India warns of fungal shrimp disease

The Indian government is warning shrimp farmers to watch out for a fungal disease that could prove deadly to black tiger and vannamei shrimp.

The Hindu is reporting India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority has alerted farmers to the presence of fungus that can cause Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei (EHP), which has already hit fish farms in several districts, causing heavy losses.

The authority is collecting water and shrimp samples from shrimp ponds in Prakasham, Guntur and Krishna districts to test for the disease.

If unchecked, the disease could lead to lower shrimp weight, and even product loss. Right now, there is no known treatment for the disease, but officials told The Hindu that “best management practices” can prevent it.