Shrimp being transported for trade .(Photo: StockFile)

Growing fears of Mexican blockade to Honduran shrimp

HONDURAS
Friday, July 31, 2015, 03:20 (GMT + 9)

Farmed shrimp producers from several Mexican states are exercising further pressure on the Government of Mexico to block the entry of Honduran shrimp into their country, the head of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), Jacobo Paz, informed.

However, the minister clarified that "so far no official notification of Honduran shrimp import closure has been received by the Mexican authorities."

Paz explained that Mexican claims are based on the argument that the shrimp farmed in Choluteca and Valle is affected by early mortality syndrome (EMS).

However, he ensured the presence of the disease has not been evidenced in the country. He said that cases of vibriosis have been recorded because of the lack of rainfall during 2014 and 2015, which led to increased salinity in the Gulf of Fonseca, and thus, a higher shrimp mortality rate.

The possibility that a blockage is applied to the Honduran shrimp has created uncertainty among farmers and exporters from Honduras, since trade of some 15 million pounds of the crustacean is at risk.

The blockade would affect both the fresh and the frozen shrimp.

It was released that one of the measures that could be taken by authorities in Mexico is the formal requirement of the health status of the countries with which there is trade, El Heraldo reported.

Mexican farmers have been pressing since last May for their country to close its borders to the shrimp from Central America and India due to mortality issues.

Mexico is one of the top five markets for farmed shrimp from Honduras. Last year it was the destination for 22 per cent of all sales abroad.

Related article:

- Honduran shrimp farmers worry about likely Mexican block

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