dimanche 19 mai 2013

Most Shrimp Suppliers Are From Asia

By Kathryn Neal


No one knows the first time someone ate a shrimp but we do know that it was at least several hundred years ago. The vast majority comes from Asia but South America also has a great industry. It used to be only a family business with a few ponds but today it has become a booming trade. Still, there are many small business owners that make a living by being shrimp suppliers.

Crustaceans have been cultivated for centuries; in fact some brackish water ponds in Indonesia have been dated as far back as the 15th century. Many rice farmers found that this trade was far more profitable than just growing rice and some have even replaced the rice completely. The farms are generally found around a body of water, such as on a river bank or near the coast.

The biggest single exporter is China. However, around seventy-five percent of all of these crustaceans are from Asia. India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand all rely on the industry for a portion of their national trade. While it is not as profitable as it once was, because of disease and outrage over environmental impact, it is still very profitable.

In recent years farming has become industrialized and is more efficient than it was in earlier times. Part of this is because there were many concerns about diseases in the product. However, it is also partially in response to concerns about the environmental impact. Shrimp suppliers rely upon a supply chain production method. They use fertilizers to nourish the phytoplankton and then supplement the diet with feeders filled with artificial food. This way, farmers have brought crustaceans to the market much more quickly and efficiently.

Some farmers raise crustaceans in hatcheries, ponds, and nurseries. This is especially true of small business owners who raise small amounts. They sell them locally and do not need to use the more industrialized methods. Some larger farmers, though, will have the tiny shellfish raised in nurseries and then transferred to ponds when they are around three weeks old. Once they are full grown they are then harvested and sent to the market.

About 2.5 million tons are produced every year with the majority coming from Asia. Even though there have been problems in the last thirty years with disease outbreaks, it is still very profitable. Additionally, workers typically are paid better by shrimp suppliers than by most other industries in some lower income countries. While some profits are taken up by large conglomerates, much of the industry still lies with local farmers.

The biggest importer is the United States, with around half a million tons imported every year. European countries, mainly Spain and France, are also huge importers as well as Japan. Even at that, many remain within the country of origin as these crustaceans are enjoyed around the world. They are so tasty that they do not require much preparation or garnish to be enjoyed.

Shrimp suppliers produced millions of tons for export to the United States and Europe every year. However, there is also a big market for crustaceans in the local marketplace. Farmers have developed better techniques for nurturing the shrimp and it remains a profitable industry.




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