Global shrimp production was expected to rise in 2025 with key producers such as Ecuador leading growth, while Asia showed a modest increase with variations across countries. China’s output was  projected to decline due to disease and regulatory restrictions. The overall outlook points to expanding supply but highlights regional disparities and challenges.

Global production is up in 2025 Shrimp production in 2025, driven by Asia and Latin America, is expected to increase moderately compared to 2024. At Shrimp Summit 2025, held in June in Bali, Indonesia, the Kontali team predicted that vannamei shrimp production will rise to 5.84 million tonnes, reflecting a 6% growth from 5.5 million tonnes in 2024.

In October, at the Responsible Seafood Summit 2025 in Cartagena, Colombia, RaboResearch and the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA-Rabobank) presented results of the survey on global vannamei shrimp supply. Production is expected to grow only 2–3% in 2025 to 6.1 million tonnes. The survey reported a 4% increase in global supply of the black tiger shrimp led by Vietnam, China, India and Bangladesh.

A global view on supply from top producers
Growth forecasts on Ecuador’s production in 2025, included Gorjan Nikolik’s (RaboResearch) at 15%. At TARS 2025, held in Chiangmai Thailand, in August, it was an almost 18% indicative growth reaching 1.75 million tonnes, by Vitapro’s Pablo Montalbetti Gómez de la Torre. At the Global Shrimp Forum (GSF 2025) Sandro Coglitore, Omarsa clarified that 2024 was a flat year for Ecuador as it was in a consolidation process. Farms that had changed hands were brought back online and
resumed production in 2025. A notable surge in growth in 2025, is expected to continue into 2026. Numerous farms are still undergoing ownership changes, which will impact the industry’s dynamics Ecuador’s shrimp industry continues to be the “idol” with 3-phase models: low stocking density (relative to that in most of Asia), nursery systems and almost 4 cycles/year.  The news from Ecuador is that large farms buy up smaller farms, and they are increasing stocking density in low saline areas to 25-30 PL/m2 and even as high as 40 PL/m².

GSA-Rabobank had forecasted a 2% growth in Asian production for the year 2025. The general view is a declining production in Southeast Asia while India’s production is stagnant. Some trends suggested rising volumes for India (5.0%), lower volumes in Vietnam (-2%) and Thailand (-1%). GSA-Rabobank expected no growth in Indonesia and volumes to remain at 350,000 tonnes.

Below are some shared perspectives by local industry stakeholders regarding the situation with both vannamei and black tiger shrimp in 2025. 

EHP and regulations restrict production in China
The China Statistical Yearbook reported a 2025 production of 2.37 million tonnes of vannamei shrimp. Amber Chen, Nutriera, China noted that 1.53 million tonnes were from saline systems and some 880,000 tonnes came from freshwater farming. Several industry players provided lower estimates. FuCi Guo, MSD Animal Health suggested around 1.7 million tonnes of shrimp production and vannamei accounted for 88%. Most domestic shrimp are consumed domestically and generally of smaller size. Farmers adjust their plans and shift to alternative species, based on price signals and import surges, said Louis Zhou, HuaXin Food Group, at GSF 2025.

Industry also expect lower volumes in 2025 compared to 2024, due to stricter regulations on groundwater use and wastewater discharge enforced by both local and central authorities, slow down in local government investment in  greenhouses and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) outbreaks. Guo said intensive farming in small greenhouses emerged as the main strategy for increasing production but lately small greenhouse farms in Jiangsu and Shandong have closed. Back in 2024, 450,000 of these 0.4ha greenhouses, were expected to contribute 450,000 tonnes/year.

Managing EHP well in India
A recent 2025 Society of Aquaculture Professionals (SAP) crop review reported production rising to 1.05 million tonnes, with 989,000 tonnes of vannamei and 60,500 tonnes of black tiger shrimp, according to SAP President Saji Chacko. During a SAP session at World Aquaculture 2025 India in November, higher output was anticipated in all regions, especially the
west and north at 10-15%.

There have been production improvements over the past three years due to changes in stocking density. Multiple partial harvests—from shrimp size 100/kg down to 60, 40 and finally 20/kg —have boosted farmer profits, with some achieving three cycles annually. Nursery rearing also contributed to these gains. EHP was a persistent issue for over three years, but Indian farmers reportedly managed it in 2025, through crop cycle adjustments and selecting suitable post larvae from various broodstock lines, according to Ganesh Moorthy, CP India. With multiple genetic lines now available, farmers are eager to verify the specific line of purchased post larvae (balanced, fast, or hardy).

In southern India, some farms start with a vannamei crop, followed by black tiger and then a vannamei crop again. Almost 30-40% of farms achieve five crops in two years. The stocking density for vannamei shrimp was 40- 60PL/m2.

A priority in India is building its domestic market. Since processors prefer to focus on exports and offer little support, farmers are creating their own local fresh markets at the district level. According to Ganesh, domestic consumption has grown.

TPD, disease and high costs in Vietnam

The feed industry in Vietnam was clear that there was a gradual recovery compared to the prior year in vannamei shrimp production, but estimates on volumes differed from 470,000 to 600,000 tonnes. Export vs domestic market ratio is 70:30. The domestic sector remains significant for risk-averse farmers, absorbing fresh and mid-size shrimp grades with greater price volatility.

In the first quarter 2025, translucent post larvae disease (TPD) posed significant challenges at the hatchery and grow-out stages, according to Chewen Wei, Uni-President Vietnam Co Ltd. “Farmers lost confidence, which led to delayed pond stocking and lower stocking densities. Stocking activities gradually normalised from April. These Q1 delays affected overall annual production,” said Wei. “Persistent disease and environmental issues discouraged pond restocking,” said Ton That De, Viet Uc at GSF 2025. He added that lower farming success rates with survival rates down to 50% were attributed to higher density farming practices. With these risks, together with other challenges and rising costs, some have opted for fast growth genetic lines to harvest as fast as possible. In the Mekong Delta, structural transformation occurred in 2025, reported Wei. These included improved pond infrastructure, enhanced water treatment systems, advanced management practices, and risk segmentation strategies. Both farming success rates and production stability improved in key areas. Ton estimated that soon the ratio of small farms: large farms will shift to 70:30 from the current 90:10. 

Continuous low volumes in Thailand
Official data from the Department of Fisheries (DOF) showed a 0.7% decline for vannamei shrimp production to 232,807 tonnes. Industry sources gave a higher estimate of 380,000 tonnes.

“Flooding in the south caused crop losses of 10–30 tonnes per farm, while cold weather in central Thailand brought down temperatures to 23-24°C and led to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus (YHV) outbreaks and reduced feed intake,”

said Soraphat Panakorn, President, Thailand Aquaculture Business Association (TABA). 

Indonesia: Pushing boundaries
As production fell in Q4 2025, a 25-30% decrease was projected for 2025 to only 230,000-245,000 tonnes. Haris Muhtadi, CJ Feed & Care, Indonesia cited EHP and AHPND as major causes of decline in farm productivity. He added that for some farmers, the key problem was high stocking densities. In Indonesia, low density is <80 PL/m2; median 80-150 PL/m2 and high >150 PL/m2 (Shrimp Outlook, 2025). In East Java, farm output improved when farmers lowered stocking density by 10-15%. They improved water quality by extending water supply intake lines from 400-500m to 1,000m.

At Shrimp Summit 2025, Haris stressed how over the last ten years, farms managed cash flow with several partial harvests, starting from 60 days until the final harvest at 115-120 days. To maintain carrying capacity, intensive farms may have 3-5 of partial harvests, periodically or when dissolved oxygen goes below 4ppm and biomass is 300-400kg/HP. “We are “pushing the environment” which is not sustainable,” said Haris. New farming areas in the eastern part of the archipelago are being exploited when areas in Sumatra and Java are exhausted, allowing for yields of 50-60 tonnes/ha/crop in new farms as compared to 20 tonnes/ha/crop in the older farms

Veering towards farming black tiger shrimp
The GSA-Rabobank Summit Survey 2025 noted that “Asian farmers are switching back to black tiger shrimp in search of better prices and farm profitability”. Data showed an increase of 4% to around 650,000 tonnes, led by Vietnam at 200,000 tonnes. McIntosh gave estimates of only 538,000 tonnes for 2025 (Table 2).

“In India, black tiger shrimp output has been rising and can be expected to increase in 2026,” said Ganesh. Driving India’s black tiger farming revival are broodstock from Unibio (Madagascar) and Moana (USA) as well as the locally developed Nicobar line by RGCA- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture. CP India is using this local line to produce 150 million PL in 2025, and targets 400 million PL in 2026. Recently, Unibio has emerged as a leading producer, with around 2.4 billion PL in 2025. It is expected to produce 3.0 billion PL in 2026. The stocking density was 7-10PL/m² rising to 20PL/m². In October, farmgate prices in Andhra Pradesh, India, for size 30/kg vannamei shrimp was USD4.71/kg versus USD5.5/kg for black tiger shrimp.

