Mexico Reports Sharp Rise In Shrimp Prices

FIS reports that the official linked the record increase in the price of local shrimp with the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the emergence of a new disease in Asia: the infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV).

Urías Espinoza stressed that it is essential to start implementing sanitary barriers to prevent the entry of the virus into the country, because otherwise it would be catastrophic for the national aquaculture sector.

He noted that the rise in prices has given Mexican aquaculture a 'break', as in recent years they had been adversely affected by diseases such as white spot and the taura syndrome.

In addition, in 2009, the aquaculture industry in Sinaloa faced market saturation and uncontrolled importation of foreign shrimp, reported Debate.

When asked about the suspension of shipping of domestic shrimp to the US, Uriah Espinoza clarified that the measure will not affect the exportation of fish harvested in farms of Sinaloa.

"Neither the coastal fisheries or aquaculture farms will be affected by the measure. The suspension only affects wild shrimp which are caught at sea," he explained.

According to figures from the EE.UU Ministry of Commerce, between January and July 2010, the country imported Mexican shrimp for USD 91 million, ie 29.4 per cent less than the same period last year (USD 129 million).

Countries that benefited most from the embargo imposed by the US government to Mexico were Thailand and Ecuador.

In the first seven months of this year, Thai shrimp imports amounted to USD 392 million and imports from Ecuador totaled USD 244 million, reported El Economista.

During this month, US inspectors will check whether fishing for shrimp in Mexico already has sufficient measures to protect sea turtles.