Malaysia shrimp farmers test Cuban product to resist white spot

An agreement signed last year between Bioven Holdings Sdn Bhd of Malaysia and Cuban company Heber Biotec provided for the exclusive licensing rights for Acuabio 1 in the Asian region to repel white-spot virus in farmed prawns and shrimp.

Heber Biotec is the marketing arm of Cuba 's Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), which developed the product. Acuabio 1 is a bio-tech product based on a combination of proteins said to make fry resistant to diseases such as the dreaded white-spot virus.

Prawn farm owner Hashnoel Murshim Hashim, is the first in Malaysia to try Acuabio 1. Initial results during test trials have shown that the product increased productivity by 100 percent.

"I am so excited with the results," said Hashnoel, managing director of Sumber Nadi Alam Sdn Bhd.

He said his farm faced a lot of problems when it started operations two years ago, with the primary thorn in their side being the white- spot disease, which kills thousands of aquatic animals annually.

" We did everything possible to manage this but somehow it just never really worked. The whole industry was having a problem with white-spot. Then BioVen approached me with the product and I jumped at the opportunity. I have seen the results and have a lot of hope," Hashnoel said.

Hashnoel said he believes the product will change the face of shrimp and prawn farming in Malaysia and the region.

"Acuabio 1 is all natural. So we are not using chemicals. I am working closely with a Thai hatchery which is also testing the product and the results have been amazing. The growth of the fry is super strong. It is like they are supercharged," said Suphon Angworachot, the owner of the Thai hatchery called S. Sakrin.

"I am very happy and think the product is excellent. The difference in the fry before and after you use the product is quite astonishing," he said.

Bioven and Heber signed a memorandum of understanding with Sumber Nadi Alam and S. Sakrin during the recent BioMalaysia 2005 conference. Sakrin has been appointed the hatchery partner for the production of Acuabio 1-treated shrimp larvae for the local and South Thailand markets.

Bioven Holdings chairman Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said that Acuabio 1 was almost ready for the markets in Asia. Hashnoel said with the product, Malaysia could now catch up with other Asian countries in the shrimp and prawn industry. The country was the pioneer, he said, but due to the white-spot disease and other factors had lost out to countries like Thailand and Taiwan .

New Strait Times