May 11, 2006

Disease and smaller shrimps diminish production in Thailand

Thai shrimp production this year would be lower than estimates due to smaller sizes of the shrimps and losses to diseases, Somsak Paneetatyasai, president of the Thai Shrimp Association (TSA) said.

Since more shrimps are caught this harvest, it meant that there would be fewer left around to grow into large shrimps for the harvest in the third quarter.

Somsak also noted that disease was rearing its ugly head in the south, central and eastern regions.

Moreover, the weather in southern Thailand has been highly unpredictable of late. Rather than facing heavy rains which might wreak havoc on shrimp crops, farmers are playing it safe and having an early harvest to minimise risks.

According to the Fisheries Department, production of black tiger prawn and white shrimp fell 10 percent from January to March, compared with the same period last year.

Shrimp stockpiles have fallen by 16 percent from December to March, the report noted.