The Department of Fisheries in Bangladesh has recently approved the trial production of post larvae (PL) of Vannamei shrimp. The government is now focusing on this non-native shrimp species in order to achieve high yields.
After successful trial-based cultivation of Vannamei shrimp in three farms in the southern coastal region, the govt allowed its commercial farming in Bangladesh as they showed significantly higher yields compared to locally farmed black tiger (P. monodon) or Bagda shrimp. Now, the purpose of allowing experimental production is to reduce the dependence on imported Vannamei PLs and increase their availability for local farmers.
The Desh Bangla SPF Hatchery, which is registered under the Department of Fisheries, will be responsible for conducting the experimental production activities for Vannamei shrimp PL. These activities will be carried out under strict biosecurity management, as specified by the department.
In order to proceed with the experimental production of Vannamei shrimp PLs, it is mandatory to obtain permission from the Department of Fisheries. This permission is required to take the necessary steps for importing SPF (specific pathogen free) Vannamei shrimp brood.
To avoid any contamination, the Department states that the experimental production of Vannamei shrimp PLs and the existing production of Bagda shrimp PLs should be conducted in separate parts of the same hatchery, maintaining fully confined conditions.
Frozen food exporters, who have been advocating for the government’s permission to cultivate the non-native Vannamei shrimp for over a decade due to declining export earnings, have expressed their satisfaction with the decision.
The Department of Fisheries, initially hesitant to grant permission due to concerns about potential negative impacts on biodiversity and the environment, started allowing experimental culture of the Pacific whiteleg shrimp in 2019 and declared as successful in the end of 2022.
