The Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued a warning against the existence of a virus that may kill the country’s shrimp industry
BFAR Dagupan regional director Nestor Domenden said farmers and scientists have recently detected the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) from shrimps in some farms in Visayas and
Domenden said that the virus can wipe out all shrimps in a farm in only two to three days and the infection can eventually cripple the country’s shrimp industry.
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He urged farmers to maintain hygiene and sanitation and check whether shrimps have white spots on heads and tails, which is a sign of infection of the WSSV.
The virus is believed to have originated from unregistered farms in Pangasinan or Zambales.
Domenden said that the BFAR has been holding consultative meetings with stakeholders and fishery technicians on ways to prevent the virus from spreading.
The BFAR also appealed to owners of unregistered hatcheries to legalise their operations so the government can check whether they were adopting proper standards and hygiene practices.
