Nutramar Ova Shortage and Global Shrimp Disease?

[natalia_la_loca]

I'm running low on Nutramar Ova prawn roe for my mandarin, and the LFS hasn't had any for a while. I asked them what was up, and they said their supplier told them it would be about 3 more months before they get any more in. Apparently the same company is responsible for Cyclopeeze, and there isn't any of that in either (moot issue for me because my mandy never touched Cyclopeeze). I've also tried Reef Nutrition R.O.E. and Rod's Fish Eggs...he doesn't like them. Too big maybe? He used to eat mysis, but he's never touched it since I started feeding prawn roe.

 

I called a local company that raises shrimp and asked if I could buy some roe from them. They said no, because there's a global shrimp disease causing a shortage of all kinds of shrimp products.

 

Googling that, this is what I found.

 

Not sure if there's a connection...maybe the company that produces Nutramar Ova isn't having this disease issue and is just experiencing a seasonal shortage. Does anyone else have info on this?

 

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Shrimp Disease Causes Global Shortage, Drives Up Prices

James Dinan Published: Feb 25, 2014, 7:57 AM EST weather.com

 

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Executive chef Mike Minor displays Blue Oasis Pure Shrimp from the company's North Dakota research and development facility as he prepares them at the Border Grill Las Vegas restaurant at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, July 28, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

A relatively new disease is ravaging shrimp farms around the world and driving up prices in the U.S.

The bacterial infection, early mortality syndrome, or EMS, was first reported in shrimp in China in 2009, then in Vietnam. The disease appeared in Thailand, the world's largest shrimp exporter, late last year. Since then, shrimp farms there have seen their stocks plummet more than 40 percent, according to the Wall Street Journal.

 

The United Nations says EMS poses no significant threat to human health. But it's fatal to shrimp: It causes them to lose their appetite and release poisonous toxins, leading to death.

 

As a result, U.S. shrimp costs have risen 20 percent, VICE reports, and at least one major U.S. restaurant chain is considering menu changes and price hikes.

 

There’s currently no cure for EMS. SeaFood Business associate publisher/editor Fiona Robinson told VICE that it might take a year or more to find a cure. But University of Arizona researchers say they have developed a test that could stop EMS in its tracks.

 

The test targets the specific agent that causes EMS, allowing shrimp farmers to quickly identify infected shrimp, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

 

Linda Nunan, a University of Arizona assistant staff scientist who helped develop the test, told the Star that she’s hopeful test kits will be made available by the end of the month.

 

Don Lightner, a University of Arizona professor who also developed the test, said he hopes the test can help the global shrimp farming industry rebound, leading to lower shrimp prices for U.S. consumers.

Americans eat about 1.2 billion pounds of shrimp every year, more than any other seafood, and more than 90 percent of it is imported.

[Arkayology]

Very interesting!

[natalia_la_loca]

Very interesting!

 

And depressing. What a surprise that this first emerged in the poorly regulated shrimp farms in China and Southeast Asia that destroy mangrove forests, increase the risk for disease and pollute the environment.

[gsgentry]

Not sure if it is true or not, but my LFS said that it has to do with weather conditions in the region where they harvest the eggs from. Not sure if that is true or what, but that is what they told me.

[natalia_la_loca]

Not sure if it is true or not, but my LFS said that it has to do with weather conditions in the region where they harvest the eggs from. Not sure if that is true or what, but that is what they told me.

 

I just got off the phone with the company that produces Nutramar Ova. They said the same thing--that it's because of weather problems. The guy I talked to was hoping they'd have some in by the end of the month, but he didn't sound too sure.

 

I asked if this had anything to do with the global shrimp shortage. He didn't know. Then I asked where they get their prawn roe, and he said they are shipped in from somewhere in Asia.

[gsgentry]

I just got off the phone with the company that produces Nutramar Ova. They said the same thing--that it's because of weather problems. The guy I talked to was hoping they'd have some in by the end of the month, but he didn't sound too sure.

 

I asked if this had anything to do with the global shrimp shortage. He didn't know. Then I asked where they get their prawn roe, and he said they are shipped in from somewhere in Asia.

 

 

That is good to know. I have an account at Restaurant Depot, and they get a lot of their shrimp from Vietnam and there has been a shortage in their coolers for many many months. Guess it is related.

[Arkayology]

And depressing. What a surprise that this first emerged in the poorly regulated shrimp farms in China and Southeast Asia that destroy mangrove forests, increase the risk for disease and pollute the environment.

Ya... but the globalized economy has really encouraged this. Decreased regulation is a result of many things, including the fact that the consumers want the product as cheap as possible. If they increased regulation, prices would go up. Nobody wants this, so we end up in situations like this.

[natalia_la_loca]

Ya... but the globalized economy has really encouraged this. Decreased regulation is a result of many things, including the fact that the consumers want the product as cheap as possible. If they increased regulation, prices would go up. Nobody wants this, so we end up in situations like this.

 

All true. Humans...what wicked apes we are

[Nanofreak79]

Great post, also very sad to see. I stocked up on ova when I bought it. DFS is where I get mine.

[Arkayology]

Great post, also very sad to see. I stocked up on ova when I bought it. DFS is where I get mine.

Good idea. Many people seem to be scrambling to get some.

[Nanofreak79]

Yeah, most people with the Mandy's use it as a staple for there diet. I know mine loves it more than any other frozen, plus it's pretty nutritious. To make it worth the $25 to ship I just order like 4-5 at a time.