Thailand’s 2025 production of black tiger shrimp rose by 23.4% to 19,589 tonnes (DOF, 2025), as vannamei farmers struggled with challenges on choosing suitable genetic lines and reliable post larvae quality, prompting many to switch species. In 2025, Malaysia’s total production was 42,000 tonnes at 60:40 vannamei: blacktiger shrimp. As farmers faced issues with vannamei post larvae, many shifted to farming the black tiger shrimp.

Farmgate prices

In 2025, Vietnam led with the highest farmgate prices for size 60/kg vannamei shrimp. There was, however, extreme volatility, linked to supply issues. At year-end, Vietnam had the highest USD price per kg at 4.84,followed by India (3.87), Ecuador (3.09), and Indonesia(3.04, Figure 1).According to industry, farmgate prices reflected production dynamics arising from disease outbreaks. Due to price differences, Shrimp Insights reported that YTD September, India exported 50,500 tonnes to Vietnam, likely for reprocessing. Indonesia already had the lowest farmgate prices and in August, the caesium-137debacle, lowered these further, from USD3.97/kg toUSD2.89-3.04/kg. JALA also reported lower prices(USD2.43-2.55/kg) since October.

Reactions on tariffs and recent market uncertainties Aside from exporting head-on, shell-on (HOSO) shrimp to China, Ecuador’s processors are taking advantage of its low US tariffs (10%) to capture the peeled products market. In July, value added accounted for 31% of exports to date, compared to 28% for the whole of 2024,up from 20% of exports in 2021 (Montalbetti, 2025).The US is Indonesia’s largest and most important market. At the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference 2025(SAC), a panel noted that the industry is not ready to export to the EU because of the latter’s focus on sustainability. By end 2025, Indonesia had pivoted 10% of exports to China (Shrimp Insights 2025). While exports to the US declined by 43%, India increased its exports to China (+33%) and to the EU (+58%). Value addition increased 27%. (Chacko, 2025).

Outlook for 2026: Uncertain for Asian producers

The prospects for Asian shrimp producers in 2026 remainun certain and highly variable across the region. An industry source expects Indonesia’s production to exceed 300,000tonnes if PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), the Indonesian food processor which was flagged by the USFDA for Cs137 contaminated shrimp exports, resumes operations in early 2026.

India has reached a production milestone of one million tonnes, according to SAP. However, India must focus on increasing domestic consumption, which currently stands at just 100,000 tonnes, with a target to reach 30% of total production by 2030.

India and Indonesia have a major regulatory hurdle. Both countries are not in the approved list regarding the control on antibiotic use under the EU Regulation (2023/905).This requires all exporting countries to be in the list by 3September 2026. Failure to be included on this list will block exports of animal-origin products, including shrimp and fish, to the EU.

Vietnamese exporters must contend with a new non-tariff barrier in the EU and UK. From 2026, major retailers will require stricter animal welfare standards. Specifically, shrimp must be completely stunned, typically through electrical methods, prior to ice immersion—replacing the traditional cold-shock approach. Leading UK retailers such as Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose have already integrated these requirements into their procurement policies, making compliance essential for maintaining approved supplier status.

After 13 years of stagnant production, the Thai Shrimp Association has urged the government to declare a ‘National Agenda’ – recovery of the shrimp industry and to target 400,000 tonnes in 2026. Thailand’s shrimp production peaked at 600,000 tonnes in 2011 but dropped by half in 2013 due to early mortality syndrome (EMS) or AHPND outbreaks.

Ekapoj Yodpinit, president of the association has two objectives. An opportunity for Thai shrimp to capture the US market from India, since Thailand’s tariff is only19% as compared to India’s 58%. Accelerating free trade agreements with the EU, UK and Korea could recover 60,000 tonnes of lost export after Thailand lost privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences(GSP) in the EU in 2015 and recently in 2020 in the US.

In summary, 2026 will present a complex and evolving environment for Asian shrimp producers, shaped by stagnant or uneven production growth, uncertainties with tariffs, shifting export strategies, and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements in key markets.

Reference Shrimp Insights (2025).https://www.shrimpinsights.com/price-portal

January/February 2026 AQUA Culture Asia Pacific Page 26-29

The post Asian shrimp in 2025: Steady supply and price volatility appeared first on Aqua Culture Asia Pacific.

A strategic leap forward in precision aquaculture with wireless connectivity in shrimp feeding and acoustic monitoring to help farmers boost feed efficiency, and optimise pond performance.

At AQ1, innovation begins with listening. Over the years, we have worked closely with shrimp farmers, gathering feedback and conducting extensive field research to better understand shrimp feeding behaviour and the operational challenges faced in real-world pond environments. Now, that commitment to listening has inspired our next leap forward: AQ1’s next-generation smart feeding ecosystem begins with the Smart Hydrophone—a breakthrough device for shrimp farmers, built to integrate with future AQ1 technologies for unmatched performance.

Designed with farmers in mind Traditional hydrophones have been limited by 90m cables, restricting placement and often requiring compromises in pond layout. The Smart Hydrophone changes that. With a wireless connectivity range of up to 250m, farmers can now position hydrophones exactly where they are most effective, whether in large extensive ponds (up to 10ha)or complex intensive systems (Figure 1). This flexibility not only improves feeding accuracy but also reduces infrastructure complexity, minimises interference, and lowers maintenance requirements by removing long datacables from the equation.

The Smart Hydrophone features a novel built-in self-diagnostic system. This proactive monitoring helps farmers detect issues early, reducing downtime and ensuring consistent feeding performance.

Our decision to move away from cabled hydrophones is grounded in years of field data and direct customer feedback. Research has shown that the effective listening range of a hydrophone varies significantly depending on pond conditions. To optimise detection of shrimp feeding activity, we recommend limiting each hydrophone to a maximum of three feeders per zone, a configuration that improves acoustic signal clarity and feeding response accuracy.

Optimising feeding with multiple zones

Feeding efficiency is a cornerstone of successful shrimp farming, and AQ1’s research has shown that multiple feeding zones with fewer feeders per zone offer a more effective and responsive approach to feed delivery. This configuration allows the sonic algorithm to accurately detect and respond to shrimp feeding behaviour, resulting in better feed utilisation and more uniform growth.

Shrimp feeding sounds can be masked by background noise or diluted across large areas. By limiting the number of feeders per hydrophone to a maximum of three, farmer scan ensure that the hydrophone receives a clear and concentrated acoustic signal. This improves the accuracy of the system’s response and helps avoid overfeeding or underfeeding in any zone.

The Smart Hydrophone’s wireless design also brings major benefits to intensive pond systems, where space is limited and infrastructure is dense. In these environments, the presence of numerous electrical cables can cause interference, which may affect the sensitivity and accuracy of sonic feeding detection. By eliminating the need for long data cables, the SM1 reduces this interference risk and simplifies installation.

How does shrimp benefit from multiple feeding zones?

At AQ1, we have spent years observing shrimp feeding behaviour across ponds and discovered a key insight: feeding activity is not uniform. Shrimp tend to feed more intensely at specific times of day and show a clear preference for certain areas within the pond.

To help farmers respond to this variability, we have expanded our feeding zone capability from two zones(wired connection to SF200, limited to 90m) to four zones (wireless connection to SF200, up to 250m).This upgrade reflects our behavioural insights and offers a seamless pathway for existing AQ1 controllers to scale; enabling more precise, responsive feeding aligned with shrimp behaviour.

Shrimp thrive when food is accessible, delivered where and when it is needed, and aligned with their natural rhythms. Implementing multiple feeding zones, especially when paired with AQ1’s sonic feeding technology, offers a range of biological and operational benefits:

•Reduced competition and stress: Distributing feed across zones reduces crowding and aggressive behavior, improving shrimp welfare.

•More uniform growth: Equal access to feed minimises size variation, leading to better harvest consistency and pricing.

•Optimum feed conversion ratios (FCR): Feed is delivered only when shrimp are actively feeding, reducing waste and improving efficiency.

•Enhanced water quality: Even feed distribution and real-time control help prevent overfeeding and maintain better pond conditions.

•Adaptability to pond conditions: Multiple zones allow feeding strategies to be tailored to pond shape, depth, and water flow. 

“At AQ1, we have spent years observing shrimp feeding behaviour across ponds and discovered a key insight: feeding activity is not uniform.”

How does the smart hydrophone help farmers expand and manage feeding zones? The Smart Hydrophone is designed to make multi-zone feeding practical and scalable (Figure 3). Here is how item powers farmers:

•Wireless flexibility: Hydrophones can be placed exactly where needed, up to 250m from the controller, without cable constraints.

•Zone expansion: Each SF200 controller can now manage four Smart Hydrophones, doubling the number of feeding zones from two to four.

•Improved accuracy: With fewer feeders per hydrophone and better placement, the system can more precisely detect feeding activity.

•Simplified infrastructure: Especially in intensive systems, removing cables reduces installation complexity and interference.

•Ready for the future: The Smart Hydrophone is designed to integrate with upcoming AQ1 innovations for even greater performance

The Smart Hydrophone is more than just a new product; it is strategic leap forward in precision aquaculture. By enabling flexible, cable-free deployment and supporting more feeding zones per controller, it helps farmers improve efficiency, shrimp health, and operational scalability.

