February 21, 2007

Philippines soon to export p. vannamei white shrimps

A Philippine Congress representative has expressed optimism that the country will soon be a top exporter of peneaus vannamei or white shrimps.

House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., said the raising of white shrimp variety has already proliferated in the Philippines after its successful experiment conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

De Venecia has initiated the experiment which was done at the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Centre in Dagupan City (NIFTDC) along with BFAR National Director Malcolm Sarmiento and NIFTDC Westley Rosario.  

The white shrimp was expected to replace the indigenous tiger prawns which were attacked by a deadly virus a few years ago.

The initial fry produced by the breeders imported from Hawaii were disseminated by BFAR to farms of licensed cooperatives in Luzon region that are now producing extensive harvests of the stock.

Until last year, importation of p. vannamei white shrimp was banned by the BFAR unless for purposes of research.

However, the government eventually lifted the ban on the importation and growing of p. vannamei with the initial success of the experiment on the shrimp specie.

De Venecia said if the experiment is completed, he would ask the BFAR to introduce the culture of p. vannamei shrimp along with milkfish, the traditional product of fish farms in Pangasinan.