Impacts of acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome

Summary:

Research continues in the global efforts to identify the cause of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome in farmed shrimp and find solutions to stop the major losses caused by its spread. Prices will likely continue to increase as supply fails to meet demand, and production dynamics will shift, as they have due to other diseases. Will such shifts result in long-term changes in production paradigms and development of new shrimp-producing areas?

Few of those involved in the shrimpfarming industry are not familiar with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (APHNS), also known as early mortality syndrome (EMS). The disease has been well characterized, and it has been suggested that the early damage to the shrimp is a result of some form of hepatotoxic material. Work under way to determine the cause will hopefully result in a solid idea about how the problem can be controlled.

Meanwhile, the specter of the disease is weighing very heavily on global shrimp markets. Prices are up, with serious drops in production in the world’s leading shrimp-farming countries. There are concerns that, with no immediate solutions in sight, the problem will continue to spread and further erode the stability of the market.