Across the Mekong Delta, although some scientists have announced the cause of recent massive shrimp deaths, farmers have decided to sell shrimp early to cut their losses.
Initial statistics from the Sub-department of Fisheries in Tra Vinh Province showed that from 2,000 tonnes of shrimp already harvested, around 60% were harvested early. A similar situation is reported in Tien Giang Province.
Last month, scientists of the University of Arizona said they had identified the cause of early mortality syndrome (EMS) in the Mekong Delta: Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Although the sub-department of fisheries in Soc Trang Province is testing shrimp for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, there is no effective treatment for it.
"Although the cause has been identified, no solutions have been worked out," said Mai Thanc Loc, head of the provincial agricultural and aquatic extension centre of the province of Tien Giang.
The Animal Health Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has asked shrimp farmers to farm shrimp that comes from places they know and to quarantine certificates of veterinary offices.
Shrimp harvested early cannot be exported because they are too small and are consumed domestically. Although estimates are expected to exceed US$1.03 billion in the first half of 2013, an increase of 1.5% on-year, Vietnam's shrimp exports have been forecast to be up against many hardships in second half of 2013.
In January-March 2013, Vietnam exported US$424.7 million of shrimp products, down 2.6% over the same period of last year. Japan was number one with imports of US$107.5 million, taking up 25% of the market, followed by the US with US$88 million and 20.66% of sales.
Third came China and Hong Kong with US$61.5 million and 14.48% of the market. The EU imported US$56.6 million worth of shrimp products and occupied 13.3% of the market.
A report by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) on Vietnam's seafood production and exports in the year's first five months states that the expected difficulties are mainly caused by the recent preliminary decision of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) on anti-subsidy tax imposed on Vietnamese frozen shrimp, which will lead US shrimp importers to offer Vietnam less business.
In contrast, Ecuador and Indonesia, Vietnam's shrimp export competitors, will be able to increase their exports to the US.
VASEP said that Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan in the first five months of 2013 rose only 3% on-year because of the impact of the yen depreciation. Regarding the EU, exports are also forecast to remain low in the third quarter as the economic crisis in Europe continues.
