforcement practices” on imported shrimp.

On September 4, 2009, he sent a letter to Margaret Hamburg, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, asking for an increase in “sampling and other enforcement practices”.

He said the change is needed because of the “possible presence of contaminants, additives and antibiotic-resistant organisms” in foreign shrimp.

Angry that the price of shrimp is so low, hundreds of Louisiana shrimpers have protested at the State Capitol twice in the past month.

Some of them met last month with Jindal, who has since created a shrimp task force and ordered state agencies to make sure they’re using Louisiana shrimp.

Source: NOLA.com.  Jindal Urges Crackdown on Imported Shrimp.  September 5, 2009.

United States

Maryland—Marvesta Shrimp Farms, Video

For a seven-minute video of Marvesta Shrimp Farms, a small, greenhouse-enclosed farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, click here.  Then click the Download Button on the page that appears, and the video should pop open in your video player.

The video begins with the scene from the movie Forrest Gump where Bubba talks on an on about the different ways of cooking shrimp.  Then Scott Fritze, one of three co-owners of Marvesta, explains some of the environmental advantages of farming shrimp in controlled environments.  Fritze says the farm uses no chemicals and no antibiotics and sells only fresh chilled shrimp.  The video shows a sweeping view of the entire farm and views of the interior of the greenhouses.

Source: DigitalCommons@UM Law.  Student Environmental Law Films.  Paper 12.  Marvesta Shrimp.  Eva Cabot, Aminah Famili, Jesse Iliff, Emily Lipps, Megan Mueller and Limor Weizmann.  2009.

United States

Washington DC—Aquaculture Stewardship Council Names New Development Director

Dr. Philip Smith, a former salmon farm executive, has been named development director of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), which will oversee the certification of fish and shrimp farms worldwide.

Formed in January 2009, ASC will be responsible for hiring independent, third-party auditors to certify that farms comply with the standards for responsible seafood farming currently being developed by World Wildlife Fund’s Aquaculture Dialogues.

WWF and the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative are funding the development of a business plan for the ASC that is expected to be operational by 2011.

Smith, who has 35 years of experience in the aquaculture industry, was the managing director of Marine Harvest Europe, the world’s largest farmed salmon producer, from 2004 to 2007.  Previously, he was managing director of the fish feed division at Nutreco and CEO of fish feed manufacturer EWOS.

Source: SeafoodSource.com.  Editor Steven Hedlund (shedlune@divcom.com).  Seafood News/Aquaculture/ASC appoints development director.  September 3, 2009.

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