China to expand shrimp farming
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By Catherine Zhang, SeafoodSource contributing editor, reporting from Beijing
24 April, 2009 -
China plans to expand farmed shrimp production by up to 20 percent in the next two years, according to China's Ministry of Agriculture.
Domestic demand for shrimp is expected to increase by up to 30 percent this year, although shrimp exports may fall by as much as 20 percent compared to last year.
Key regions across China - such as the Guangdong Pearl River Delta and Fujian, Guangxi and Zhejiang provinces - are eyed as areas for shrimp farm development.
The ministry also aims to develop more disease-resistant shrimp species with faster growth rates to meet competitive demands due to reduced shrimp prices.
Weather conditions for shrimp cultivation in China this year are more favorable than last year, when heavy snow, floods, earthquakes, drought and high winds hampered production.
China exported 7,610 metric tons of shrimp valued at more USD 43 million (EUR 32.4 million) in January and February. U.S. seafood imports from China, led by shrimp and catfish, exceeded USD 2 billion (EUR 1.5 billion) last year, representing more than half of total U.S. food imports from China.
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27 April, 2009
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