The Whiteleg Shrimp: Aquaculture’s New Found Star
Aquaculture expert Victor Emmanuel J. Estilo talks about the science of raising Litopenaeus vannamei and the overall status of the Philippine shrimp industry.
Seafood lovers all over the world are always on a roll whenever they talk about the whiteleg shrimp. Scientifically called Litopenaeus vannamei, and also known as the Pacific white shrimp, these expensive and exotic shrimps are the main stuff of some of the world’s most fantastic culinary dishes.
Once banned for many years in the country because of the outbreak of the white spot disease, vannamei raising experienced a renaissance of sorts in 2007 and has been called aquaculture’s newfound star. The shrimp, which is native to the Eastern coast from Mexico all the way to Central and South America, is now making headway in the country although fishery experts admit we have been a late bloomer in vannamei farming.