Country Reports

Australia

Queensland—Selling Wild-Caught Shrimp to the United States

Because the state of Queensland’s shrimp fishing fleet now complies with USA laws on turtle excluder devices, it will be able to export shrimp to the USA for the first time.

Winston Harris, CEO of the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, said the state’s shrimp fishermen welcomed the news.  “It’s a massive market [the USA], and industry worked closely with government for years to try and get this accreditation through.”  Harris said exports of mostly large king shrimp (Penaeus plebejus) will begin this summer.

Source: ABC Royal.  Queensland Cracks US Prawn Market.  May 13, 2010.

Brazil

June 2011—WAS Sponsored Conference, Shrimp Session

Scheduled for June 2011, in Natal, Brazil, “FENACAM 2010” promises to be the biggest aquaculture trade show/conference ever in Latin America.  It includes the Seventh International Symposium on Shrimp Farming and the Fourth International Symposium on Aquaculture.  At the shrimp symposium, Brazil’s leading experts will talk about technologies that can make shrimp farming more productive, competitive and profitable.

Information: For information on reservations, trade show booths, airfares and hotels, go to FENACAM’s website (http://www.fenacam.com.br, email fenacam@fenacam.com.br, Skipe fenacam, phone +55-84-3234-8812).

Information: John Cooksey, World Aquaculture Conference Management, PO Box 2302, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA (phone 1-760-751-5005, fax 1-760-751-5003, email worldaqua@aol.com).

Source: Panorama Acuicola Magazine (celebrating 15 years of publication).  Editor Salvador Meza García (direcciongeneral@design-publications.com).  Advertisement/FENACAM 2010.  Volume-15, Number-4, Pages 8–9, May/June 2010.

Brazil/Japan

Will Brazil Import Shrimp from Japan?

With the Japanese market shrinking, Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., a commercial fishing and marine product procurement company that had revenues of $4.7 billion in 2004, is seeking growth opportunities in emerging markets where consumption of fish and shellfish is expected to increase.  It recently purchased a majority interest in Brazilian seafood firm Netuno Alimentos SA for around $16 million.

In 2006, Netuno owned a large shrimp farm in northeast Brazil that was not subject to USA tariffs!  Currently, Netuno sells frozen seafood, fresh fish and farmed shrimp worth more than $100 million a year.  It also exports lobster to North America and will tap Nippon Suisan’s sales network to offer seafood in Europe, China and elsewhere in Asia.

Source: Seafood.com (an online, subscription-based, fisheries news service).  Nippon Suisan to Buy Majority Stake in Brazil’s Netuno/Use Own Sales Network to Move Products.  Editor and Publisher, John Sackton (phone 1-781-861-1441, email jsackton@seafood.com).  May 25, 2010.

Brazil

Genearch Aquacultura Breeding SPF Shrimp

Significant advances have been made in the development of specific pathogen-free white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) that perform well in intensive production systems.  In tests, some animals stocked at 167.5 shrimp/m² averaged weekly growth rates of 1.5 grams and harvests of 2.64 kg/m².

In 2006, Genearch Aquacultura, a Brazilian shrimp-breeding company associated with Aquatec, the leading commercial shrimp hatchery in Brazil, initiated the specific pathogen-free (SPF) era in Brazil with SPF Penaeus vannamei imports.  After a series of comprehensive commercial field tests in local ponds, Genearch concluded that it should combine its six SPF founder populations into a composite SPF population, while also maintaining the six founder populations as a genetic reservoir.

For family identification, when juveniles reach two grams, they are implanted with elastomer tags.  One batch of 60 full-sib families is produced every three months.  Some 500 to 600 tagged animals per family are subjected to performance tests and 150 of them are pond tested.  The pond tests are managed under commercial conditions.

Genearch maintains two breeding lines.  One line targets semi-intensive systems with stocking densities under 40 shrimp/m².  The other line targets intensive systems with stocked densities of 100-200 shrimp/m².  Intensive systems are rare in Brazil, but could become more important in the future.

Source: The Global Aquaculture Advocate (free online edition).  Editor, Darryl Jory (dejry2525@aol.com).  Innovation/SPF Shrimp Breeding in Brazil/Genetic, Phenotypic Trends after Generation of Selection.  João L. Rocha, Ph.D. (johnrocha@genearch.com.br, Genearch Aquacultura, Lda., Praia de Pititinga RN, CEP 59578, Brazil), Ana C. Guerrelhas, Ana K. Teixeira, Flávio A. Farias and Ana P. Teixeira.  Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 80, May/June 2010.

