Interview with Steve M. Arce Research Associate Marine Shrimp Program The Oceanic Institute, Hawaii

Q1: In your experience what is your perceptions of Indian Shrimp Industry?

A- In my experience, the Indian shrimp industry is an emerging player in global shrimp farming industry. In my 2 previous visits to India I’ve seen serious consideration given in regard to the industries approach to disease management issues and the sustainable growth of the industry. This is evidenced by the government’s role (by various agencies) in establishing a quarantine station in Chennai to screen/verify the specific pathogen free (SPF) health status of incoming live shrimp stocks from abroad, and by the strict certification standards required to be an approved supplier (and importer) of SPF L. vannamei into India. It is my understanding that there is also a rigorous monitoring and record-keeping program in regard to the importation of SPF L. vannamei as well as the monitoring of hatchery and grow out production parameters for this species. I’ve been impressed by the level of biosecurity maintained in the RGCA quarantine station, and by the operations of some of the hatchery facilities I’ve visited. Although India may currently be a bit “behind the curve” globally in developing a sustainable shrimp farming industry based on the SPF concept for shrimp, I see great potential given the thoughtful approach now being taken by India in this regard.

Q2: In your opinion what are the top three challenges which Aquaculture needs to correct to catapult itself into a global player?

A-In my opinion, the top three challenges that the aquaculture industry faces globally are:
1) Health management and disease control of the stocks being farmed. The SPF concept for aquaculture (which has already been established/successful for other terrestrial meat-producing industries) goes a long way in this regard, but there are still significant issues in regard to environmental control and hatchery/pond management strategies which support consistent/sustainable production. Domestication and stock control are the key points here. The implementation of best management practices and novel production/growout technologies will also help to overcome this challenge.

2) Production costs and market volatility. Increasing costs for fuel and quality feed ingredients (like fishmeal) combined with political/economic issues (like protectionism/anti-dumping) are serious challenges for the future of the aquaculture industry. Also, production inefficiencies affecting the entire global industry contribute to this challenge. Production inefficiencies may be minimized/addressed by the following challenge.

3) Consolidation and vertical integration of the industry. In order to be a “global player” in food production, the aquaculture industry will require a serious domestication effort for all relevant species. This may only be achieved by significant consolidation and vertical integration of the industry which would afford control over the entire production chain. This model would support consistent/sustainable production and would help with issues of traceability and seafood safety. This model also provides some stability in regard to price fluctuations influenced by issues of supply/demand. To a large extent, the current industry is disjointed in regard to feed production, hatchery production, growout production, and processing. Mature and successful food-producing industries (like poultry) have consolidated are all vertically integrated. The aquaculture/seafood industry can learn from this model.

Q3: What are the experiences of being in the Industry?

A-Being in the industry for over 20 years, I’ve had numerous experiences in several countries which are all different depending on the social, cultural and environmental factors affecting aquaculture in different regions. A common theme that I’ve experienced is the dedication of the farmer to produce a quality crop and the challenges they face in regard to environmental and disease factors. Over the past 7-10 years I’ve seen a significant effort by the entire global industry to mature and refine aquaculture practices based on scientific knowledge. The application of science-based knowledge and principles to the commercial sector has led to a very significant increase in shrimp aquaculture production world-wide, despite serious disease problems which have historically plagued the industry. There have also been significant scientific/applied advances made in terms of minimizing the “environmental footprint” left by aquaculture activities. Closed-recirculating and minimal water exchange systems are now common components of shrimp aquaculture operations world-wide. Aquaculture-based food production is a very dynamic and evolving industry and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it.

EVENT ALERT

-International trade fair for shipbuilding and marine technology from 7 to 9 April 2011 at Bombay exhibition centre Mumbai , India
http://bit.ly/if1dSX

-ILDEX India 2011 from 15 to 17, September 2011 at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, India.
http://bit.ly/hK26wt

-8th Symposium on diseases in Asian aquaculture from 21 to 25 November 2011, at Mangalore, India
http://bit.ly/i757zT

-9th Indian Fisheries Forum from 19 to 23 December 2011 at Chennai, India.
http://bit.ly/ia1Tpk

Civic negligence dries up lake!

A huge waterbody in ward No. 24 has been reduced to a drain at a time when conservation of waterbodies is in focus.
Water in the lake at the BDA City Centre, jointly owned by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and a private company, has shrunk alarmingly with its dyke giving way under the pressure of torrential rains nearly three years ago. Ever since, no efforts have taken place to restore the old glory of the lake.
The lake was a much sought after venue for paddle boating. “It was a huge waterbody when I was a student at the nearby Regional Institute of Education (RIE) in 1992,” said Bijay Mishra, a research scholar.

US cuts dumping duty on Shrimp 40%

Anti-dumping duty on shrimp exports to the US reduced by 40% with the US department of commerce (USDOC) reducing the effective duty for India to 1.6% from the earlier 2.67%. This relief comes after the seafood sector suffered successive setbacks last year when the US agency increased the anti-dumping duty by a whopping 300% and decided on extending the anti-dumping duty for another five years.
Shrimp exports to the US, which are currently looking up after staying depressed for five years, are expected to increase substantially.
India and several countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Brazil came under the scanner of the USDOC in 2004 after organisations in US alleged that lower-priced, pond-raised shrimps were hurting the US industry.

Hunt for minute species destroys marine life

Selective fishing using kaccha valai (a special net to catch minute sea species) is on the rise in the stretch between Palaverkadu and Alampara fort near Chennai since the annual seasonal movement of rare sea species close to the shore last month. At least 25 boats venture into sea every day from various villages to catch rare sea snails, shells and crustaceans, and each returns with at least 50 kg of sea species every day. "The catch is loaded into private vans immediately and then transported to the nearby processing units. We get the money for our work a week later," says Sahayavelu, a fisherman in Vyalikuppam. About 90 % of these species are exported to countries like China, Singapore and Malaysia.

India Loosing out to Inland Aquaculture!

Marine fisheries in India has steadily been losing out to inland aquaculture, in terms of fish production, but its relevance for exports has not diminished. Given that marine exports have not done too well in recent years, reports of marine export trade registering a record $2-billion mark in the first nine months of this year is significant.

During this period, seafood exports have seen a 6.6 per cent growth in terms of quantity and nearly 19 per cent growth in value, that too in the face of an appreciating Rupee. The marine export business seems upbeatand justifiably so and hopes to touch the $2.5 billion mark by year-end. However, this laudable performance is not yet being driven by improved supply side response. Rather, it is the sharp rise in global demand, especially in major overseas markets like the US, European Union and Japan that is pushing prices and profitability up. On the domestic front, the main trigger for this growth came from the recently introduced Vannamei shrimp aquaculture as this variety of shrimp has a high demand in the global market.

Fish production shows increased growth!

India’s fish production stood at 57.03 lakh tonnes in the first nine months of the current fiscal.
During the 2009-10 fiscal, the country produced 78.53 lakh tonnes of fish, according to government data.
West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are the major fish producing states in the country.
During the 2009-10 fiscal, West Bengal produced 15.05 lt, Andhra Pradesh 12.93 lt, Gujarat 7.71 lt, Kerala 6.63 lt, Maharashtra 5.38 lt and Tamil Nadu 5.34 lt, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Arun Yadav, said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.