Therefore, whether managing a 10ha extensive pond ora high-density intensive system, the Smart Hydrophone offers the tools to optimise feeding. Backed by AQ1’sdeep commitment to research and innovation, the Smart Hydrophone is setting a new standard for smart, sustainable shrimp farming.

This article was first published in Aqua Culture Asia Pacific January/February  page 18-20 

The post Unlocking the power of smart feeding of vannamei shrimp appeared first on Aqua Culture Asia Pacific.

At TARS 2025 on Shrimp Aquaculture in Chiang Mai, Thailand, industry leaders from Asia and Latin America dissected the shrimp sector, from genetics and production systems to governance and welfare. How does Asia’s shrimp value chain compare to that of Latin America’s far more consolidated model? It was an analysis of the value chain and overcoming shrimp aquaculture dysfunction in Asia.

Ronnie Tan, Aquaculture Consultant at the US Grains and Bioproducts Council and moderator of this Hard Talk, arranged a live simulation of the shrimp value chain with a five-member panel. They were Ravi Kumar Yellanki, Managing Director, Vaisakhi Bio-Marine Pvt Ltd, India, representing genetics and hatcheries; William R. Kramer, Managing Consultant, CCM Agri Aqua Ventures Corp, HP Aquafarm Inc, Philippines, representing the farming segment; feed millers Dr Preecha Ekatumasuit, CEO, TRF Feed Mill Co Ltd, Thailand and Henrik Aarestrup, Vice President, LATAM, Shrimp & Hatchery, BioMar Group, Denmark; and Christopher Tan, Director, Mida Trade Ventures Pte Ltd, Singapore, representing the processor–buyer segment.

“We developed this as some people argue that the value chain in Asia is weak because of our fragmented nature,” clarified Ronnie on why he took this line of thought.

What makes good quality post larvae?
In the debate between nurture versus nature, which matters more to produce high-quality post larvae: genetics or hatchery practices? Ravi Kumar did not pick a side. “Both,” he said. Genetics “forms the foundation,” shaping performance from hatchery to processing. When all is equal, hatchery practices make or break that potential along the value chain.

“Disease-free broodstock, feeding post larvae well, and suppressing Vibrio loads are critical. If hatcheries fail to control Vibrio, they simply pass the inoculum downstream.”

Operational discipline matters. Large hatcheries must stock, sell post larvae, and complete cycles; a modular approach or periodic shutdowns reset Vibrio contamination. The goal is maintaining disease-free status, controlling bacteria, and ensuring robust post larvae.

Ronnie noted that farmers often blame genetics when they are disappointed with post larvae quality. Ravi Kumar pushed back, arguing that while genetic companies can deliver disease-free broodstock and desired traits, “beyond that, there is no role for genetic companies,” as hatchery practices determine outcomes.

From the farmer’s perspective, William framed it as “50–50” once husbandry takes over in the open and highly variable farm environment. On the compensation gimmicks by hatcheries (providing as much as 100% extra post larvae), William objects to offers of bonus post larvae to compensate for weak ones, preferring instead to plan around a realistic 15–20% survival allowance. “What matters to me is headcount in the pond, not freebies.”

Push for shrimp welfare with non-ablation practices
The practice of no eyestalk ablation in shrimp farming is increasingly becoming a certification requirement due to evolving animal welfare standards. Christopher gave his take from a buyer’s perspective.

“We have a clear line here. The high-end European retailers often impose non-eyestalk ablation production on welfare grounds. However, 95% of the commodity market is not so easily persuaded on non-ablation.”

Are buyers willing to pay more? “No,” added Christopher. “The cost must land somewhere else in the value chain.”

Technically, Ravi Kumar said that there are some advantages to non-ablation of vannamei shrimp broodstock.

“We can run without ablation for lines with strong reproductive efficiency. But not with the monodon shrimp, at least for now.”

He added that even within vannamei shrimp, low-reproduction lines still require ablation to achieve mating frequency and nauplii volumes.

“When non-ablation works, output equalises by the second month; mating percentages catch up, and broodstock can remain productive longer, up to 5 months from the 3.5 months with ablation practices. Hatchery survival rates seem better with post larvae from non-ablated broodstock.” He added that although field evidence suggests that post larvae from non-ablated broodstock are robust, it would be necessary to compare data on the field performance of post larvae from the same batch of broodstock, half of them ablated and the other half non-ablated.

On costs, Ravi Kumar said,

“There is no extra cost for non-ablated vannamei, provided the broodstock is from lines with good reproductive efficiency. For weaker lines, costs rise, which forces hatcheries to revert to ablation.”

Which to stock: PL10-12 or PL35 juveniles?
Ronnie sought feedback comparing Asia and Ecuador. Is there a cost advantage in using PL12 versus PL35 juveniles? As a farmer in the Philippines, William said, Personally given the conditions at our farm, we prefer stocking PL10-12 in our nursery or mother ponds at a maximum of 900PL/m2). We start transferring juveniles starting at 23 to 30 days of culture to respective grow-out ponds at densities of 130 to 150/m2. Our ponds average 1,300m2.”

Henrik described the Ecuadorian approach. There is an entirely different practice, linked with integration. Despite stereotypes, PL35 is not a hatchery product; it is farm reared. “In Ecuador, PL35 is part of the farm, not sold by hatcheries. Most transactions are still for PL10–PL12, but consolidation is pulling hatcheries into integrated groups. Big farmers are owning hatcheries and genetics. Therefore, published “market prices” are blurred within intra-group transfers.”

The panel discussed whether nurseries are part of the farm or standalone. Preecha explained the changes in Thailand. “Today, small farms increasingly coordinate with hatcheries to produce larger post larvae (PL17–PL18). Farms with more ‘modern operations’ ask for PL35–PL40 or so-called “jumbo” post larvae around 0.5g. Standalone nurseries flourished five years ago but have struggled. They have seen lower survival rates as post larvae sizes increase, while feed needs climbed and transport costs increased.”

In Thailand, size, and distance complicate matters. A truck transporting 300,000 small post larvae can take only 30,000-50,000 jumbo post larvae. At the farm, stocking is usually at 300,000-400,000PL, which needs 10 trips for the truck. “Therefore, for many Thai farmers, PL12 remains the norm,” said Preecha.

Integration and the salmon lesson
Henrik spoke on Ecuador’s semi-integration model. He described this as more of a “joint venture,” where feed millers have agreements with large producers.

“Similar to that in the salmon industry, they will split feed contracts into major, medium, and minority suppliers in order to have negotiating leverage and not depend on just one large feed miller.”

He cautioned that full vertical integration has its downsides.

“You can only negotiate with yourself; you must finance raw materials on top of production and absorb operational risks. The trend reflects the salmon industry, where some integrated groups are even putting feed divisions up for sale, such as Mowi. I would say that the Ecuadorian model is satisfactory.”

Thailand is different, said Preecha.

“TRF is integrated into the shrimp processing system. The whole ecosystem (farming, feed production, and processing) acts as a “society” or “community.” The processor dictates their buying needs (size 50, 30/kg, etc.). This information is passed on to the farmers. We, as feed millers, liaise with farm associations and processors so that farmers plan harvests to meet the processors’ order books.”

Henrik added that Ecuador has a forward or downstream integration. “Farms are buying processing plants to get full control of scale for year-round retail supply. This has boosted traceability. With this advantage in hand, few big farmers want to integrate upstream into feed production.”

When the blame is on feeds
“Feed companies are usually blamed for poor shrimp growth performance,” Ronnie prompted. William responded, “First,B70% of the problem is in the farm. Poor management leads to overfeeding and low survival rates. Farms with best practices can deliver solid returns (ROI) even by using average quality feed.”

Henrik acknowledged that finger-pointing exists but backed a systematic approach at the farm. “Good farm management can even mask a weaker feed. Major customers consistently evaluate various feed suppliers and monitor performance benchmarks. This happens in the shrimp and salmon world.”

Preecha explained that when crops fail, farmers often blame poor post larvae, feed, disease, or climate change. However, he believes that competition among feed mills worldwide has improved feed quality. While feed is important, results depend on three factors: post larvae quality, feed quality, and farm management.

The promise of acoustic feeding
Ecuador has embraced acoustic feeding. AQ1, now part of BioMar, has among the best-known systems. However, acoustic feeding draws scepticism in Asia. Has it really improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and sped up cycles in Ecuador?

Henrik affirmed that gains come from the device, nutrition, and the management system it enables. “Together with improved genetics, farms moved from 2–3 cycles/year to 5 or even 6 cycles/year to produce small-size shrimp. However, this system requires large capital investment and strong organisations to roll out and utilise the technology. It is feasible in consolidated Ecuador but is much harder in fragmented Asia.”

Henrik said that by volume, the vast majority of Ecuador’s output comes from acoustic feeding practices. By hectares, there is still room to expand.

In India, Ravi Kumar sees the uptake of smart feeders “catching up,” despite high capital expenditure. Small ponds make manual feeding feasible. “Such technology saves feed by reducing FCR by ~0.2, and keeps pond bottoms cleaner, allowing for longer cycles to produce large-size shrimp. Timed dispensers are not that revolutionary, but acoustic systems really decouple from workforce reliance.”

