Image: AgroNews / FIS

Brazilian tilapia market

BRAZIL
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

Alert: Virus with 90% mortality rate is found in tilapia imported from Vietnam. Follow everything about the import of tilapia from Vietnam and the health risks of the TiLV Virus for Brazilian aquaculture.

Source: Stockfile FIS

In the dynamic scenario of Brazilian aquaculture, the week revealed not only regular fluctuations in prices, but also significant warnings that will shape the future of the sector.

Complete analysis carried out by Francisco Medeiros – president of Peixe BR 

Tilapia market

We begin our analysis with the indicators provided by the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea). In the Great Lakes Region, there was a slight reduction of 0.03 cents (USD 0.0061) in the price paid to farmed fish producers, setting the average price at R$9.66 (USD 1.96). In the north of Paraná, prices remained stable for ten consecutive days, offering a week of relative tranquility for producers. However, in the western region of Paraná, there was a decrease of 0.02 cents (USD 0.0041) per kilo, establishing the price at R$ 9.56 (USD 1.94). In Minas Gerais, in the Morada Nova de Minas region, the market remained stable, with the average price reaching R$ 9.50 (USD 1.93).

Bureaucratic challenges

The week was also marked by proactive actions in the face of bureaucratic challenges. The sector filed with the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) a request to cancel Normative Instruction 27/2023. This regulation, which aims to regulate aquaculture activity, was considered excessively onerous for producers, requiring the presentation of 25 items related to production and the analysis of eight water quality parameters, in addition to the payment of fees and the hiring of specialized professionals. The sector claims that this information is already provided to state bodies responsible for environmental licensing, making Ibama's regulatory instructions redundant and economically unfeasible for the majority of producers, especially small rural establishments.

Imports and health challenges: A warning for the sector

However, the international scenario has brought considerable concern to the aquaculture sector in Brazil. The import of tilapia fillet from Vietnam has been identified as a new reality. Embrapa Pesca e Aquicultura, in collaboration with the industry, identified the first container of these products arriving in Brazil in January. This import, although regulated and authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), raised concerns related to the Import Risk Analysis (ARI).

The request for information about this analysis was filed with MAPA, as the presence of Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) in Vietnam is a reality confirmed by the International Organization of Endemic Diseases. TiLV is an RNA virus that can cause fish mortality of over 90%, representing a serious threat to the Brazilian industry, which is currently considered an area free of this virus.

Source: Semantic Scholar

TiLV is a virus that affects tilapia, a species of fish widely farmed around the world. It is an RNA virus, belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family, and has the capacity to cause high mortality rates in tilapia populations. Its presence in a farm can lead to severe impacts on aquaculture production, resulting in significant economic losses. The spread of TiLV is a global concern, and prevention and control strategies are essential to maintain the health and sustainability of tilapia populations in aquatic farms.

Source:AgroNews

The panorama of Brazilian aquaculture this week highlights the pressing need for vigilance and action in the face of health threats. Importing tilapia from Vietnam, associated with the presence of the TiLV virus, requires a cautious approach and effective strategies to ensure the safety of the sector. As we face challenges, it is imperative that regulatory bodies and industry act together, adopting measures that ensure the integrity of national production and the protection of public health. The future of Brazilian aquaculture depends on the ability to overcome challenges, adopt innovations and, above all, prioritize safety and sustainability.

Author: Vicente Delgado | AgroNews (Translated from the original in Portuguese)

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www.seafood.media

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