00:00The prolonged drought and the economic crisis in southern Honduras have forced a temporary halt to operations at 214 shrimp
00:08farms.
00:09Gerardo Torres Alaya has the story.
00:15Honduras has lost 30% of its shrimp production this year.
00:207,000 hectares out of the 24,000 typically used for this purpose have shut down,
00:25representing 214 shrimp farms that are no longer in operation.
00:31So far, there has been a decline, so to speak, of approximately 7,000 hectares out of the 24,45
00:42fived we currently have in production.
00:45This is due to various factors, such as the drought mentioned here,
00:51which directly affects the shrimp's growth process.
00:55As it raises sea surface temperatures and salinity, leading to problems.
01:01Or rather, causing these organisms to expend more energy during their growth process.
01:08The National Association of Aquaculture Producers of Honduras, ANDA,
01:13has lowered its production target for 2026 from 159 million to 146 million pounds of shrimp,
01:2313 million pounds less than originally projected.
01:26This will further deepen the economic crisis, which is directly linked to the decline in shrimp production.
01:32Another factor influencing the closure of various shrimp farms is the economic factor.
01:41Given that there is a transition in government,
01:45many of these farms operate without being properly registered with the relevant agency,
01:54and this prevents them from benefiting from various economic aid programs, such as subsidies.
02:02Due to the high cost of energy and inputs,
02:06the price of Honduran shrimp has soared to nearly double the regional price,
02:10with no support from the government, which has suspended almost all subsidies and bonuses.
02:15It is extremely difficult to sell at such a high price,
02:19and many producers have decided that it's better to stop production altogether.
02:25What must be understood is that it's not that the farms have closed.
02:28The farms are still there and are owned by their owners.
02:32The issue is that when people don't have a guaranteed market
02:34and aren't sure they'll be able to sell their product, they prefer not to plant.
02:38It's like any other crop shrimp is just like any other crop.
02:41If you know the price of a product is low,
02:44you don't plant it because that would mean risking your capital.
02:50After remittances sent by Hondurans working in the United States and Spain,
02:55shrimp production is the primary source of income for the southern region of the country.
02:59A decline in production and the closure of shrimp farms
03:02is driving up unemployment and poverty,
03:05and will almost certainly lead to an increase in irregular migration.
03:09For Telestrian English, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Gerardo Torres Zelaya.