China

Kentucky Fried “SHRIMP”

Yum! Brands, Inc., is a Fortune 500 corporation that operates or licenses Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Wingstreet, Long John Silver’s and A&W restaurants.  Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world’s largest fast food company with over 36,000 outlets in more than a 110 countries and territories.

Joaquin Pelaez, senior vice president for product excellence at Yum! Brands, says Kentucky Fried Chicken has become the most recognizable brand in all of China, where it is currently building 500 new stores a year!  According to Pelaez, Chinese consumers love the brand and in general prefer western brands because they are highly trusted.  KFC has focused on building that trust with a total commitment to food safety and then publicizing that commitment.  In the USA, food safety is taken for granted, but in China food safety has been a major point of KFC’s marketing message.  It absolutely guarantees that all its products are safe.

Pelaez said KFC had localized its products and stores to appeal to the Chinese consumer.  It typically introduces 120 new products a year.  In addition to chicken, it serves beef, pork—and shrimp!

Source: PigProgress.net.  KFC: Also Serving Pork in China.  May 24, 2010.

Ecuador

Whitespot—Ten Years Ago

On June 17, 2000, Emilio Estrada, a shrimp farmer in Ecuador, reported: With the change of seasons in May 1999, whitespot hit with a vengeance.  Before that date, Ecuador produced 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of shrimp per hectare per year with 40% to 60% survivals.  After May 1999, survivals dropped to 30%.  During the first half of 2000, production continued to drop.  Currently [Remember this is from June 2000.]. survival rates are between 6 and 15%, and production has dropped to 250 to 450 pounds per hectare.  In 1998, Ecuador exported $900 million worth of shrimp; in 1999, $620 million.  This year that figure is likely to drop to $315 million.  Farmers have tried lower stocking densities, antibiotics, enzymes and better feeds, but nothing seems to work.

Source: World Shrimp Farming 2000.  Shrimp News International.  Ecuador/Nothing Works.  Number 13, Page 34, December 6, 2010.

India

The First 1,000 Hectares of Vannamei Ponds!

During fiscal year 2009-2010, according to officials at India’s Marine Exports Product Development Authority (MPEDA), total aquaculture production reached 106,000 metric tons, an increase of more than 30% over the previous fiscal year.

Shrimp production from coastal farms was 75,997 metric tons from 108,000 hectares of ponds.  Compared to the previous year, production dropped about 28% and the area in production about 11%.

Production of shrimp is likely to get a boost in the 2010–2011 fiscal year from over 1,000 hectares of new Penaeus vannamei ponds, said Anwar Hashim, national president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).  Currently, competition from countries like Thailand and Indonesia that produce P. vannamei is severely affecting the profitability and production of giant tiger shrimp (P. monodon) in India, MPEDA sources said.

Production of freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium sp) during the year was 12,806 metric tons from 1,644 hectares of ponds, a drop of 53% in production and 63% in pond area.  The decline in production was attributed to the global economic crisis, which resulted in a reduction of international prices for seafood products in general and prawns in particular.

Source: The Financial Express.  Aquaculture Production up 30% Last Fiscal.  May 24, 2010.

Indonesia

How Serious is the Virus Problem in Indonesia

This short discussion took place on the The Shrimp List, a mailing list for the shrimp farming industry:

Attilio Castano (attilio.castano@gmail.com): Can someone confirm the following rumors?

I have heard that Indonesia has seen a significant drop in shrimp production because of diseases.

I have also heard that Thailand is having problems.

Harry Han (hanharryca@yahoo.com): Indonesia has a very bad situation in Lampung, Sumatra.  CP Prima is trying to push lower quality feeds on farmers that use high stocking densities, claiming that its postlarvae are bred to consume lower protein feeds.  That’s BS.

Billy (surijo_setio@yahoo.com): Yup, in the last 18 months, Indonesia shrimp farming industry has experienced many disease outbreakes.  Our production has dropped quite a lot.  CP Prima is the biggest producer, and it has had disease problems for the last 12 months.  This cycle, its production will probably drop by 50%.

Harry Han (hanharryca@yahoo.com): High-quality postlarvae are the most important thing for a shrimp farmer.  If CP’s postlarvae have problems, how come they’re still selling them at high prices to poor farmers?

Source: The Shrimp List (a mailing list for shrimp farmers).  Subject: Shrimp Production.  May 15, 2010.

