Shrimp viral diseases, import risk assessment and international trade

Shrimp is a significant commodity in the international market, accounting for 15% of the value of traded seafood products, which amounted to $102.00 billion in 2008. Aquaculture is responsible for over 50% of the world’s shrimp production.

However, shrimp aquaculture faces a major challenge of viral diseases, such as white spot syndrome, yellow head disease, and Taura syndrome, resulting in significant losses. There have been instances of the global spread of shrimp diseases due to the importation of live shrimp for aquaculture. Despite the presence of viral diseases in shrimp-producing regions in Asia and the Americas, millions of tons of frozen or processed shrimp have been traded internationally over the past two decades.

There is no evidence that these diseases have been transmitted through shrimp imported for human consumption. This article reviews the guidelines for the movement of live animals for aquaculture and frozen crustaceans for human consumption developed by the World Animal Health Organization, as well as the regulations enforced by some shrimp-importing regions worldwide.