July 7, 2010

Taiwan steps up grouper vaccine effort

The Taiwanese government is stepping up efforts to develop vaccines against two viruses that have plagued local grouper farmers for nearly a decade, the head of the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture (COA) said Monday (Jul 5).

COA chief Chen Wu-hsiung said the council's Fisheries Administration has appropriated TWD10.43 million (US$323,900) to promote development of the vaccines, and National Taiwan Ocean University has also been given TWD10.5 million (US$326,100) to conduct research on the viruses and aquaculture technology.

The initiative hopes to fortify the government's plan to double the sales of grouper to TWD8 billion (US$248.5 million) in 2013 from the present TWD4 billion (US$124,200), but efforts to develop vaccines have also gained new urgency because of the potential for greater exports with China, reports said.

Grouper was one of the items included in the early harvest list of the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with Beijing, meaning it will be given preferential tariff treatment when entering China once the deal takes effect.

Chen said local grouper farmers have been troubled by the indovirus and nervous necrosis virus for quite a long time. This year's unpredictable weather has also added to their woes, resulting in fry production being cut by 30%.

"At present, there is a bio test kit that can detect if the fish has been infected with virus," Chen said. "Pond operators can use them to monitor and manage the fish ponds."

He also urged fish farm operators to keep their water running instead of letting it sit stagnant and prevent their fish from being kept too crowded.