Thailand’s Department of Fisheries has successfully unveiled two new strains of Pacific white shrimp aimed at bolstering the country’s struggling aquaculture sector. The strains, named Petchada 1 and Sida 1, bring promising attributes to the table – Petchada 1 is a fast-growing genotype, while Sida 1 boasts resistance to the detrimental Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), also known as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis disease (AHPND).
The decline in white shrimp farm numbers since 2012, largely attributed to the outbreak of EMS-AHPND, has had severe consequences for Thailand’s aquaculture industry. Praphan Leepayakul, the deputy chief of the Department of Fisheries, emphasized that these new strains are a crucial step towards securing the domestic shrimp-farming industry.
Developed through a collaborative effort with the Agricultural Research Development Agency, the strains are the result of advanced breeding techniques, including selective breeding and molecular genetic marker methods. The research involved studying genetic diversity and disease-free DNA by selecting various strains of Pacific white shrimp from the United States, Guam, and Thailand.
The Genetic Aqua-Animal Research and Development Centre in Phetchaburi province played a pivotal role in developing Petchada 1, showcasing high growth potential compared to shrimp from other sources. Meanwhile, the Sida 1 breeder from the Genetic Aqua-Animal Research and Development Centre in Nakhon Si Thammarat province exhibited the highest survival rate against EMS-AHPND.
Praphan Leepayakul acknowledged the significant damage caused by the bacterial disease to Thailand’s aquaculture sector and expressed optimism about the new strains contributing to the revival of the industry. With white shrimp being a major source of export revenue, generating an average of 100 billion baht annually, the successful development of these strains marks a potential milestone towards a sustainable and thriving shrimp industry.
While the new strains are currently in the research and development phase, the next crucial step involves testing them on a commercial scale. The Department of Fisheries hopes that these breakthroughs will significantly reduce losses among shrimp farmers and pave the way for a more sustainable future in the aquaculture sector.
Source: Bangkok Post
