As a wealthy maritime nation, Indonesia possesses vast potential in its fishery resources, which, if managed properly, could significantly contribute to the national economy. Shrimp farming is one of the most promising sub-sectors in fisheries. With the world's population continuously increasing, so does the demand for food sources like shrimp. Shrimp is a nutritious food source and a major export commodity that contributes significantly to the Indonesian economy. In 2020, the value of Indonesia's shrimp exports reached USD 2.04 billion, accounting for 8.8 percent of the world's total shrimp imports.
One type of shrimp that is a mainstay in exports is the vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). This shrimp originates from the coastal waters of Latin America and has become a favorite in aquaculture in Indonesia. Vannamei shrimp offers numerous advantages for farmers, ranging from high disease resistance, rapid growth rate, and adaptability to various aquatic conditions, to high survival rates. Moreover, the rearing period for vannamei shrimp is relatively short, only around 90 to 100 days per cycle.
The vannamei shrimp farming industry in Indonesia has grown rapidly in various regions, including East Java, West Java, Central Java, Lampung, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and South Sulawesi. This growth is driven by high demand in both domestic and export markets and the profitable business prospects of vannamei shrimp farming. The market demand for vannamei shrimp ranges from 50 to 30 shrimp per kilogram, and the selling price can vary from IDR 100,000 to IDR 120,000 per kilogram. This makes vannamei shrimp farming one of the businesses capable of improving the economic level of families and providing significant benefits to the community.
Advantages of vannamei shrimp farming
Vannamei shrimp farming has become the primary choice for shrimp farmers in Indonesia due to its numerous advantages. One of the most prominent advantages is the ability of vannamei shrimp to survive in less-than-ideal environmental conditions. In the fishing industry, environmental challenges often become a major obstacle to successful cultivation, but vannamei shrimp has a high tolerance for less favorable conditions. This shrimp can survive in situations where water quality may decline or there are temperature fluctuations, which often cause serious problems for other shrimp species.
The resistance of vannamei shrimp to various diseases is also a strong reason why this species is so popular among shrimp farmers. Diseases such as White Spot Syndrome (WSS) and Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV) are two of many diseases that often attack shrimp and can cause significant losses. However, vannamei shrimp has shown high resistance to these diseases, making it a safer and more profitable choice for farmers. The adaptability of this shrimp to changes in salinity and water temperature also provides flexibility in cultivation, allowing vannamei shrimp to be cultivated in various areas with different environmental conditions.
The growth rate of vannamei shrimp is another attractive factor for shrimp farmers. With a fast growth rate, vannamei shrimp can reach harvest size in a relatively short time, which is about 90-100 days. This provides a great advantage for farmers, as it allows them to have more harvest cycles in a year. More harvest cycles mean more products that can be sold, which ultimately increases overall productivity and profits. This growth rate also reduces the time and resources required to achieve maximum results, making vannamei shrimp farming an efficient and economical choice.
The process of sampling vannamei shrimp using anco: Banglele Indonesia
Additionally, the high survival rate of vannamei shrimp is also a major advantage that cannot be ignored. With good cultivation management, the survival rate of this shrimp can reach 80-90 percent. This high survival rate certainly has a positive impact on the production yield and profits earned by farmers. The high survival rate ensures that most of the cultivated shrimp will reach harvest size, which in turn maximizes the yield from each cultivation cycle. For farmers, this means a lower risk of losses and greater income stability.
Market opportunities and economic benefits
The growth of the vannamei shrimp farming industry in Indonesia is inseparable from the high market demand, both domestically and abroad. This high demand is one of the main factors driving vannamei shrimp farmers to continue increasing their production. The main export markets for Indonesian vannamei shrimp include countries such as the United States, Japan, and the European Union. These three regions are known to have strict standards for food product quality, so the fact that vannamei shrimp from Indonesia can meet the demand in these markets demonstrates the high quality of products produced by shrimp farmers in Indonesia.
