USSEC recently provided technical service to shrimp producers in Honduras. Consultants Jairo Amezquita and Dr. Maria Soledad Morales travelled to Choluteca, Honduras to give recommendations on how to overcome mortality problems due to a hard vibriosis presence affecting shrimps’ survival. The consultants visited seven shrimp farms where they made inspections and met with technical staff. They highlighted how very low oxygen levels in the ponds is not good for shrimp because reduces their defenses against disease. They also discussed opportunities and challenges, the current situation of each farm and provided guidelines to prevent or mitigate the possible entrance of this disease as well as the best options to identify rapidly the main symptoms.

The consultants conducted a seminar for medium and small shrimp producers. More than 20 people attended this event and Dr. Morales presented a lecture titled, “How to Identify the Main Symptoms of Vibriosis and How To Do Fast Testing for Determining its Prevalence.” She also spoke about good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for shrimp producing, emphasizing biosecurity practices. Mr. Amezquita spoke on “USSEC’s Role in the Development of Aquaculture in the World,” where he emphasized the current situation of the industry in the world, Latin America and Honduras and spoke about opportunities to prevent early mortality syndrome (EMS). He also presented statistics and trial results of the inclusion of soybean protein concentrate (SPC) and soybean protein isolate (IP) into diets for aqua species.