SHRIMP SITUATION IN ECUADOR
COMMENTS 1:
Lost Production: In the April 2000 issue of SeaFood Business, Peter
Redmayne, consulting editor, interviewed Rodrigo Laniado Romero,
president of SONGA S.A., a large shrimp farm in Ecuador.
Laniado said that because of whitespot (and the political/economic
crisis) about 25 to 30% of Ecuador's shrimp ponds were empty and that
farmers were stocking at lower densities-which means small harvests during
the first half of 2000. Before whitespot, the survival rate was 40
to 60%; during the worst of whitespot, it was 5 to 15%; now it is 10 to
25%.
Laniado said production would also be down significantly in Central
America during the first half of the year. He estimated that
the combined production drop in Ecuador and Central American would amount
to 200 million pounds this year.
Information: Peter Redmayne, Seafood Business, Diversified Business
Communications, 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101, USA (e-mail:
predmayne@divcom.com).
Bob Rosenberry, Editor/Publisher
Shrimp News International
9450 Mira Mesa Boulevard, B-563
San Diego, CA 92126 USA
Tel.: 619-271-6354
Fax: 619-271-0324
URL: http://members.aol.com/brosenberr.Home.html
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COMMENTS 2:
I don't think the production in Nicaragua and Honduras will be low.
The situation is very different this year in all respect and greatly
improved.
Panama is taking longer to recover, but there are some very good
results coming out (50% and 60% survivals after WSV attack).
Still the impact due to the low survivals and Low stocking area and
densities in Ecuador is already surging the prices.
Survivals in Ecuador are mostly within 8% to 12% according to my
sources and not getting any better unfortunately.
I will have harvest data available for those interested with the use
of
MEGA LARVA and standard animals from wild brood in these areas.
Those interested can contact me at farallon1@pananet.com
Boli
Farallon1@pananet.com
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COMMENTS 3:
Based on recent hard data from some of the larger shrimp farmers, I'd
say the outlook is mixed.
Average survival rates have indeed improved, but the biggest single
cause seems to be lower stocking density. Roughly speaking, harvest
density (at a given farm) seems to be the same over a wide range of
stocking densities.
End result is that some at least of these farms are breaking even, or
even making a bit of profit, from reduced seed / feed expenses and higher
shrimp prices, not from increased production.
Most surviving farms are also spending quite a bit in seed testing,
water treatment, and generally babying the seed as much as seems
economically feasible. Any of the farms that have been shut down would
probably want to look into setting up these additional facilities before
restarting - and the financing's not there.
Then there's the matter of the warm season being nearly gone.
Historically, local farmers increase stocking densities for the cool
season, on the assumption that pond management becomes easier and growth
rates will be temperature-limited anyway; That may not be the case this
time around in view of the stocking density/survival relationship.
If the data I have is representative, export poundage seems unlikely to
rise anytime soon.
Julio Estrada
julioe@speed.net.ec