Indonesia shrimp farmers welcome import ban

Shrimp breeders has lauded the move to ban imports of vannamei shrimp, effective December 23, as it is believed the policy will help improve the local industry.

The regulation is valid for six months and can be extended for another six months. It was issued as an effort to put a stop to the supply of shrimps that were infected by a dangerous virus in the international market.

Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI) chairman Iwan Sutanto said the country can produce its own vannamei shrimps. However, the processing industry claims they lack vannamei shrimp and wants them to be imported.

Iwan said annual shrimp production can reach 400,000 tonnes by 2010.