MEXICO CITY: Mexican shrimp farmers have urged the government to ban imports of Honduran shrimp over allegations of early mortality syndrome (EMS), La Prensa reports.
Honduras agriculture and livestock secretary Jacobo Paz said shrimp mortality rate has risen by 10% in the country.
Mortalities are not linked to EMS according to the Honduras government, as it has not confirmed the presence of the disease in the country.
Higher mortality in shrimp farming is due to an increase of saltiness in the Gulf of Fonseca, as a result of lack of rain in 2014 and 2015, Paz said.
Undercurrent News reported previously that shrimp from Honduras and Nicaragua had tested positive for EMS.
The appearance of EMS in Central America, however, will likely not greatly affect the global shrimp markets, due to modest volumes, one source said.
