A harvest of 80 million pounds of shrimp worth some USD 150 million is expected between late April and October-November.

"We are set to initiate the harvest. We think this year will be interesting, with many challenges and opportunities. The climatological conditions are excellent and the product will be able to be sold at the best prices possible," said Jacobo Paz, a representative of the National Association of Honduran Aquaculturists (ANDAH).

Paz expects the volume of export will not fall, but observed a decline in the price of the largest shrimp sizes, which are also the most expensive. However, he trusts they will begin to see some price increases beginning in July, La Tribuna reports.

On average USD 150 million is generated from exports in terms of profit, and expectations dictate this figure will increase with more value-added products, "which command much higher and more stable prices on the international market," the ANDAH representative commented.

Also, new markets like Germany and England have opened to an expanding import of Honduran shrimp, he revealed.

Costa Rica, Mexico and several South American countries have also become markets for Honduran shrimp.

Finally, Paz reiterated the sector’s demand that the government forge agreements with the National Food Safety and Quality Service (SENASA) on guaranteeing water quality, as well as with the Secretariat of Security "given that shrimp robbery is a serious problem."

Organised gangs rob production zones of up to USD 1 million in shrimp annually, Paz explained.

The export of Honduran shrimp slipped 14.1 per cent between January and September to USD 65.9 million, Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) statistics show.