frozen freshwater prawn export to european countries

here some good news from today newspaper for our fellow freshwater prawn shrimp grower...

Wednesday March 18, 2009, The Star

Frozen seafood products cleared for export to EU

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian frozen seafood products have been cleared for export to the EU, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The EU’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has approved frozen seafood products from five Malay­sian companies and four farms after a visit which ended on March 12.

The FVO will next check on live sea catches.

The decision comes some 10 months after the Government suspended exports of seafood products to the EU, which had threatened a total ban after random checks on nine Malaysian companies exporting fishery products revealed poor health standards and practices.

“I am happy the FVO has cleared all the doubts and has readmitted Malaysia into the EU import list,” Liow told a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Liow said the approval process would normally take six weeks, but his ministry would expedite the process.

“We will get it done as soon as possible,” he said.

It is learnt that the nine companies accounted for about RM100mil worth of exports to the EU annually.

The whole frozen seafood industry to the EU, comprising some 15 exporters, is believed to be worth about RM600mil annually.

database of active farmers

i am collecting and documenting data for records and contact purposes of active farmers and hatcheries, hopefully this database will be valuable for investing the udang galah freshwater prawn farming community in Malaysia.

Data should include

1. location
   
2. contact person
3. contact no
   
4. size of farm
5. how many ponds
   
6. production capacity
   
7. no. of workers
8. which hatchery supply their PL
9. etc.
   

please help me making this database workable and accurate by email me your details, or details of any farmers near you

Tank Freshwater Prawn Culture

original ideas: culture baby freshwater prawn udang galah inside simple tanks either poly, concrete or fibre material.

duration: 1 month

setting up: 2 nos x 100 gallon poly tank, 3 nos bubble blower, 2 nos simple pumps and change water every 3 days, 8 nos of pipe shelter using green nets

findings:

• high content of sludge building up at the bottom of the tanks
• high ammonia content at tank bottom
• simple pump do not have enough suction power to filter the sludge
• 100 gallon of water is not sufficient to cater large numbers of freshwater prawn udang galah

solution:

1. larger tank with efficient suction power but gentle enough for the baby prawn
2. Water should be change at least 20% every 2 days
3. bio filter system should be consider as used in koi pond
4. bottom of tanks should be able or have drain outlet
5. high pressure blower with aero-tube should be use
6. tank should be place higher to make draining bottom sludge more easily
7. department of fisheries should have the technology as used in the hatchery complex

pro & cons:

• saving valuable lands and could monitor growth of baby freshwater prawn
• reduce risk of natural predator
• to increase survival rates up to 90%
• high cost on start-up and electricity
• baby-sit the whole time

please comment if my findings was not accurate....

New land for new development

yesterday we went to search and try to deal few strategic locations for our future udang galah expansion plan, 3 acres of swampy and have natural water source..i really love a location with natural clear water stream, got few durians and other fruit trees... but on my way to those lands, i saw lots of small agri projects eg. red chillies, bananas, serai and even tilapia and goats being develop and maintain by my fellow bumiputra, i am really touched by the scenery and hope they all succeed and thrive forward..

I will upload few pictures taken from the land that I hope it will be reasonably price and i can buy it immediately...and i can start and target start supplying the first batch of udang galah by next aidilfitri....

Update : We failed to get the 2 acres land as the owner have sold it...but i will have a visit soon to a new location nearby...have faith insyaAllah

economics for aquaculture

why am I investing in aquaculture/ freshwater prawn? malaysia still have vast land to develop + whole year round of rain that God gives for free, udang galah or freshwater prawn farming/rearing are still niche market, I hardly find any udang galah being sell in our local market or hypermarket, either in JB, Seremban or KL...compare to India, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, they exported tonnes of freshwater prawn... now US dan New Zealand become new contributor...

Udang galah or freshwater prawn should be rear/farm systematically and in large community areas... hopefully I can assist/encourage my community of young and old to venture into farming freshwater prawn lah....

Enough said... I always think this is a good business either supply LIVE to pay fishing ponds or supply frozen to the wet market... I need to add few more ponds so I can supply the freshwater prawn constantly and steady stream for at least 100kg to 200kg per week...my business plan will be discuss later lah ya....