Preecha concurred with Ravi Kumar. In Asia, small ponds, high stocking density, and environmental sounds complicate the use of sensors. However, he foresees that AI-assisted sound filtering, CCTV for shrimp behaviour monitoring, and integration with aerator telemetry will help.

William echoed on the Philippines’ lag. “Acoustic feeding is not considered partly because small, intensive ponds have “so much activity” inside and out.” Even so, he accepts the premise that FCR improvements of 0.2-0.3 are plausible.
Henrik reminded that algorithms already filter aeration and pond noise. AQ1 has even solved a bug where a stray sound mimicked clicks of shrimp mandibles.

Post-harvest: Great shrimp, mediocre chains
Some Asian farmers harvest high-quality shrimp, but post-harvest chains fail to preserve them. Can buyers shorten the chain?

Christopher responded that geography is a factor. Indonesia is a large archipelago, and farms with optimal conditions are on remote islands, where it is not feasible to site a processing plant. It takes 3-4 days for the harvest to reach processors.

“However, the irony is that almost 70-80% of global markets accept subpar shrimp. The US, the largest market for peeled shrimp, accepts heavily soaked shrimp. China’s vast dim sum segment values convenience over pristine texture; only Michelin-level niches demand the best quality. So, until the demand changes, supply chains have little incentive to upgrade.”

On the topic of soaking shrimp, Ravi Kumar stated that STPP (sodium tripolyphosphate) at about 5% is commonly used for soaking shrimp. Some buyers, especially in Europe, now prefer chemical-free or alternative “salt” cures.

“Unfortunately, in most markets, even Japan, there is demand for heavily soaked shrimp. European consumers tend to avoid STPP, while allowing for 20–30% glazing. Market preferences are reflected in their willingness to make cost-related decisions,” said Christopher.

Fragmentation as risk or resilience?
Over 70% of Asian shrimp production comes from small- and medium scale farms, while the same share in Ecuador comes from large groups. Is this a strength or a weakness?

Ravi Kumar noted, “In fragmented Asia, exporters often trade rather than own responsibility. Yet the advantage of smallholders is that they are resilient: when they fail, they recover fast. Big corporations, once down, struggle to pivot. His view is that Asia will be unable to integrate rapidly; therefore, collaboration across genetics, hatchery, feed, farm and processing is crucial.

Preecha added that small farms can time their production to China’s “golden periods” (four times a year). They tailor output to preferred colours and sizes and operate with tightly controlled labour costs. The main constraint, however, is financing—high capex tools such as acoustic feeders remain out of reach.

For William, Asia’s fragmentation benefits across more people in the value chain, but the continent’s geographic and operational variability makes standardisation hard, while offering multiple pathways to compete.
Henrik referred to market served. For local live or premium niche markets, small farmers can beat giants. For mass retail with year-round contracts, low cost and traceability, large integrated groups have the edge.

Christopher injected a buyer’s view that “integration must add value”. “Many farmers prefer the freedom to sell to the highest bidder, especially when disease tightens raw material supply and processors, with thousands of workers, must keep lines running. Unless integration improves farm income or risk, farmers will not rush into it.”

What can Ecuador learn from Asia?
This was an open discussion with participants. Henrik sees Ecuador on an intensification journey, while Asia offers a cautionary tale on carrying capacity and limitations on stress and disease. As intensity increase, feeds in Ecuador converge toward those in Asia. For Ravi Kumar, the farming systems are “as different as baseball and cricket,” i.e., huge, open ponds with all pathogen-exposed (APE) broodstock in Ecuador versus smaller, biosecure farms with disease-free stocks in Asia.

Hervé Lucien-Brun, Jefo Nutrition, France, flagged a systemic risk since about 85% of Ecuadorian farming is located on one estuary (Gulf of Guayas), and there has been no study on carrying capacity of water resources. 

Exceeding this could lead to a big crash, as white spot disease (WSD) once did. However, Andrés Rivadulla, BioMar, Ecuador, noted some large groups are already seeking new farming areas outside the gulf, a geographic diversification borrowed from Asia’s painful experience.

Pablo Montalbetti Gómez de la Torre, Vitapro – Alicorp Ecuador, believes that growth must come from intensification, not hectarage. The way is to increase density sustainably, detect early disease signals, and pace growth, despite the pressure to recoup investments.

How can Asian producers position themselves to compete with Ecuador? According to Christopher, there are paths like niche markets such as “live”, “cook-from from live,” certifications or efficiency. However, many niches come and go. “The biggest challenge for most Asian processors is raw-material price volatility. Owning ponds allows you to stabilise input costs, whereas buying externally leaves you at the market’s mercy.

“Still, seasonality creates windows. Ecuador can be uncompetitive, as during recent outbreaks (WSD drove a price spike), early in the year (February–March) and sometimes in August–September.” His recommendation is to focus on the cost curve and take advantage when these windows open.

Henrik’s 30-second postscript was, “Ecuador’s high labour cost leaves room for Asian processors in advanced value-added items. Competing head-on in whole and frozen is tough. In more complex consumer products, Asia’s lower labour costs can shine.”

This article was first published in Aqua Culture Asia Pacific January/February  page 22-25 

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At YHL Desaru, entrepreneurship focuses on using biotechnology and innovations to build a sustainable shrimp farming business.

Among the more established and traditional shrimp farms in Malaysia, seven-year-old YHL Aquatic Sdn Bhd in Desaru, Johor stands above the rest. Covering a land area of 269.3 acres (107.7ha), YHL is now one of the largest shrimp farms in Johor state. Since 2023,it started hatchery operations in Mersing, producing post larvae using broodstock from the NBC (nucleus breeding centre), at YHLF Biotech (Thailand) in Phang-Nga, a subsidiary. YHL also operates Malaysia’s first BMC (broodstock multiplication centre) to reduce reliance on imports and to strengthen Malaysia’s shrimp aquaculture industry.

In 2025, the company received the “Asia Aquaculture Excellence Award – Excellence in Marine Shrimp Seedlings”, presented by the Malaysia Aquaculture Development Association (MADA), during its 25thAnniversary Celebration Dinner.

This prestigious award recognises YHL’s outstanding achievements in shrimp post larvae production and further validates the company’s commitment to IMTA (Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture) practices for sustainable shrimp farming.

An earlier achievement is the JCI (Junior Chamber International) Malaysia Sustainable Development Award SDG 14: Life Below Water” in 2023 which reaffirmed the company’s leadership and innovation in sustainable aquaculture development.

From oysters to vannamei shrimp

YHL’s Founder and Managing Director, Low Yuan Heng entered shrimp farming by chance. Low, a graduate in food science from Universiti Putra Malaysia, already had an established food additive business when he was encouraged to start oyster farming back in 2010.

“We have Crassostrea iredalei and C. belcheri. I saw an aquaculture opportunity as there is no specific breeding season and spats are available all year round in our coastal waters,” said Low.

“However, in order for the oysters to reach market readiness, an eight-month culture period was required, with anticipated cash flow projected only after three years. Therefore, I considered integrating another aquaculture species and explored shrimp farming as a complementary venture alongside the oyster.”

The Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation(Bioeconomy Corporation), operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), has granted BioNexus status and recognition as a Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) company to YHL’s Tropical Oyster subsidiary and YHL Aquatics, respectively. It has continuously supported YHL in their transition and growth. 

“As we grow larger, we believe that it is important to have stability in production, rather than seek to increase volumes with higher stocking density,” says Low Yuan Heng

Ponds are aerated. Lastly, we have oysters, bivalves and aquatic plants to filter out organic particles. Water is used for the culture of copepods, which are the live feed for the fish hatchery.”

This is the IMTA project. “This idea of this IMTA is to solve aquaculture’s pollution issue, reduce nutrient pollution, eutrophication and recycling waste into usable biomass. This is a first in Malaysia. We use nine acres (3.64ha) dedicated to IMTA which is still not fully complete,” said Low

Construction of shrimp ponds began in 2017, along side the existing oyster hatchery facility. The seawater intake is6m deep and 800m out at sea, which YHL acquired when it bought over the land previously set up for a fish hatchery.

In the first phase of 10 acres (4ha), pond sizes were 0.1ha;in the second and third phases, pond sizes increased to0.25ha, and in phase 4, currently ongoing, ponds are0.4ha with 1.5-1.8m depths. Today, YHL’s farm in Desaruhas a total of 67 grow-out ponds with central outlets. Itwas necessary to line ponds and dykes with 1mm highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) as the area has sandy soil.

Each phase uses its own filtration system and reservoir.In phase one, stocking density is 200 PL/m2butdecreases to 150 PL/m2for ponds in the latter phases.Low clarified, “As we grow, we believe that it is importantto have stability in production, rather than seek toincrease volumes with higher stocking density.”

“We farm vannamei shrimp, producing 945 tonnes in2024 with a target of 1,500 tonnes for 2025. Each cycleincludes five partial harvests to ensure a daily supply of4-5 tonnes for Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Singapore.Buyers appreciate the reliable daily shipments. In October,farmgate prices were MYR19.50/kg (USD 4.71) for size70/kg and MYR29.50/kg (USD 7.13) for size 30/kg. Thelowest price for size 70/kg in 2025 was MYR15/kg.

