September 12, 2014

US shrimp imports soar, igniting calls for tighter import controls

US shrimp imports this year are highly likely to surpass the 2013 level of 507,000 tonnes.

Statistics from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that from January to July this year, the US had already imported 297,000 tonnes -- 34,000 tonnes more that its total imports of 263,000 tonnes for the first seven months of 2013.

High imports make American shrimp farmers wary as they cause price depression. Until recently, US shrimp producers were enjoying the highest prices ever for their crops due to lagging imports from Asia, whereoutbreaks of the early mortality syndrome (EMS) disease wrought havoc to thousands of shrimp farms, slashing productions by more than half.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics says shrimp is the most-consumed seafood in the US and the most-imported seafood species.

In 2012, per capita shrimp consumptionin the US was 3.8 pounds, according to data from the bureau.

Since mid-August, dockside prices of shrimp have dropped by more than US$1 per pound because of rising supply in the market.

This has triggered calls to limit imports to stunt price slide. This week, a US senator reiterated the need to enforce regulations meant to slow illegally subsidized dumping of imported shrimp on the US market.

In a letter to the co-chairs of the Presidential Task Force on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud, Senator Mary Landrieusaid that "as a result of these illegal subsidies, global farmed shrimp production is projected to increase 7% in 2014 and 2015, adding approximately 1.3 billion pounds of shrimp into the already depressed US market."

She warned that the"entire US (shrimp) industry faces immediate collapse as the current market situation illustrates," adding"domestic shrimp culture, jobs, revenue and way of life are at risk."