December 19, 2006

Philippine fishermen protest against revoking ban on white shrimp

Fishermen and non-government organisations in the Philippines criticised the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its plans to lift the ban on the importation and culture of Pacific white shrimp (Peneaus vannamei).
           
The Tambuyog Development Centre has expressed its opposition to the lifting of the banned Pacific white shrimps as the species could bring in deadly shrimp diseases which will severely affect the local industry.

With the DA about to sign the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 207 which will serve as the mandate to allow re-entry of white shrimps, Tambuyog executive director Arsenio Tanchuling said the amendment does not include any socio-environmental safeguards that will prevent the spread of shrimp diseases.

The order, which will take effect on December 20, stipulates that white shrimps cannot be cultivated and can only be used for scientific and educational purposes.

Tanchuling said the FAO does not have a clear directive on whether white shrimps can be legally farmed. 

Emmanuel de la Cruz, chairman of Kilusang Mangingisda, for his part said, his group wants a total ban on Pacific white shrimp because of the "socio-environmental costs" involved in the introduction and culture of this exotic species, such as the entry of foreign shrimp diseases and damage to mangrove and coastal ecosystems caused by irresponsible aquaculture practices.

Tanchuling said the white shrimp species has been smuggled into the country in the second half of the 1990s and is suspected to be the source of the White Spot syndrome virus that has infected local black tiger shrimp in 1997 and halved the country's shrimp production.
           
The fisheries group had earlier noted that the Philippines does not yet have the capability to control or avoid the outbreak or spread of shrimp diseases.