November 7, 2007

India to produce pathogen-free shrimps

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) of India announced that it is set to produce "smart shrimps" or Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) shrimps in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

MPEDA chairman G Mohan Kumar said they requested the Ministry of Commerce and Industries to declare the two islands in India as bio-secure zones. The authority had earlier found out that the Tiger shrimp in Andaman and Nicobar is 100 percent free of the White Spot Virus (WSV).

WSV outbreak in 1995 hadcaused a slump in production of Tiger shrimp in the past years. Kumar pointed that the quality of brood stock in India has deteriorated since then.

A ban on shrimp culture in Andaman and Nicobar islands will ensure the archipelago's wild shrimps remain pathogen-free. Kumar explained that farmers in the islands might bring infected seeds from the mainland.

Biosecurity is critical in boosting the shrimp export business in India, he said.