April 14, 2006

Iceland makes foray into shrimp farming

75 percent of the world's shrimp farms are found in the warmer parts of Asia, and the rest is found in Latin America, where the tropical climate favours shrimp farming.

So, it is highly unusual when Iceland, where the mean annual temperature is 5 deg C, announced it is importing technology to build a shrimp farm that could supply its entire restaurant industry. 

The technology, to be imported from a New Zealand-based company would make use of the geothermal resources of Iceland. Iceland is a volcanic island with extensive geothermal activity. 

New Zealand Prawns limited was first approached by Iceland six years ago for advice on how best to use the geothermal resources in their country.

The company, which runs the only geothermal prawn farm in the world, has now sold 50 percent of its technology to Iceland and is helping them construct their own farm.

The company has recent achieved success in hatching prawns under Icelandic conditions.