Biosecurity Concerns Deepen as Wild Prawns in the Logan River Test Positive for White Spot Disease
Eight Australian shrimp farms on the Logan River, south of Brisbane, are on heightened alert as the country is now dealing with its first ever outbreak of white spot in its waters. The virus was detected earlier this week. Biosecurity Queensland officers have destroyed all prawns on one farm, while work continues on the other two where the disease had affected some but not all ponds. Australia's government says it plans to support the affected farmers with funding. "While biosecurity efforts are centered on containing the disease I have told the farmers that the Palaszczuk Government will support them back into disease-free production," said Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne. "We will look at reimbursing the costs they incur in carrying out work under the direction of Biosecurity Queensland."
The European Fish Processors and Traders Association reported a 9 million ton decline in overall fish import volumes in 2015. The EU's pollock imports from China and the US fell by 5% between From 2014 to 2015, while imports from Russia increased by 19%. Clearly, with the MSC approvals, more Russian pollock is being shipped directly to the EU writes John Sackton.
In other news, Vietnam's prices for its shrimp exports are in decline because of competition from other foreign producers and because of a fluctuation in the exchange rates with the US dollar. Vietnam's shrimp processors are now working to improve the quality of their shrimp to raise prices.
Elsewhere, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's challenges to China on trade and Taiwan are rattling American companies who benefited from stable relations between the two countries but now fear retaliation by Beijing if Trump were to act. The total value of U.S. trade with China was $599 billion in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, of which $116 billion was exports to China from U.S. producers, while U.S. companies imported $483 billion in goods from China.
Finally, Alaskan fishermen paid higher fees to cover the management and enforcement costs for halibut and sablefish because of higher prices paid for the fish at the docks this year. At a three percent fee, those fisheries yielded slightly more for coverage costs at $5.9 million.
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