Poj Aramwattananont, president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA), warned exports are expected to lose 20-30 billion baht worth of prawn shipments if the government does not come up with immediate measures to tackle the new prawn disease, which first occurred in Thailand late last year. Affected are giant tiger prawns and white leg prawns.
EMS, also known as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome, is characterised by mass mortality during the first 20-30 days of culture in grow-out ponds.
Clinical signs of the disease include slow growth, corkscrew swimming, loose shells and pale coloration.
Affected prawns consistently show shrunken, small, swollen or discoloured hepatopancreases.
The outbreak has led small farmers to stay away from investing in prawn farms, as they are afraid of losses.
“The outbreak of EMS affecting prawn farms is more devastating than previously thought and expected to cause a drop in crustacean production. Without any immediate solutions, we forecast exports will drop by 20-30 billion baht or 25 per cent to 37.5 per cent this year from 80 billion last year.”
Mr Poj said lower supply means Thailand will likely ship less than 350,000 tonnes this year, with overall prawn production estimated at 480,000 to 500,000 tonnes.
MCOT online news reports that Thailand’s prawn supply has been slashed by half in Q1, with total supply from domestic prawn farms reaching only 57,000 tonnes, a sharp drop from the average 100,000 tonnes.
He called on the Finance Ministry and Bank of Thailand to work closely in finding measures to urgently help the private sector while the prawn farming industry is in need of financial liquidity.
Without assistance, the industry may produce less than 60,000 tonnes of prawn in Q2 while the total yield this year may not reach 400,000 tonnes.