“Buyers seek shrimp of size 90-30/kg. Size 25/kg is thelargest size that they will take. I am proud of the colour ofour shrimp, rated 24 on the chart when cooked, reflectingour genetics. Our cost of production is around MYR19.50(USD4.71) and average selling price is MYR24.50(USD5.92).”

Low started his shrimp farming business on 10 acres(4ha) of land. Today, while sentimental towards his original oyster venture – selling oysters at MYR2 each in2012- he has steadily expanded shrimp farming in phases, making structural and operational improvements, after visiting several farms in Vietnam, Thailand and China.

The main driver: Sustainable aquaculture

Prior to starting his venture, Low researched sustainable farming policies, referring to the work by Dr Sarah J.Foster, a marine conservation scientist who provided science-based guidelines for sustainable farming.

“Fortunately, this area was previously used for silicas and production, which means I do not need to address concerns on mangrove destruction for shrimp farming. ”The Johor state government has designated the area covering 9,000 acres (3,642ha) as “Bio Desaru – The Organic Food Valley” as a major hub for organic farming, bio-agriculture, aquaculture, and eco-tourism.

Low applies his tagline, “Saving the oceans starts with me” when designing the infrastructure and developing operations for high density shrimp farming. All wastewater is channelled into sludge ponds and overflows into six sedimentation ponds continuously. “We stock milkfish and tilapia to clean up the water and add probiotics.

“As we grow larger, we believe that it is important to have stability in production, rather than seek to increase volumes with higher stocking density,” says Low Yuan Heng.

Ponds are aerated. Lastly, we have oysters, bivalves and aquatic plants to filter out organic particles. Water is used for the culture of copepods, which are the live feed for the fish hatchery.” This is the IMTA project.

“This idea of this IMTA is to solve aquaculture’s pollution issue, reduce nutrient pollution, eutrophication and recycling waste into usable biomass. This is a first in Malaysia. We use nine acres (3.64ha) dedicated to IMTA which is still not fully complete,” said Low.

Expansion and innovation
Construction of shrimp ponds began in 2017, alongside the existing oyster hatchery facility. The seawater intake is 6m deep and 800m out at sea, which YHL acquired when it bought over the land previously set up for a fish hatchery.

In the first phase of 10 acres (4ha), pond sizes were 0.1ha; in the second and third phases, pond sizes increased to 0.25ha, and in phase 4, currently ongoing, ponds are 0.4ha with 1.5-1.8m depths. Today, YHL’s farm in Desaru has a total of 67 grow-out ponds with central outlets. It was necessary to line ponds and dykes with 1mm high density polyethylene (HDPE) as the area has sandy soil.

Each phase uses its own filtration system and reservoir. In phase one, stocking density is 200 PL/m2 but decreases to 150 PL/m2 for ponds in the latter phases. Low clarified, “As we grow, we believe that it is important to have stability in production, rather than seek to increase volumes with higher stocking density.”

“We farm vannamei shrimp, producing 945 tonnes in 2024 with a target of 1,500 tonnes for 2025. Each cycle includes five partial harvests to ensure a daily supply of 4-5 tonnes for Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Singapore. Buyers appreciate the reliable daily shipments. In October, farmgate prices were MYR19.50/kg (USD 4.71) for size 70/kg and MYR29.50/kg (USD 7.13) for size 30/kg. The lowest price for size 70/kg in 2025 was MYR15/kg.

“Buyers seek shrimp of size 90-30/kg. Size 25/kg is the largest size that they will take. I am proud of the colour of our shrimp, rated 24 on the chart when cooked, reflecting our genetics. Our cost of production is around MYR19.50 (USD4.71) and average selling price is MYR24.50 (USD5.92).”

Innovating with a nursery phase
“In 2020, after completion of the second phase, we faced a serious Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) outbreak. We were lucky as we already included a nursery stage in our farming protocol. It was a 1:1 model, one nursery pond of 150m3 to a grow-out pond of 0.1ha. We stocked 1,000 PL/m2 in the nursery pond. At such a high density, I could already catch an EHP infection at 1g at the nursery stage. If I were to stock directly into grow-out ponds, the signs of an outbreak can only be seen after 40 days.”

Low added, “It was at this time that I looked around for alternative genetics. In Phang-Nga, researchers at Thailand’s National Centre Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) were already using molecular genetics in shrimp to manipulate shrimp traits for aquaculture. Together we founded the subsidiary YHLF Biotech (Thailand) and established a NBC.”

The farming cycle starts with PL10 from his own hatchery in Mersing. The nursery cycle is over 21-28 days, and grow-out duration is 75-84 days. Low said that survival rates at harvest hover around 80%. “We are managing well because of our operational protocols. Our average daily growth is 0.4g-0.5g, which I attribute to the YHL-PHI TIK Litopenaeus vannamei post larvae from broodstock with rapid growth, robustness and disease tolerance to EHP developed at YHLF Biotech over 49 generations since 2018.”

Low explained, “Juveniles are transferred to grow-out ponds using pipes and tanks, with the entire process taking about four hours. We experience only about 1-2% loss during transfer. Our nursery ponds are distributed throughout the pond area. To minimise stress before transfers and later before harvesting, we include feed supplements such as extra minerals and astaxanthin.”

Among several other innovations that YHL has been testing out is the combination of pineapple extracts and Bacillus probiotics to mitigate white faeces syndrome (WFS). An idea from observations on shrimp farming in China is the in – house production of PSB (photosynthetic bacteria) and EM (effective microorganism) probiotics for improving soil/water quality and enhancing aquatic health by reducing toxins and pathogens. YHL has an innovative way to maintain aeration at 5ppm with air diffusers and paddlewheels.

The farm has 60 staff to operate ponds comprising of the usual hierarchy in pond management, where the farm manager oversees pond supervisors. “We recruit our technicians from Sabah and Sarawak, namely graduates from Polytechnic Sandakan in Sabah. We use auto feeders but, I noticed that feed conversion ratio (FCR) can range from 1.2 to 1.3 but can rise to 1.7-1.8 depending on the technician.”

This article was first published in Aqua Culture Asia Pacific January/February  page 16/17 

The post Integrated and sustainable farming in Malaysia appeared first on Aqua Culture Asia Pacific.

 In India, running mortality syndrome (RMS) has recently intensified, leading to ongoing losses and frequent crop failures. Farmers often cannot sustain crops beyond 70–75 days. RMS is typically associated with white muscle and pinkish discolouration. Along with white faeces disease (WFD) and the age-old WSSV, these conditions contribute to chronic production losses.

In August, the Prawn Farmers Federation of India (PFFI) launched the pilot phase of a historic farmer-led targeted disease investigation program at Velankanni in Tamil Nadu. This initiative brings together farmers, scientists from the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR–CIBA) and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for  Aquaculture (RGCA–MPEDA), industry supporters, and international experts from the University of Arizona, including Professor Arun K. Dhar and his team.

The program aimed to tackle the persistent disease related mortalities and crop failures that continue to threaten Indian shrimp farming.

Balasubramaniam V, General Secretary of the Prawn Farmers Federation of India (PFFI), said,

“We desperately needed to understand the disease and to figure a way out of this terrible situation. For the first time, farmers and scientists are working hand in hand under a structured framework, using each other’s strengths. PFFI will be the coordinator for field visits, farmer data and sample collection, while the researchers focus on the disease investigation in the laboratories. I am privileged to initiate and coordinate this effort, with overwhelming support from the industry and farming communities across the country.”

Technical and marketing teams from feed and input suppliers are coordinating with farmers and project field coordinators to regularly visit farms and collect data and samples, especially during disease outbreaks. Activities follow a structured and coordinated program.

The inaugural session brought together more than 150 farmers, industry stakeholders from across the country, and key government bodies. For the first time, eight national organisations are working under one umbrella. These are: 
• PFFI – Prawn Farmers Federation of India – Lead farmer
organisation driving the program.
• ICAR–CIBA – Central Institute of Brackishwater
Aquaculture – National aquaculture research institution
& key investigator.
• MPEDA–RGCA – Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture
– National aquaculture research & demonstration
centre under MPEDA; key investigator.
• NFDB – National Fisheries Development Board (funding
agency).
• CAA – Coastal Aquaculture Authority (regulatory
agency).
• AISHA – All India Shrimp Hatchery Association.
• SAP – Society of Aquaculture Professionals.
• SEAI – Seafood Exporters Association of India.

The pilot phase focuses on two commonly reported but insufficiently studied conditions: rapid mortalities associated with white muscle, and chronic production challenges linked to white faeces. Over the next two years, the study will combine: a case–control epidemiological survey to identify risk factors, continuous farm-level monitoring and field investigations, and laboratory-based challenge trials to assess suspected causative agents and triggering conditions. 

Update: Program now moves into the next phase during the upcoming crop cycle

In February, Balasubramaniam V, updated on activities. 
“Over the past few months, a considerable amount of work has been taking place quietly in the field and at the laboratories, and we felt it was the right time to share the latest developments with all of you who have been supporting this initiative.”

