El Niño a double-edged sword for Philippine shrimp farmers

Although El Niño may delay the stocking of shrimp fries and consequently, shrimp harvest, the heat may also sanitising the ponds in Negros Occidental.

Roberto Gatuslao, president of PhilShrimp and chairman of the Negros Shrimp Producers Marketing Cooperative, said the heat is also killing bacteria in the shrimp and shrimp ponds.

Gatuslao said shrimp harvesting would be delayed to October and December this year, instead of August and September, according to reports. Growers are not stocking fries in their ponds now due to the current extreme heat and may do so in May, he said.

He noted that because of the limited supply of shrimp this year, 30-grammers are now selling at PHP360 a kilo from PHP260 last year.

He also maintained that the delay is not expected to cause a drop in shrimp and shrimp production this year.