Spain

Pescanova’s Big First Quarter

The Spanish multinational Pescanova, which owns the largest shrimp farming operation in the western hemisphere, earned $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2010, a 5.1 percent increase over the same period in 2009.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were $37.8 million, 11.6 percent higher than in the first three months of 2009.

According to Pescanova, the increase in earnings reflects “the impact of investments made in the last few years in the areas of shrimp and salmon farming” and in their commercial divisions.

At the end of the first quarter of 2010, Pescanova had 9,736 employees.

Source: FIS United States.  Pescanova Reports a 5.1 Per Cent Hike in Q1 Profits.  Analia Murias (editorial@fis.com).  May 18, 2010.

Thailand

Operating Costs at a Typical Shrimp Farm—by Robins McIntosh

The May/June 2010 issue of The Global Aquaculture Advocate (the free online edition) contains a great article by Robins McIntosh, Senior Vice President of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co., Ltd., on the costs—especially the labor costs—at a typical shrimp farm in Thailand.  In the late 1990s, McIntosh managed Belize Aquaculture, Ltd., one of the most advanced shrimp farms in the world.  Here are a few excerpts from his long article in The Advocate:

The year 2009 was a good one for Thai shrimp farmers, with crop failure rates less than 2%, pond survivorship above 85% and growth rates that enabled farmers to harvest shrimp at 60/kg in less than 90 days with feed-conversion ratios of less than 1.3.

Thailand harvested around 563,000 metric tons of shrimp from 52,000 hectares of ponds in 2009.

Thai shrimp farming is just another example of why farming is always more cost effective than hunting.  The dynamic changes that started in 2002 not only spawned claims that low international trade prices were due to low wages, but also charges that the low prices were due to unfair subsidies by the Thai government.  For that charge, the Thai industry has had to pay a duty to the United States since 2004.  We never question why chicken prices have fallen, why pork prices have fallen or why the United States is a leader in corn products.  The answer is technology and not low-cost, abused labor or a subsidized industry.  The same can be said for shrimp prices in this modern age of aquaculture.

Source: The Global Aquaculture Advocate (free online edition).  Editor, Darryl Jory (dejry2525@aol.com).  Advocacy/The True Cost of Thai Shrimp.  Robins McIntosh (Senior Vice President, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co., C.P. Tower 27 Floor, 313 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand, email robmc101@yahoo.com).  Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 87, May/June 2010.

United Kingdom

Put Another Shrimp on the Barbie

CP Foods (UK) will soon begin marketing frozen and chilled shrimp kebabs for grilling and barbequing.  Three of the top four supermarkets in the United Kingdom are scheduled to carry them.  Linda Beresford, CP Foods Commercial Manager, said: “The BBQ category needed a bit of a shake up, so we’ve created a range of kebabs that focus on shrimp, which are becoming increasingly popular.  They include Sweet Chili Shrimp Skewers and Marinated Shrimp Skewers.”

Source: TalkingRetail.com.  CPF Makes a Splash in the BBQ Market.  May 24, 2010.

United States

Texas—Replacing Fishmeal in Shrimp Feeds

Bacterial single-cell protein (SCP) produced by Colorado-based biotechnology company, Oberon FMR, Inc., closely mimics fishmeal in its amino acid profile, has crude protein values in excess of 63% and is economically competitive with premium protein ingredients.  The process is sustainable, does not rely on marine resources, and has significant potential as a protein ingredient in a wide variety of aquafeeds, including those for white shrimp Penaeus vannamei.

To evaluate the performance of Oberon’s SCP, Texas A&M University’s AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory in Port Aransas, Texas, conducted preliminary trials using white shrimp as the test animal.  Shrimp were stocked at a density of 222 animals/m³ (tank bottom area = 0.10 m², stocking size = 0.27 ± 0.01 g) and fed one of two diets over a period of 5 weeks.  One diet was commercially available and contained 8% fishmeal, and the other contained the same feed with the fishmeal replaced with Oberon’s SCP.  Using an automatic feeder, diets were offered in excess of satiation fifteen times a day.  Natural feeds were not available to the shrimp and water quality and culture conditions were not limiting to growth.

Results showed that the shrimp fed Oberon’s SCP performed as well or better than those receiving fishmeal.  The SCP-fed shrimp had survivals of 92%, grew at 1.65 grams per week and had a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.54; while the fishmeal group had survival of 88%, grew at 1.52 grams per week and exhibited a FCR of 1.84.  Though preliminary, these results demonstrate the significant potential of Oberon’s SCP product to replace a substantial portion of fishmeal in shrimp feeds.  Ongoing work includes large-scale trials with shrimp as well as trout, salmon and tilapia.

