Indian Ocean Trepang has the exclusive global licensee for an innovative patent on in-vitro fertilisation of the Holothuria scabra sea cucumber species which is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation.
The farm's breeding programme is growing, and the investment will be put towards a new site –positioning the company to become the world’s leader in growing sea cucumbers.
In market news, Australia has suspended the import of undercooked prawns. The move comes following information from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources that the level of risk associated with uncooked imported prawns (including prawn meat) had become unacceptable.
The suspension will remain in place until the Australian Government is satisfied that the risk associated with imported prawns is managed to an acceptably low level.
In other news this week, India's Department of Marine Living Resources at Andhra University has discovered a new virus that has been affecting Vannamei shrimps in Thailand and Vietnam.
According to HansIndia, the university found that a duel infection of Abdominal Segment Deformity Disease (ASDD) and microsporidian Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei (EHP) has been affecting the growth and life of the shrimps.
