Indonesia’s shrimp industry reels after radioactive contamination case

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s shrimp industry suffered a 30 to 35 per cent drop in processing absorption after a radioactive contamination was detected in a batch of shrimp shipped to the United States in August, the country’s shrimp farmers’ association said on Oct 3.

The shrimp was processed at an industrial estate near Jakarta that was later found to be contaminated with Cesium 137.

Indonesia’s nuclear agency is seeking to pinpoint the size of the area affected.

Indonesia is the world’s fifth largest shrimp exporter, accounting for 6 per cent of global exports. About two-thirds of its exports go to the US.

While the radioactive finding was in just one shrimp consignment from one company, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS), US and other foreign buyers are now waiting to determine whether all shrimp from Indonesia is safe, said Mr Andi Tamsil, head of Indonesia’s shrimp farmers’ association.

Prices have fallen by up to 35 per cent in several regions, he said.

“Since BMS was added to the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) red list, shrimp absorption from farmers has decreased by around 30 to 35 per cent,” Mr Tamsil said.

In 2024, Indonesia exported about 215,000 tonnes of shrimp, valued at about US$1.7 billion (S$2.2 billion), according to government data.

The US is the main market for Indonesian shrimp, accounting for 63.7 per cent of the total exports, followed by Japan.

“If this continues, millions of households that depend on this industry from upstream to downstream are at risk of losing their jobs,” Mr Tamsil said.

The shrimp industry has become the victim of negligence, and the incident has shaken public confidence, he added.

“This fatal mistake has caused the US to question the safety of our food,” he said.

Indonesia

established a task force

after the US FDA issued an advisory to American consumers, distributors and sellers not to eat, sell or serve frozen shrimp imported by BMS, doing business as BMS Foods, after their products were associated with Cesium 137 contamination.

So far, the US FDA has listed 10 brands associated with BMS.

Cesium 137 is present in the environment mainly from past nuclear testing or accidents, like Chernobyl and Fukushima, according to the FDA’s website. REUTERS