Government plans shrimp broodstock farm to avoid shortages
THAILAND
March 13, 2003
The government has announced plans to establish a shrimp broodstock farm in
Phuket in a bid to avoid predicted domestic shortages in the future, reports
the Bangkok Post.
Last
year, black tiger shrimp exports earned the country more than THB 73 billion
from 212,000 tons of produce, and it is seen as a fast growing industry. But
because most of the shrimp broodstock is caught at sea, there is concern
that stock levels will be decimated in a few years unless the government
takes action now.
Deputy
Agriculture Minister, Newin Chidchob, said the project would have the
capacity to produce about 95,000 pairs of breeders annually. Approximately
250,000 pairs are needed to meet local demand.
At
THB 2,000 a pair, breeders are so expensive that chemicals are sometimes
used to prolong their lives. The government hopes the project will stop
farmers using such chemicals.
"The
project aims to reduce the price of breeders by half and provide
chemical-free shrimp broodstock," said Mr Chidchob.
A
wholly owned company will be formed by the Fisheries Department, which will
be privatised at a later date. The company will earn revenue from quality
inspection services and sales of farmed shrimp. The full capacity of 95,000
should be reached by the third year, according to Mr Chidchob, which allows
the company to reach a break-even point within five years.
The
site in Phuket was chosen due to the fact that the island is home to about
1,000 hatcheries that produced 65 per cent of the country's total shrimp
broodstock. The project site is situated about 10 km away from Phuket
airport, and covers 500 rai (80 hectares) at the department's research and
development centre in Talang district.
According
to the minister, the project will start within six months of receiving
cabinet approval.
By
FIS Asia http://www.fis.com/
(From
Aquaculture Newsclips, e-mail: dave.conley@sympatico.ca)