9/11 shuts down NMI shrimp production
The CNMI’s shrimp production has shut down due to the heightened security alert in shipping as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
According to Northern Marianas College- Cooperative Research, Extension & Education Services coordinator Craig Smith, local shrimp growers found it very hard to import baby shrimps because of stricter screening procedures at the ports.
As a result, baby shrimps die even before they get to the CNMI.
“Shipment takes about three days now and baby shrimps couldn’t survive that long [in plastic containers],” he said.
Before the 9/11 incident, CNMI growers could bring baby shrimps from Hawaii within 24 hours.
Smith said the local shrimp production should be revived because there is a big demand for fresh seafood.
“It’s important that we grow shrimps here because tourists especially those from Asia—Japanese, Koreans, Chinese—prefer them fresh. They’re used to tasting fresh food,” he said.
The NMC-CREES recently conducted two series of free workshops on shrimp production.
NMC said those workshops were done “because of the high demand by CNMI residents interested in shrimp farming.
NMC-CREES’ aqua specialist Mike Ogo taught participants how to grow freshwater and saltwater shrimp, either as a hobby or business.