[natalia_la_loca]

DFS says they expect to have it available by 3/31. Fingers crossed.

[tibbsy07]

I wonder what bacterium is the cause of this? Edit: See my post below.

[Nanofreak79]

I wonder what bacterium is the cause of this?

 

Who knows? Our oceans and freshwater wildlife suffer from our lack of giving a crap. I know my kids might still be able to enjoy them, but most likely not there's...the way were going now anyway. JMO!

[tibbsy07]

Who knows? Our oceans and freshwater wildlife suffer from our lack of giving a crap. I know my kids might still be able to enjoy them, but most likely not there's...the way were going now anyway. JMO!

Seems that the responsible bacterium is Vibrio parahaemolyticus which is a natural environmental isolate. I do find it interesting the United Nations says it poses no severe risk to humans - maybe not severe, but V. parahaemolyticus causes food poisoning... There is also some older evidence suggesting it's a Rickettsia-like pathogen that is causing the infection in shrimp. Rickettsia spp. make people sick, too.

[natalia_la_loca]

Seems that the responsible bacterium is Vibrio parahaemolyticus which is a natural environmental isolate. I do find it interesting the United Nations says it poses no severe risk to humans - maybe not severe, but V. parahaemolyticus causes food poisoning... There is also some older evidence suggesting it's a Rickettsia-like pathogen that is causing the infection in shrimp. Rickettsia spp. make people sick, too.

 

I wonder if anyone's investigating whether this correlates with specific farming methods.

 

Who knows? Our oceans and freshwater wildlife suffer from our lack of giving a crap. I know my kids might still be able to enjoy them, but most likely not there's...the way were going now anyway. JMO!

 

Our impact on natural systems will reverberate for millions of years.

 

Look on the bright side--all sorts of weird and wonderful species will eventually evolve to fill the niches vacated by our short-sighted cleverness. Of course, we'll be long gone by then.

[tibbsy07]

I wonder if anyone's investigating whether this correlates with specific farming methods.

 

 

Our impact on natural systems will reverberate for millions of years.

 

Look on the bright side--all sorts of weird and wonderful species will eventually evolve to fill the niches vacated by our short-sighted cleverness. Of course, we'll be long gone by then.

Seems to be temperature related. Shrimp that live in water above 84 F or 29 C seem to be affected the worst.

[Tamberav]

bah, I wish I had bought more than 2 packs when I was at the LFS.

[natalia_la_loca]

bah, I wish I had bought more than 2 packs when I was at the LFS.

Me too! 20/20 hindsight.

[el_ote]

didnt realize there was a shortage. called my lfs' yesterday and they also said to expect shipment around 3/31 so heres hoping... my flat pack's getting empty...

[malady]

Man I have to check my LFS and see if they have any left over packs in the freezer!

[natalia_la_loca]

didnt realize there was a shortage. called my lfs' yesterday and they also said to expect shipment around 3/31 so heres hoping... my flat pack's getting empty...

 

DFS site was giving the same date. Now they've pushed the ETA back to 4/16.

 

I have enough left to get to mid-April, but if it goes any longer, looks like I'll be back to ordering big bags of pods

[natalia_la_loca]

DFS has pushed back the date again, to May 21.

 

I found a pack of nutramar ova at the LFS. It's old stock from last year and hadn't sold because the label had fallen off. It's the jankiest, nastiest, freezer-burned-est nutramar ova I ever did see, but it may be better than nothing (if the mandy eats it and if it doesn't kill him. He did eat some last night and he isn't dead yet.)

 

And I've got a bag of pods coming next week. Fingers crossed!

[gena]

DFS has pushed back the date again, to May 21.

 

I found a pack of nutramar ova at the LFS. It's old stock from last year and hadn't sold because the label had fallen off. It's the jankiest, nastiest, freezer-burned-est nutramar ova I ever did see, but it may be better than nothing (if the mandy eats it and if it doesn't kill him. He did eat some last night and he isn't dead yet.)

 

And I've got a bag of pods coming next week. Fingers crossed!

Before everyone was completely out, I bought 3 packs online from a store in northern California. They goofed with shipment (not enough postage), and I ended up not receiving the package until 3 days later. It was completely thawed out. My LFS said not to trust it so I haven't used it but one feeding before I consulted them. It's still sitting in my freezer because I haven't the heart to toss it when it's nowhere to be found now. I'm afraid to use it though so it's silly to hang onto it LOL.

[natalia_la_loca]

Before everyone was completely out, I bought 3 packs online from a store in northern California. They goofed with shipment (not enough postage), and I ended up not receiving the package until 3 days later. It was completely thawed out. My LFS said not to trust it so I haven't used it but one feeding before I consulted them. It's still sitting in my freezer because I haven't the heart to toss it when it's nowhere to be found now. I'm afraid to use it though so it's silly to hang onto it LOL.

 

I'd be extremely suspicious of that too, especially with a 3 day delay. Normally I would never use this pack, but I don't know what else to do. It doesn't stink, but it's obviously been at least partially thawed at some point.

 

The strange thing is that my tank has thousands of pods swarming on the glass and yet my mandy is still getting thinner. It makes me wonder if I don't have the right kind of pods for him. The ones I'm ordering are tisbe...we'll see what happens.

 

Maybe he's just getting old. He was fully grown when I got him, and I've had him for almost five years. Although I've read of people keeping them for eight years or more, and they supposedly can live up to 15 years in the wild.