Since the recruitment of our first research associate, Mary Divya, the laboratory work  at ICAR–CIBA has been progressing steadily. Live samples collected from farms in Nagapattinam and sent by our field technical team have been undergoing continuous screening and analysis.

Last week, a joint scientific review meeting was held at the RGCA headquarters in Sirkazhi, bringing together investigators from ICAR–CIBA, RGCA and PFFI. The meeting was attended by Dr. Kuldeep Lal, Director of CIBA, and Dr. Anup Mandal, Project Director of RGCA, along with the investigation team.

The preliminary investigations by both CIBA and RGCA indicate the possible involvement of a pathogen in the disease situation being investigated. Further validation work will continue before firm conclusions are drawn.

The program now moves into the next phase during the upcoming crop cycle, where selected farms will be closely monitored through the crop, additional field sampling will continue, and case–control studies will be carried out to better understand the factors associated with the disease occurrence.

“We remain deeply grateful to all our corporate supporters, Scientific committee members and well-wishers who have stood with farmers and scientists in making this farmer-led investigation possible.”

Science without borders. Solutions for farmers.
Led and coordinated by the Prawn Farmers Federation of India (PFFI).

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From the editor

The top 10 salient points which includes AAP’s wish list for 2026

The global economic outlook shows resilient growth with Asia Pacific leading in stability while the US is showing a K-shaped growth i.e. diverging growth. The
EU will face uneven growth from its constituent countries. China, while still plagued by its weak property market, is expected to show robust manufacturing growth. 

How will this affect aquaculture and the prognosis for 2026? Here are the top 10 salient points which includes AAP’s wish list.

1. The global aquafeed demand is likely to show modest growth in 2025 and 2026 after a 4% decline in 2024 (Alltech Global Feed Survey) and this will be pushed by high value aquaculture species.

2. In terms of feed ingredients, fishmeal prices will remain firm while soybean meal and corn-based ingredients will be soft. This leads to stable feed prices while giving alternative ingredients breathing space as they benchmark their prices versus fishmeal. Furthermore, fishmeal supply is forecasted by Rabobank to be short as early as 2027.

3. Aquafeeds will be differentiated by its sustainability credentials starting in the EU and followed by the US. As part of the value chain, Asia Pacific is starting to adopt this via its exports to the EU market. The wish is for the shrimp sector to adopt more functional feeds as a tool to mitigate stress and disease challenges.

4. The shrimp trade still faces an oversupply risk due to a continued increase in Ecuador’s exports while tariffs in the US can cause price swings. China’s stagnant demand limits the upside potential. The shrimp sector must invest in productivity and move away from just cost saving. This requires a change in mindset and in Asia, it will be the next generation farmers leading this charge.

5. Asia must find the right balance in shrimp stocking density for ROI. Ecuador has low density culture and increases production through more cycles per year via nurseries and 3-phase farming. This strategy allows for increasing volumes without challenging the carrying capacity and risking disease outbreaks. Asia, on the other hand, has adopted partial harvesting to control biomass as shrimp gain in size. Here, it is the management of densities without challenging the carrying capacity during each cycle. These strategies are not mutually exclusive. So why not do both?

6. Another wish is for Asia to adopt better feeding systems. Unlike fish where one can observe feeding to satiation, over feeding is still common in shrimp. Excess feed is not only money lost but also increases sludge buildup and Vibrio levels, leading to disease risks again.

7. Marketing is still a weak link in the supply chain for both tilapia and pangasius. There are two distinct markets and sizes for tilapia, and the product must be fit for the local market or for export. The cold chain and post-harvest logistics are crucial for the local market while capability are critical for export. Vietnam’s pangasius supply chain is fine-tuned but still lacks marketing to move up the ‘white fish’ ladder. Conversely, Regal Springs has positioned tilapia into the British ‘fish and chips’ offering, ready for the anticipated drop in ground fish catches.

8. Finding the Asian salmon remains elusive. The Asian seabass (barramundi) does not have the economies of scale to attract investments. It is not feasible for a single country to have the competitive edge along the whole value chain. The better model is for various countries to work together, each focusing on its strength and specialising in a sector to develop an integrated ecosystem. Easier said than done?

9. Tariffs and the supply chain can alter global competitiveness and the markets. How will the front loading of imported stock in 2025 affect the carry-over to 2026 in the US? For shrimp, it is forecasted that a 10% increase in price to the consumer will result in a drop of 3.5% consumption in the following 12 months (GSF 2025).

10. Seafood is the largest traded food protein in the world because producing countries are not the consumers. China, India, and Southeast Asia together represent half of the world’s population. With increasing GDP per capita in these regions, developing the local market is the way to go. According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, rapid changes are occurring in Asian consumer markets for food and beverages, spurred by rising incomes, urbanisation, and an expanding middle class. India is no longer seen as a vegetarian nation with low spending power. A small uptick in per capita shrimp consumption can create a large demand. 

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Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei remains a silent yet pervasive threat to shrimp aquaculture worldwide. Now, a new breakthrough brings unprecedented speed and insights to manage its risk

Silent but pervasive threat to shrimp aquaculture
White faeces disease (WFD) has emerged as a significant threat to shrimp aquaculture, characterised by floating white faecal strings and pale midguts in affected animals. One of the causative agents of WFD is Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), a microsporidian parasite responsible for hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM). First identified in Thailand in 2004, EHP has rapidly spread across major shrimp-producing regions in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Although EHP infections rarely result in acute mortality, their chronic impact on shrimp health and farm productivity is profound. Infected shrimp exhibit poor growth performance and reduced feed conversion efficiency. This leads to uneven size distribution, extended production cycles, and diminished harvest value. The economic losses caused by EHP alone were estimated to be USD~560 million in India (2018-2019) and USD~230 million in Thailand (2018). As the pathogen continues to spread, its management has become a focal point for the industry to sustain the viability of shrimp farming operations.

“Symptoms are often absent or mild in early stages, infections frequently go unnoticed until performance losses become apparent.”

Persistent and tiny spores

The biological characteristics of EHP add to its threat. Its oval spores, measuring approximately 1.1–1.7μm X 0.7–1.0μm, can persist in pond water, sludge, and organic matter even under harsh environmental conditions. Once a shrimp is infected, (im)mature spores multiply in the hepatopancreas and are shed via faeces, rapidly seeding the pond environment and contributing to pond-wide transmission. Compounding the challenge is EHP’s subclinical progression; symptoms are often absent or mild in early stages, which means infections frequently go unnoticed until performance losses become apparent.

A new early-warning tool:

EHP indicator

Recent studies suggest that environmental EHP levels in pond water and sediment are linked to infection levels in shrimp. Active outbreaks showed spore loads ranging from as little as 101–103 DNA copies/mL of pond water. This underscores the potential of pond water monitoring as an early-warning system.

By tracking the mature spore concentrations released via the faeces, over time, farmers can detect rising infection pressure before clinical symptoms appear. However, this proactive approach depends on highly sensitive, rapid and cost-effective tools capable of detecting mature EHP spores in complex pond environments.

As ingestion of mature EHP spores forms the main risk factor for infection, measurements of this specific phenotype of EHP, are a crucial piece of information to enable its effective management. Here, we describe the development and application of a new EHP mature spore indicator for rearing environments of hatchery and farm environments in Vietnam and Thailand.

Capturing information on single EHP spore

At the core of the EHP Indicator is KYTOS’ proprietary single-cell analysis platform (Figure 1), which merges advanced microbiological profiling with machine learning to create predictive indicators. The process begins with the analysis of purified reference material from infected Penaeus vannamei, which is then analysed on the KYTOS platform to capture information on every single EHP spore particle.

Proprietary machine-learning workflows are then used to fine-tune models capable of detecting these mature EHP spores in the presence of naturally occurring microbiota from shrimp ponds and hatcheries. In our case, this training data comprised more than 600 million single-cell data points from shrimp ponds (water, gut and hepatopancreas) and yielded highly robust model accuracy (99.5 %) and overall performance (Table 1).

Rapid insights for farmers
The beauty of this approach is that through a simplesoftware update, these predictions can be made available to all customer data analysed by the Kytos platform. The EHP Indicator quantifies mature spore loads and embeds them within a predictive framework, enabling farmers to detect infection pressure before visible symptoms arise. By providing early warning, it empowers shrimp producers to make informed management decisions, from strengthening biosecurity and adjusting feeding strategies to applying targeted pond interventions.

Delivered through the Kytos platform, the dedicated EHP dashboard transforms complex microbiome data into clear, actionable insights: spore density trends are visualised in real time, benchmarked against an extensive country-specific database and contextualised to distinguish background levels from critical infection thresholds (Figure 2). A continuous monitoring of pond water and shrimp tissue allows producers to detect deviations from baseline microbial conditions, anticipating outbreak risks with time to intervene.

This data-driven approach shifts disease management from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, resulting in improving crop outcomes, reducing economic losses, and enhancing sustainability. Integrated into a broader microbiome analysis service, the EHP Indicator is complemented by more than 25 additional indicators spanning bacterial, algal, and fungal groups, providing a comprehensive view of pond health.

