August 29, 2013

 

Early mortality syndrome causes death of Mexican shrimps

 

 

In a meeting between Mexican officials and producers with international experts, it was identified that early mortality syndrome was the cause of the mass death of shrimp in farms in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit.

 

The participants in the meeting included representatives of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA), of the National Agrifood Sanitary, Safety and Quality Service (SENASICA) and of the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO).

 

At that meeting, Victoria Alday-Sanz, the director of shrimp health of Pescanova and a recognised worldwide specialist, confirmed the presence of early mortality syndrome in the country.

 

The specialist noted that this disease has been in Asia for four years, and while this problem has not been solved yet, the causative agent is known -- a strain of the bacterium Vibrio panahemoliticus.

 

"The fact that it has appeared here in Mexico and has been identified so quickly is a big advantage. It allows us to use all the technology and knowledge that has been accumulated in Asia," Alday-Sanz added.

 

The diagnosis was revealed by Donald Lightner, considered an authority on food safety and aquatic health, Diario Noroeste informed. Anyway, it's a virtually unknown evil, which is under investigation, the expert stressed.

 

Meanwhile, CONAPESCA head, Mario Aguilar Sanchez, said that after the tour performed by the delegates of Pescanova and FAO in the affected farms, the need to address new protocols to control the disease was addressed.

 

"In Asia it has been present for four years, and although it may be harmful to production, the shrimp is still exported to the main markets of the world, the EU and the US, which shows that it is not only our finding, but that of the international community," the Mexican official added.

 

He also commented that because more than 90% of the shrimp farms were affected in the northwest of the country, it is expected that soon the support scheme will be set for producers.

 

The experts that had been invited, including Melba Reantaso, FAO Fishery Resources official, visited several farms in the southern area of Sonora, such as Granja Bio-Soles.

 

In addition, the shrimp packing plant CPC Aquaproceso, in the town of Bácum, in Sonora, was also visited; as well as the farms of Los Mochis, in Sinaloa, reported the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa).