Just three months ago, the Union agriculture ministry allowed import and cultivation of a new shrimp variety, which, aquaculture experts say, is susceptible to the viral disease. There is no known cure for the disease, reports DownToEarth.
According to the organisation, the Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), native to eastern Pacific countries, could also bring in new diseases like taura syndrome and yellow head to India, they warned.
In the past decade several countries have suffered heavy losses from white spot and taura outbreaks following introduction of the variety.
Seafood exporters who had lobbied hard claimed the high-yielding variety would boost India’s shrimp production and help recover its dwindling presence in the international market.
Indian Industry Demands New Shrimp
INDIA - An outbreak of white spot disease wiped out 40-60 per cent of Keralas ready-to-harvest shrimp in the first week of May
