Commercial farming of vannamei shrimp in Khulna. Photo:BSS

KHULNA, Jan 25, 2025 (BSS)-  Prospect of boosting farming and production of vannamei (white leg) shrimp in the region remained existing as it can enhance the export to earn huge foreign currency.

Dr Latiful Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of Brackish water Center at Paikgasha, Khula, said shrimp is one of the main foreign currency earning sectors. Cultivators and the businessmen concerned should come forward and work together to increase its production.

Commercial farming of vannamei shrimp side by side other shrimp production can be the best way of increasing export of shrimp production.

Latiful Islam said the new species of shrimp is dominating the shrimp market and is seeing success in its first experimental cultivation in Khulna.

Since vannamei shrimp are raised in saline water, the water is directly collected from the Bay of Bengal, treated, and supplied to designated ponds. This process eliminates bacterial and viral contamination from seawater. 

The farms feature multiple ponds with pollution protection and environmental safeguards.

Dr Latiful Islam said specialised feed is used, and Seamark BD imports feed, fry, and technology from abroad while adhering to strict standards and seeking foreign assistance for technology implementation.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) gave the go-ahead to culture white leg shrimp in the region, a major farming region for export-oriented shrimp, after years of concerns that foreign species may have a negative impact on their native counterparts such as black tiger shrimp. 
 
Following the success of the first pilot project, the DoF allowed 27 firms, including M.U. Sea Foods Ltd, Grow tech Aquaculture ltd, and Fahim Seafood Ltd, at different times to cultivate the hybrid shrimp variety on a trial basis.

The average production per hectare of this shrimp is 6,761kg more than the Bagda variety. Besides, the production rate of this species is high while cost is low. It is also cheap, easily available and delicious. 

The vannamei shrimp originated in Vietnam but now in 15 countries of Asia are producing it. 

Sheikh Abdul Baki, Vice-president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), said except Bangladesh, the remaining 14 countries are producing it commercially. 

He said they can go for commercial production of this variety if necessary steps are taken
Sheikh Baki also said only vannamei can capture the world market by expanding the shrimp industry in Bangladesh.

Pabittra Kumar Das, Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, Paikgasa, Khulna, said result of a pilot project gives hope for shrimp processing plants and farmers for better productivity. 

He said farmers can grow shrimp once a year whereas vannamei can be cultivated three times a year.

 At the same time, productivity of vannamei is much higher than shrimp grown in ordinary ponds.
 
Regular shrimp cultivation yields 300-400 kilogrammes per hectare but in case of vannamei, the yield per hectare is 7,000-8,000 kilogrammes.
 
"We do not have an alternative to run exports without vannamei cultivation and I think it won't have any effect on the environment," said Mostafa Nuruzzaman, chief executive officer of Sushilan, a nongovernment development organization. 

Sheikh Abdul Baki said the production cost of black tiger shrimp is higher than that of vannamei. 
"And we are unable to cater to the global market at this price. People want shrimp at cheaper rates," he said.

Export volume and earnings from the frozen shrimp sector will simply double within five years by exporting such a variety of shrimp, he said, adding that it will also help meet the local demand for shrimp.