Shrimp production to double in 5 yrs – DA
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is optimistic that domestic shrimp production will double in the next five years and that the
Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras said the move by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap last year to lift the ban on the importation and culture of Pacific white shrimp into the country has resulted in a speedy rebound by the country’s shrimp industry.
The importation and culture of Pacific white shrimp is strictly monitored by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) together with the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC).
The BFAR and SEAFDEC, which is headed by Dr. Joebert Toledo, guarantee that only good-quality and pathogen-free brood stock are produced in the country.
“Because vannamei matures faster, requires less production inputs and has strong resistance to diseases, it is projected that the country will be able to achieve an unprecedented shrimp production volume in excess of 100,000 metric tons (MT) in five years,” Paras said during the recent Philippine Shrimp Congress Inc. in
Paras said the projected volume is more than double the current production of around 30,000 MT of white shrimps and 24,000 MT of prawns or sugpo annually.
“This trend indicates that the 100,000 MT vannamei production target in five years can be easily achieved,” Paras said.
These are the culture of specific-pathogen free (SPF) or specific-pathogen resistant (SPR) broodstock and “high health” fry; use of probiotics, biosecurity measures and other best management practices (BMPs); and the marketing of the right size of shrimps demanded by consumers plus compliance with food safety regulations.
About 60 percent of the country’s shrimp production goes to domestic markets, while the remaining volume is exported to
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