GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The ongoing El Niño phenomenon is posing a significant threat to the P4-billion shrimp industry in Sarangani and General Santos City, leading to a gradual decline in production. This crisis has prompted the SARGEN Shrimp Stakeholders Association to seek assistance from industry experts to help salvage their industry.
Challenges Faced by the Industry
According to the Association President William Dela Cruz, the fluctuating temperatures caused by El Niño have resulted in low fry production. Dela Cruz emphasized the need for drastic measures to address microbial diseases affecting the shrimp ponds.
The Association has reached out for a meeting with experts from Provita Supplements and Hamburg Trading Inc. to learn about new technologies and strategies to mitigate the impact of El Niño.
Expert Insights and Recommendations
During the meeting, Dr. Jose Lorenzo Gomos, a consultant from Provita, provided critical insights into the issues plaguing the shrimp industry. He explained that diseases in shrimps and prawns are often caused by bacteria and viruses, either independently or in combination, leading to various syndromes. El Niño exacerbates these problems by disrupting the exchange of CO2 and O2 in the water, along with several predisposing factors that cause stress to the shrimps and prawns. Stress, in turn, makes these aquatic animals more susceptible to diseases.
Gomos pointed out that the diseases of Shrimps and Prawns are either a solo or combination of Bacteria and Viruses causing different types of Syndromes El Niño affects the industry as their growth has something to do with the exchange of Co2 and O2 in the water as well as several predisposing factors that cause “Stress” to the Shrimp/Prawn or Fishes or any animals for that matter. Base it from there. This contributes to the disease in any kind of animals, shrimps/prawns included being “multifactorial.
Gomos emphasized the importance of addressing the multifactorial nature of these diseases, which are influenced by environmental conditions and the overall health of the shrimp. He recommended that no antibiotics should be used, stressing the need for proper nutrition to protect the quality and growth of the shrimps, especially since the foreign market is very particular about the quality and nutrients of imported goods.
Industry Practices and Market Impact
The shrimp industry in Sarangani and General Santos City generates over P4 billion annually, with 60% of the produce from more than 400 hectares of ponds being sold in the foreign market. The industry has traditionally attracted foreign markets due to its conventional shrimp-raising practices.
Support and Collaboration
Inno Lutjens from Hamburg Trading expressed interest in supporting the local shrimp industry in collaboration with the SARGEN Shrimp Stakeholders Association. He noted that their products, successfully tested in Vietnam (which shares a similar climate with the Philippines), could be beneficial. Hamburg Trading assured that their products would be available throughout the country, catering not only to the shrimp industry but also to the fisheries, livestock, and poultry sectors.
Lack of Government Support
Despite efforts, the Association failed to secure support from the Department of Agriculture. Dela Cruz underscored the technical know-how challenge faced by shrimp producers in southern Mindanao, indicating a critical need for expertise and resources to navigate the current crisis.
Dela Cruz reiterated the urgency for technological and expert intervention to address the industry’s challenges and ensure its survival amid the El Niño phenomenon.