Each sample can be analysed in under one minute, delivering all indicators – including EHP risk markers – with rapid turnaround, automated updates, and seamless digital access. Its strength lies in detecting mature spores rather than residual DNA, leveraging single-cell analysis and AI-powered models trained on over 100,000 aquaculture samples, and validated across thousands of real-world shrimp datasets. Robust to pond variation, geographic diversity, and farming practices, the EHP Indicator delivers accuracy, scalability, and real-time feedback, turning microbiome data into practical tools to achieve more profitable shrimp farming.

Cross-country differences in spore loads
Using this new model, EHP mature spore predictions were made on data of farms in our early-testing program to evaluate differences across geographical and market segments (Figure 3).

In Thailand, aggregated data indicated considerably higher EHP levels in exchange water than in rearing water, suggesting that incoming water may serve as an important contamination source. In contrast, Vietnamese farms exhibited much lower EHP densities in exchange water, likely reflecting the widespread application of stronger disinfection and water-treatment protocols. Nevertheless, EHP concentrations increased sharply in rearing water, pointing to internal amplification during culture despite clean water inputs.

At the production stage level, hatchery samples from Vietnam tended to show higher EHP spore densities than those from Thailand, potentially contributing to the elevated loads later observed in farm systems. These patterns underscore the critical link between hatchery biosecurity, post larvae (PL) quality, and the downstream risk of EHP outbreaks in grow-out ponds. Identifying the points at which contamination is most likely to occur provides a basis for targeted preventive measures that safeguard shrimp health and improve production performance.

EHP changes with seasons
Seasonal patterns in EHP spore densities revealed clear geographical differences between Thailand and Vietnam (Figure 4). In both countries, EHP levels fluctuated across dry and rainy seasons, reflecting the influence of environmental conditions and management practices on microbial risks in shrimp ponds. Thailand displayed more stable yet persistent EHP signals throughout the year, whereas Vietnam showed greater volatility during the dry season. These trends highlight the interaction between seasonality and water management in shaping pathogen pressure.

To capture these dynamics more effectively, the Kytos team updates its microbial monitoring database continuously. This growing dataset enables the identification of emerging trends, local risk periods, and region-specific responses to management practices.

By collaborating closely with industry stakeholders, Kytos translates microbial insights into practical recommendations that support early detection and farm management. Continuous monitoring not only reveals how EHP behaves across seasons but also empowers producers to make informed, data-driven decisions that enhance shrimp health, improve production outcomes, and build long-term resilience.

Acknowledgments
The development of the EHP Indicator is the result of the collective efforts of KYTOS teams in Belgium, Thailand, and Vietnam, whose dedication and creativity were instrumental in bringing this innovation to fruition (Ruben Props, Bui Ngoc Minh Ngan, Doan Dang Quynh, Hoang Truc Linh, Waraporn Tongyos and Tita). This work was supported by the Flanders International Climate Action Programme (FICAP) through the project “Sustainable Water Management for Aquaculture in Southeast Asia through Innovative Microbial Management” (IKF 23/059).

This article was first published in Aqua Culture Asia Pacific November/December p37-39.  https://issues.aquaasiapac.com/view/717436716/38/#zoom=true

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A deeper analysis shows that the impact on costs goes beyond increases in feeding the shrimp.

Shrimp aquaculture has been a pillar of economic growth in several Asian countries, yet beneath the surface lurks a formidable threat, Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). Unlike pathogens that cause visible mass mortalities, EHP operates quietly, gradually undermining farm profitability through less obvious but significant impacts on shrimp growth and yield.

The nature of EHP and its impact
EHP is a microsporidian parasite that targets the shrimp hepatopancreas, a key organ responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption. Rather than causing immediate death, EHP infections primarily result in stunted growth and large size variations at harvest. These translate directly into economic losses, as farmers deliver smaller shrimp, often missing premium market opportunities.

Economic consequences
The chronic presence of EHP leads to several detrimental outcomes for shrimp farmers, which include:
• Extended crop cycles which increase feed and labour costs.
• Higher feed conversion ratios (FCRs), demanding more input per cycle of shrimp production.
• Uneven shrimp size and shrimp not reaching target market size complicate marketing and reduce overall sales value.
• Additional investments in diagnostics, feed supplements, and pond management further strain financial resources

Quantitative assessments, particularly from major production zones, such as Andhra Pradesh, reveal economic losses due to EHP which may exceed 20-30% of typical profit margins. This scale of loss sums up to hundreds of millions of rupees annually, threatening both individual farm viability and resilience within the broader industry.

Enhanced management strategies for controlling EHP
Effectively managing EHP requires a comprehensive approach that integrates preventive, regular monitoring, and remedial measures tailored to the unique challenges this pathogen presents. Since EHP is a chronic resilient parasite that rarely causes acute mortality, early detection and proactive management are crucial to minimise economic losses.

Pond preparation and biosecurity
Steps taken to ensure proper pond preparation and biosecurity include:
• Thorough elimination of residual pathogens and minimising infection risks during pond preparation.
• Complete drying and sun exposure during pond dry-out periods to help reduce pathogen load in the sediment.
• Application of lime and appropriate disinfectants to neutralise spores and improve pond water quality.
• Use of biosecurity protocols such as restricting farm access, controlling equipment sharing, and adopting other inputs to minimise contamination risks.
• Management of water source like using filtered or treated water to reduce introduction of EHP spores and other pathogens.

Regular health monitoring and early diagnosis
EHP Infections often remain undetected until harvest, hence, routine monitoring is indispensable. Measures taken include:
• Visual assessments for growth reduction and uneven size distribution, which serve as initial warning signs.
• Scheduled sampling of shrimp hepatopancreas tissues for microscopic observation (wet mount) and molecular testing (PCR/RTPCR) helps in early detection. (Table 1).

Nutritional and functional feed interventions
Nutritional intervention is increasingly recognised as a key component in managing EHP and reducing its economic impact on shrimp farming. Functional feeds not only fulfil the nutritional requirements of shrimp but also deliver bioactive compounds that modulate immunity, enhance gut health, and improve resilience against pathogens.

Recent advances have demonstrated the potential of targeted feed formulations such as Nutriva Plus (Growel, India), which incorporates bioactive ingredients designed to reduce pathogen pressure and improve host defence mechanisms. The functional components of this feed operate through multiple mechanisms, which include:
• Strengthening of intestinal integrity reduces the adverse effects of pathogen-derived toxins.
• Immune system modulation helps to maintain shrimp in a heightened state of readiness against infection.
• Direct antimicrobial action, with certain compounds capable of inactivating or disabling pathogens.
• Improved feed intake and nutrient utilisation, ensuring effective delivery of health-supportive compounds.

When integrated with husbandry measures such as water quality management, stocking density based on carrying capacity of the pond, and strict biosecurity protocols, functional feeds like Nutriva Plus represent a practical approach to mitigating EHP-related losses.

Water quality management
The shrimp pond with ideal water quality parameters (Table 2) and regular applications of water and soil probiotics, for bioremediation will minimise stress and pathogen proliferation.

Managing EHP outbreaks in Andhra Pradesh
Recent times have seen shrimp farmers across key districts of Andhra Pradesh grappling with escalating challenges from EHP infections, resulting in significant production decline and economic losses.

Mapping the impact
We conducted a comprehensive questionnaire-based survey over the past year across Krishna, East Godavari, and West Godavari districts—major shrimp farming regions of Andhra Pradesh. The survey covered more than 145 shrimp farms, including both healthy and EHP-affected farms, each operating under the region’s standard 2–4 crop annual cycle. The study relied on the Growel 360° app to capture and organize all pond-level data.

EHP infection status
Of the 145 farms surveyed, 93 (64%) showed signs of EHP infections during the year. Only 52 farms (36%) remained unaffected, suggesting either successful implementation of preventive measures or just limited exposure to microsporidium. The high infection rate underscores the urgent need for coordinated disease management and biosecurity protocols across the region.

Categorising severity of infection
Based on field observations, EHP-affected ponds were classified into three categories:

• Healthy shrimp: No visible signs of infection, optimal growth, and feed conversion.
• Moderate EHP: Shrimp showed signs of stunted growth, moderate size variation and reduced feed efficiency.
• Severe EHP: Severe growth retardation, high mortality, high size variation and significant economic loss.

Distinct impacts of EHP on production costs

In farms affected by EHP, pond preparation has become more intensive and costly. Activities such as tillage and soil preparation with tractors, bleaching, and liming critical for disinfection, are now performed more rigorously to eliminate residual spores and prevent reinfection.

Our study revealed a 15% to 28% increase in pond preparation costs depending on the severity of EHP in infected ponds compared to healthy ones. This escalation is driven by the need for enhanced cleaning protocols between crop cycles, often requiring additional labour and materials.

More rigorous diagnostic approach for EHP detection

To assess the presence of EHP, a structured diagnostic
protocol was followed:
• Preliminary observations: Field technicians examined shrimp for visual signs of EHP, including growth retardation, pale hepatopancreas, white faeces, and poor feed conversion.
• Wet mount microscopy: Suspected samples were screened under a wet mount to detect microsporidian spores in hepatopancreatic tissue.
• Confirmation with RT-PCR: Molecular confirmation was performed using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ensuring high sensitivity and specificity in detecting EHP DNA.