Information: Andy Logan, Vice President of Research and Development, Oberon FMR, Inc., 1630 Miner Street, Suite 200, PO Box 675, Idaho Springs, Colorado 80452, USA (email andy@oberonfmr.com, webpage http://www.oberonfmr.com/home.htm).

Information: John Cooksey, World Aquaculture Conference Management, P.O. Box 2302, Valley Center, California 92082, USA (phone 1-760-751-5005, fax 1-760-751-5003, email worldaqua@aol.com, webpage https://www.was.org/Main/Default.asp).

Source: World Aquaculture Society.  The CD of World Aquaculture 2010.  Effect of Single-Cell Protein as a Feed Ingredient on Growth and Survival of Litopenaeus Vannamei in an Indoor Growth Trial Operated at High Recirculation.  Andrew J. Logan, Susmita Patnaik and Addison Lawrence.  San Diego, California, USA, March 2010.

United States

Florida—Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold

After reading Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold by Jack and Anne Rudloe, Adirek Sripratak, CEO and President of CP Foods, invited the Rudloes to Thailand for a two-week, expense-paid tour of CP’s shrimp farms and processing plants.  Jack Rudloe, whose book describes the plight of the commercial shrimp fisherman, was favorably impressed with the Thai shrimp farming industry, but added that he would always be a fan of shrimp boats and wild-caught shrimp.

Source: Tallahassee.com.  Bonnie Holub: The Rudloes Know Shrimp, and You Can, Too.  Bonnie Holub.  May 22, 2010.

United States

Virginia—Cobia Farm Gets Money for Shrimp Research

Recently, at Virginia Tech’s Southwest Virginia Aquaculture Research and Extension Center in Saltville, a small gathering of town leaders, Virginia Tech personnel and representatives from Virginia Cobia Farms (VCF) heard Congressman Rick Boucher announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Small Business Innovation Research division had awarded a $80,000 grant to VCF.  Spread over nine months, the grant will support development of feed products and water additives for inland shrimp farms.  The grant is just the first phase of the company’s plans for shrimp research.  After six months, it will compete for another $400,000 grant to support the project.

Loosely following a prepared statement, Boucher said the partnership between Virginia Cobia Farms and Virginia Tech will “improve the production performance and economic efficiency of inland marine shrimp aquaculture, which will in turn provide a safe and healthy supply of shrimp to U.S. consumers.  The domestic production of shrimp will enable better control over the use of antibiotics or other chemicals in the shrimp, ensuring that the supply of shrimp for U.S. consumers will be healthy and contaminant-free.”

Novus International, a large, privately held animal nutrition and technology company, has provided $30,000 toward the project and will assist in commercializing the technologies developed by the project, Boucher said.

In addition, the Virginia Tobacco Commission has contributed $435,000 to Virginia Tech for the development of saltwater and freshwater shrimp aquaculture products.

Source: SWVA Today.  Developing Future of Seafood in Saltville.  Stephanie Porter-Nichols and Dan Kegley (with contributions from Debra McCown).  May 18, 2010.

United States

Virginia—Video About a Fire at a Prawn Nursery

On April 2, 2010, a fire destroyed Strawberry Creek Shrimp Farm, a freshwater prawn nursery that sold juvenile prawns to regional prawn farms.  The fire caused $60,000 in damage and killed 300,000 prawns.  For a six-minute video about the fire, click on the link in the Source below.  The video shows pictures of the farm before the fire and provides a brief history of the farm.  In the video, Leilani Cochran, co-owner of the farm with her husband Eddie, said: “Of course, we have insurance and that will help reconstruct the building and replace the tools, but unlike most farmers, our livestock itself was not covered.  We are literally squeaking by with a garden hose, extension cords and a shoestring budget trying to save some of the few prawns we have left.  We are committed to filling all of our farmers’ orders....  The loss of income this year will make it extremely difficult for us to continue.  The projected number of juvenile prawns needed for 2011 is close to one million.”

The video ends with a pitch for an e-book on freshwater prawn farming, the proceeds of which will help pay for the reconstruction of the farm.

Information: Leilani and Eddie Cochran, Strawberry Creek Shrimp Farm, 621 High View Lane, Chatham, Virginia 24531, USA (phone 1-434-432-1636, webpage http://www.strawberrycreekshrimpfarm.com).

Source: YouTube.  Fire Devastates US Prawn Farm.  May 11, 2010.