January 11, 2007

Indonesia extends shrimp import ban

Indonesia has extended its shrimp import ban to June 2007 to prevent shrimp diseases from affecting domestic shrimps.

Shrimps prohibited include fresh and frozen vannamei, windu (monodon), and blue (stylirostris) shrimps.

Indonesia has banned the shrimps since December 28, 2005.

The government said it effected the ban as shrimps affected by disease viruses in the international market is high. The country itself is still trying to contain the circulation of the virus.

The regulation would be valid for the next six months and can be extended for another six months.

However, imports of shrimps for the purpose of scientific researches are allowed with written approvals from authorities.

Processors are worried that imported shrimps, especially from China, still carry viruses, that is why the ban was extended, said Director General of Fisheries Product Marketing and Processing Martani Huseini.

Still, the import ban has benefited the local shrimp processing industry.

Last year, one of shrimp-producing provinces, East Java, saw an increase in shrimp production after the ban was imposed. The Shrimp Farmers and Fishermen Union (Sentak) said shrimp production volume has increased 50 percent since the ban was imposed.