Using a classification of pond health status based on RT-PCR results and cycle threshold (CT), ponds were categorised into three health status groups.
• Healthy pond: No detectable EHP infection.
• Moderately infected ponds: CT > 25
• Highly infected ponds: CT < 25

This classification enabled targeted analysis of production costs and disease impact across varying infection levels.

Comparison of economic losses
This was studied with direct costs between the non- EHP-infected farms and EHP-infected ponds, as shown in Table 4. We also analysed the impact on costs, ranking them as in Table 5.

Conclusion
In this article, we demonstrate the cost impact per kg shrimp with EHP infections and its subsequent influence on WFD incidences. In moderately and severely infected ponds, the cycle is not profitable with harvests of size 100/kg. The cycle is profitable when the cycle continues to harvest size of 60/kg, aided by higher selling prices. Effective EHP control benefits farmers reducing cost of production thus increasing the profit margins for farmers.

Shrimp culture practices require the adoption of effective methods for pond preparation and biosecurity, regular health monitoring, early disease diagnosis, nutritional and functional feed interventions as well as water quality management.

This article was first published in Aqua Culture Asia Pacific November/December p40–43.  https://issues.aquaasiapac.com/view/717436716/42/

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Sarika Farm in Chachoengsao province is regarded as a model farm, and its owner, Khun Chalee Jitprasong, has diligently developed it to be the first ASC-certified farm in Thailand.

When we speak to shrimp industry stakeholders in Thailand, Khun Chalee’s name often comes up among the country’s most recently successful farmers. One of his farms, Sarika Farm in Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province, is regarded as a model farm that Chalee has diligently innovated, post-COVID, to achieve the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification. In 2024, his farm produced 150 tonnes in an area of 27 rai (4.32ha).

However, before the COVID pandemic (2020-2021), his success rate was low. The turning point came when he began to adopt a different culture model: small one-rai ponds for easier management, a closed system with no water exchange, the use of pond water probiotics, and direct stocking with vannamei post larvae (PL9) from fast-growth genetics at a density of 187PL/m2. Probiotics were also added to feeds through top dressing. 

Successful farming model
Khun Chalee is humble in saying that if survival rate is a measure of success, then other farms, such as Khun Tawi’s farm in Surat Thani, produce 4,000 tonnes annually. There, the survival rate is stable at 90%, achieved by using pond probiotics and a low stocking density of 31PL/m2 in large 6-rai (0.96ha) ponds. The difference is that Khun Chalee’s model is intensive farming, harvesting smaller-sized shrimp of 80/kg. His productivity/ha is high and biomass control is managed via partial harvests.

The farm has 9 culture ponds, with stocking densities ranging from 200,000–300,000PL/rai (125-187PL/m2). Only the pond dykes are lined with HDPE, while the bottom is covered with gravel stones to prevent shrimp from stirring up sludge and to help control carbon and ammonia levels.

Recycled water
In the main reservoir pond, various freshwater fish, cichlids, clarias, tilapia, rohu and pangasius, act as biofilters. Water is disinfected using chlorine, and consequently, wastewater is recycled. Pond water depth is maintained at around 1.8m, with top-up water when necessary. No chemicals are used during the culture cycle. The spread of viral pathogens is rigorously controlled through strict biosecurity, while probiotics maintain pH balance and control algae bloom. Pond water salinity ranges from 8-12ppt.

This is a smart farm, using startup HydroNeo’s technology to obtain accurate water quality measurements using high-quality sensors. High-efficiency motors reduce energy costs by 30%. The farm employs biofloc technology and maintains a pH range of 7.5-8, carefully keeping a 0.2 difference between day and night. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is 1.1, and the average daily growth (ADG) is 0.2g, measured until the shrimp reach 30g. Khun Chalee continues to seek and remains open to innovations. He recently conducted a trial using pure oxygenation technology to evaluate its potential to improve overall farm performance and to assess the economic feasibility of adopting this technology.

This is a smart farm, using startup HydroNeo’s technology to obtain accurate water quality measurements using high-quality sensors. High-efficiency motors reduce energy costs by 30%. The farm employs biofloc technology and maintains a pH range of 7.5-8, carefully keeping a 0.2 difference between day and night. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is 1.1, and the average daily growth (ADG) is 0.2g, measured until the shrimp reach 30g. Khun Chalee continues to seek and remains open to innovations. He recently conducted a trial using pure oxygenation technology to evaluate its potential to improve overall farm performance and to assess the economic feasibility of adopting this technology.

How probiotics are helping to improve crop success
Due to an effective campaign in Thailand discouraging the use of antibiotics, shrimp farmers have increasingly turned to probiotics. Additionally, inconsistent crop cycles prior to the pandemic led many farmers to seek alternative approaches. Success rates—measured by the proportion of crops reaching profitable harvests in regions such as Chachoengsao—had generally remained low.

To address this, the Chachoengsao Shrimp Farmers Club began producing five probiotic strains in-house to help reduce organics, ammonia, nitrate, and harmful bacteria linked to early mortality syndrome (EMS) and white faeces syndrome. Most farmers use these probiotics primarily to control ammonia levels as a preventive measure.

Today, many farmers attribute their success to probiotic use. The club has invested in staff training for three months at the Department of Fisheries, focusing on product quality monitoring, reformulating products with new bacterial strains and quality control. Certification is granted by the Department of Fisheries. The probiotics produced at the Club’s centres are exclusively for members. “

If we do not come together, we will not survive in this industry,”

said Chalee.

Although primarily formulated for pond application, these probiotics can also be used as a top dressing for feed. However, due to their lack of heat tolerance, these products are not recommended for incorporation during feed milling. The probiotics are available in both liquid and powder forms.

Data from the centre indicate that nearly 90% of farms in Chachoengsao currently utilise probiotics. Farmers typically submit water samples, after which centre technicians provide guidance on selecting appropriate probiotic products. The probiotics market remains highly competitive, with numerous suppliers. However, the centre benefits from member-driven product testing.

All testing and registration activities are facilitated by Mahidol University, while BIOTEC, Thailand’s National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, leads probiotic development work. BIOTEC collaborates with universities and companies to isolate and characterise Thai-native probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium animalis.

In Chachoengsao, shrimp ponds typically measure approximately one rai, with stocking densities ranging from 50 to 100PL/m2. The province plays a major role in Thailand’s overall shrimp production, which reached 300,000 tonnes in 2024. Chachoengsao is expected to produce about 108,000 tonnes, with daily sales to the local market averaging 300 tonnes. Harvested shrimp tend to be small-size at 80/kg. In March, farmgate prices were around THB 140/kg (USD4.3) for size 80/kg and THB 220/kg for size 50/kg (USD6.8) aligning favourably with prevailing production costs.

During discussions at the centre, Khun Chalee and Khun Somprasong reported a 7% increase in production following the implementation of shrimp health monitoring via PCR testing and regular water quality assessments. The Department of Fisheries (DOF) supports these water quality analyses. Previously, the success rate stood at approximately 3-5 out of every 10 ponds. With the introduction of probiotics, this figure has risen to 8 out of 10 ponds.

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More  protein on the plate? As new  U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend nearly double previous intake, shrimp stands out as a healthy choice.

Every five years, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services release updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, setting the tone for national nutrition advice.

The latest edition, published this week, brings back the Food Guide model and places a stronger emphasis on protein, dairy, and healthy fats—alongside fruits and vegetables—while encouraging Americans to cut back on ultra-processed foods and added sugars.

One of the most notable changes is a renewed focus on protein at every meal. Rather than the long-standing recommendation of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, the guidelines now point to a higher intake range of 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram—nearly double previous levels.
As consumers look for practical ways to meet these higher protein targets, the type of protein on the plate is equally important. Shrimp, the most popular seafood consumed in the U.S., offers a familiar, accessible, and responsible option that fits well within this shift.

According to the Shrimp Nutrition Guide—a toolkit for registered dietitians developed by the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership and the Seafood Nutrition Partnership— shrimp can help replace protein choices that are higher in saturated fat. A single serving provides about 18 grams of complete protein, delivering all nine essential amino acids. With only about half a gram of total fat per serving and virtually no carbohydrates or added sugars, shrimp is an easy fit for balanced, protein-forward meals.

Shrimp also delivers nutrients beyond protein, including omega-3 fatty acids, along with essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that support heart and brain health, immune function, and weight management.

Health authorities continue to encourage greater seafood consumption. Organizations such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the World Health Organization recommend eating at least two servings of non-fried seafood each week.

Beyond nutrition, sustainability is increasingly part of the conversation around protein choices. The EAT-Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems has noted that seafood—when responsibly sourced—can be among the healthiest animal protein options with a relatively low environmental footprint. The Commission also emphasizes that fisheries and aquaculture can provide high-quality protein while remaining within environmental limits, when managed responsibly.

With protein taking a more central role in the American diet, shrimp stands out as a lean, versatile option—one that fits not only evolving nutrition guidance, but also broader conversations around sustainable food systems.

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