In a stride towards fortifying Thailand’s aquaculture industry, the Department of Fisheries has successfully developed two new strains of Pacific white shrimp. Termed as Petchada 1 and Sida 1, these strains bring specific qualities to the table – the former being a fast-growing genotype and the latter boasting disease-resistant traits.

The impetus behind this development is to safeguard the domestic shrimp-farming industry, which has faced challenges since 2012 due to the outbreak of Early Mortality Syndrome, also known as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (EMS-AHPND). Praphan Leepayakul, the deputy chief of the Department of Fisheries, emphasized the pivotal role these new strains play in revitalizing a sector that has been significantly impacted by bacterial disease.

“The development could help in building up a sustainable shrimp industry,” remarked Mr. Praphan.

White shrimp holds a prominent position in both domestic and overseas markets, serving as a major source of export revenue for Thailand. The industry contributes significantly, generating an average of 100 billion baht (USD 2.86 billion) in income per year.

The new strains are a result of meticulous work by a team of marine biologists who employed selective breeding and molecular genetic marker methods. The process involved studying genetic diversity and disease-free DNA, with the team selecting various strains of Pacific white shrimp from the United States, Guam, and Thailand. The shrimp were carefully observed in a biosecure system to assess their growth capacity and genetic diversity.

The research unveiled that Thailand’s domestic strains exhibited the best attributes to serve as a base population. Petchada 1, bred at the Genetic Aqua-Animal Research and Development Centre in Phetchaburi province, demonstrated high growth potential compared to shrimp from other sources. On the other hand, Sida 1, originating from the Genetic Aqua-Animal Research and Development Centre in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, exhibited the highest survival rate against EMS-AHPND when compared to its counterparts.

While these achievements are commendable, Mr. Praphan emphasized that the strains are still in the research and development phase. The next crucial step involves testing them on a commercial scale, with the hope that this will be a significant stride towards a sustainable shrimp industry by mitigating losses among shrimp farmers.