April 3, 2007

India turns to lab breeding of disease-free shrimp
 

India's Union Ministry of Commerce is seeking to breed disease-free mother shrimp in a laboratory established in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a cost of Rs180 million (about US$4.174 million).

The devastating effects of white spot disease on Indian shrimp exports, and India's inability to acquire disease-free mother shrimp available in the Western World, has prompted the move. Hence, the laboratory will serve as a way out for afflicted shrimp breeders.

Authorities expect the disease-free mother shrimp to be ready for supply by 2009. The plan involves distributing the disease-free shrimp seed to all domestic shrimp hatcheries, while destroying existing shrimp seed infected with disease.