May 6, 2009

Around 62,100 hectares of shrimp farms in Lampung, southern Indonesia, are plagued by a virus, which may lead to declining production and export.

According to CP Prima corporate communication manager Fajar I. Reksoprodjo, the disease had been plaguing all shrimp farms in Lampung following the arrival of the transitional season.

Reksoprodjo said the season has made the virus spread easier, adding that nearly all shrimp farms in Lampung, especially traditional shrimp farms, have been plagued by the virus.

He continued that CP Prima had been trying to prevent the disease through the application of the bio-security system.

He added that shrimp production in 2008 from core and plasma farmers nearly touched 100,000 tonnes, to meet demand from the largest export markets, namely the US, Japan, and Europe.

CP Prima and its business group in 2008 produced 86,174 tonnes of fresh shrimp, rising 43.52 percent from 58,108 tonnes in 2007.

Lampung is the major shrimp-producing region in Indonesia which represents 40 percent of the national shrimp production, and frozen shrimp product from the province is the fourth largest exported products in the US and several European countries. In 2008, fish and shrimp were able to contribute US$1.62 million in foreign exchange.

Director of Fish Health and Environment at the Department of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Tri Haryanto revealed the disease plaguing shrimp was marked by a white spot caused by the white spot syndrome virus, taura syndrome virus, and infectious myo necrosis virus.