November 16, 2004

China to Improve Shrimp Sector Development
 

To ensure the sustainable development of the shrimp sector, China will actively promote healthy, safe and environmentally-friendly shrimp farming methods, according to the country's high-ranking official from the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday.

Shrimp has been a major aquaculture for more than 20 years, and played an important role in China's aquatic export, stated Liu Zheng, deputy director of the fishery administration under the ministry.

Statistics from the ministry reveal that the country's shrimp culture has gradually recovered from 1996 after 1993's outbreak of shrimp-related disease. In 2003, the country yielded 780,000 tons of artificially bred shrimp, and exported 119,000 tons of shrimp.

Meanwhile, there is no report of trade dispute on quality problems in shrimp export so far this year. The European Commission has also lifted export ban of aquatic products from China on October 18 this year.

Liu admitted that there are still some problems impeding the sector. They include the unbalanced development between different areas, frequent occurrence of some diseases in some aquaculture farms, as well as the low quality of shrimp fries.

Liu noted that the country is now taking measures to strengthen quality control and technical training to ensure a healthy development of shrimp sector.