In addition to the export market, domestic demand also continues to show a significant increase. The increasing awareness of the Indonesian people about the benefits of shrimp consumption for health is one of the main drivers of the increasing demand in the domestic market. Vannamei shrimp, which is rich in protein and low in fat, is becoming an increasingly popular choice for consumers who care about a healthy diet. This creates great opportunities for farmers to meet the growing domestic market needs.
One of the main attractions of vannamei shrimp farming is the stability of selling prices which tend to be high. The selling price of vannamei shrimp in Indonesia ranges from IDR 100,000 to IDR 120,000 per kilogram, which is a fairly profitable figure for farmers. This price stability assures that farmers can obtain consistent profits from each production cycle. The relatively high price also allows farmers to cover the production costs incurred, including feed costs, labor, and pond maintenance.
In addition to stable prices, the relatively short rearing period of vannamei shrimp is also a factor that increases the attractiveness of this cultivation. With a rearing cycle that only takes 90-100 days, farmers can harvest more frequently in a year. This not only increases pond productivity but also directly increases farmers' income. The higher harvest frequency allows farmers to optimize the use of their land and resources, thus providing greater economic benefits.
Vannamei shrimp farming also has a significant positive impact on the regional economy, especially in areas that are centers of cultivation such as East Java, Lampung, and South Sulawesi. In these areas, vannamei shrimp farming has successfully created new jobs for the surrounding communities, both directly and indirectly. Farmers can employ workers for various farming activities, ranging from pond preparation, feeding, to harvesting and distribution processes. This contributes to improving the welfare of the communities around the ponds, while also reducing unemployment rates.
In addition to creating jobs, the vannamei shrimp farming industry also encourages the development of other related sectors. For example, the feed industry is growing increasingly along with the increasing need for quality feed for shrimp. The pharmaceutical and aquaculture equipment industries are also experiencing significant growth, due to the increasing demand from shrimp farmers.
Challenges and development strategies
Although vannamei shrimp farming has a very bright prospect in Indonesia, this industry is not free from various challenges, especially those related to the environment. One of the environmental problems that often arises is water pollution, which occurs due to the uncontrolled use of chemicals in the cultivation process. Chemicals such as pesticides and antibiotics, if used excessively or inappropriately, can contaminate water sources around the ponds, which will ultimately affect the aquatic ecosystem and human health. In addition, pond land degradation is also an important issue, especially in areas that have long relied on shrimp farming as their main source of income. Unsustainable farming practices, such as mangrove deforestation to expand ponds, can lead to soil erosion and loss of natural habitats for various species, which in turn will threaten the sustainability of the surrounding environment.
To address the environmental problems arising from vannamei shrimp farming, the application of environmentally friendly and sustainable cultivation technologies is crucial. One approach that can be taken is to use Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), which allow water in ponds to be reused after undergoing a rigorous filtration process. By using this technology, the use of water and chemicals can be significantly reduced, thus minimizing environmental pollution. In addition, replanting mangroves around the ponds can help reduce the impact of land degradation, while also providing a healthy habitat for shrimp and other species. The implementation of these technologies requires an initial investment that may be quite large, but their impact on environmental sustainability and the long-term sustainability of the industry is very valuable.
In addition to environmental challenges, disease outbreaks also remain a serious threat to the sustainability of the vannamei shrimp farming industry in Indonesia. Diseases such as White Spot Syndrome (WSS), Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV), and Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) have caused significant losses for farmers. These diseases can spread rapidly and cause mass mortality in shrimp, ultimately resulting in decreased productivity and profits. The high risk of these diseases requires special attention in pond health management.
WSS disease in shrimp: PT. Central Proteina Prima
To overcome the threat of diseases in vannamei shrimp farming, the implementation of good and planned pond health management is needed. The first step that must be taken is routine water quality monitoring, considering that poor water quality is often the main trigger for the emergence of diseases. Shrimp farmers must ensure that water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, and oxygen levels are within optimal limits for shrimp growth. In addition, the use of medicines and chemicals must be done wisely and following recommendations to avoid disease resistance and environmental pollution.
