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Home , Brackish water, Fishery, Fishing, Shrimp farming

I ,... - ,

l ) FARMING

by Donald M. Allen

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction•••...•••.•.. 1 General history of shrimp 2 methods ••...•.•. 2 site and construction ••.•••••.•.•••.•••.•. 2 Preparation for stocking••..•.•.•.•...•..••...•....•. 2 Acquisition of seed shrimp ••..••.•.... .• .•••.•....•.. 3 Management of the shrimp crop •.•.•...• • •.•.•...•.• • .. 4 Harvest •••••••••.•.•••• 4 Recommendations •••••••.••.•....•.•.••••... .•. •.•.• 5 Conclusions. • . • . • . • . • . • • • • • . . • . • ... ••. 6 Bibliography .••.•••••.•.••• .•.•••.•.•• ..• .•....••. 6

INTRODUCTION estuarine . By constructing , the shrimp farmer alters t he natural en­ The idea of , or cultiva­ vironment so t hat the poundage of shrimp tion of shrimp under controlled conditions normally harvested from the estuarine in - or brackish- ponds, has areas is greatly increased. It is antici­ aroused much interest in the United States pated that by prope r timing, a shrimp in recent years. Shrimp appear particularly farmer may control the development of desirable for artificial cultivation because his stocks, so that abundant live bait shrimp of their rapid growth and high market of appropriate size can be harvested at the value. The ex-vessel value of shrimp to peak of demand. United States fishermen in 1962 was $73 million for the 191 million pounds landed. The culture of shrimp and other marine In addition to their worth as human , is an important industry in cer­ shrimp are in great demand seasonally as tain maritime coun tries of Southeast . live bait for sport . Shrimp farming in t he United States is still in its infancy, however, and extensive re­ Methods used in shrimp farming take search i s required to determine its biologi­ advantage of the ability of certain shrimp c al and economic feas ibility. to survive and grow rapidly in shallow

lContribution No. 166. Bureau of Commercial This leaflet giyes an account of shrimp Biological Laboratory. Galveston. Tex. culture as it i s practiced in and suggests possible applic a tlOn of Note,--Donald M. Allen. , Bureau of Com­ mercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory. U.s. and Wild­ techniques developed t here to shrimp ­ life Service. Galveston. . ing in the United States. GENERAL LIFE HISTORY OF SHRIMP action provldes the needed water exchange. Areas where is only slightly less The majority of shrimp cultivated in than that of water are preferred. The salt-water ponds in the Far East are is usually clay with a mixture of sand mar in e shrimp which inhabit s hallow, and 0 r g ani c detritus. Experience has bracki sh during a large porbon of demonstrated that ponds constructed in their . They are well adapted to this regions of excessive or with environment and can tolerate considerable s andy substrate are poor producers. change in salimty and temperature. A generalized account of their life history Salt marshes, shallow , and man­ will suffice for most of the .:;pecies with grove a re converted into shrimp which we are concerned here . ponds by exc avatlon and dikmg. In , a bandoned solar-salt beds have been con­ Female shrimp their eggs freely verted to modern shnmp reanng ponds. ln the , each releasing several hundred A pond system used m the Phihppmes (fig. l) thousand eggs. After hatching and whlle conslsts of £lve main sectlOns, separated by passing through several larval stages, the dlkes- -two nursery ponds, two rearing tmy shrimp move toward the . Upon ponds, and a catch pond. The tops ofthe dikes entenng the shallow and brackish mshore are about 20 .nches above the maXimum ex­ waters, the young shrimp sEttle to the pected tlde heights. SlUlce gates connect bottom and grow rapldly. As maturation the catc h pond to a bdal stream and also approache s, they gradually move offshore to the rearmg ponds and nurseries, so that toward the spawning grounds m the ocean water may be exchanged. Wate r level and and the life cycle is repeated. Depending movement are controlled by bdal flow and upon the species, the hfe span may range adjustable drawboards m the sluice gates. from about 1 to 3 years and the maXlmum The entire pond unlt slopes toward the size in terms of length, from about 4 to 12 main sluice gate so that all sectlOns can, inches. 1£ necessary, be drained at low t ide . Drain ­ age is fac litated by a system of d itches in Along the Gulf and South Atlantic the pond bottom which lead to t h e mam of the Unlted States, there occur four sluice gate. ThiS particular pond system speCles of marine shrimp whlch may be covers about 25 acres . suita ble for pond culture. These a re the w h 1 t e ( seliferus), p 1 n k rP. duorarum) , ExtenSive estuanes along the Gulf and brown (P. aztecus), and Canbbean brown South Atlantic coasts of the Umted States (P.brasiliensis) , all similar in may also be sUltable for farmmg shrimp, appearance and habits to their relatives, although the cost of gaming control over the cultured shrimp 0_ Southeast Asia. such property will be prohibibve in certain These North Arneric ..... n shrimp live 1 to 2 areas. Excluding the cost of leasing or years and reach a size of about 9 inches. purchasing suitable property, the cost of pond construction m the United States may In addition to marine shrimp, the southern range from $35 to $600 per acre, I depend­ United States has several species of large ing upon the size of the project and local shrimp ('rfacTobrachium spp.) that should conditions. be considered for pond culture. These shrimp are generally found m fresh or brackish water. The eggs are not released Preparation for Stocking directly into the water but remain attached Before a nursery pond in the Philippine s to the underside of the "tail" of the female is stocked with shrimp fry, it i s drained, until they hatch into young shrimp. cleaned, thoroughly sun dried, and then refilled with 1 to 3 inches of tide wate r that has been screened to prevent entry of CULTURE METHODS undesirable organisms. Besides eliminating most predators, this entire process serves Pond Site and Construction to enc our age the growth of "lab -lab," a Philippine term for a complex mass o f In Southeast Asia, shrimp are small bottom-dwelling plant and constructed in shallow, brackish, estuarine areas where shrimp occur naturally. The llnformation concerning pond construction costs may be found ponds are situated in suc h a way that tidal in an addendum to Lunz, 1958.

2 \ ' , / , / \ / , \ / , / \ \ / , / / , I / / 1 \ , \ / , 1 / "- \ / ..... / \ / / "- 1 R \ E A R I N G / P N D R E A R I " , N G P N / D \ / , / ° / \ ..... ° / , I \ / "- I \ / , / \ , I / I \ I \ 1 \ N U R S E R Y S " 1 / ON D \ - DI KE o \ \ I.::; I \ /.,. OII(E- ~\I ; , I , III %\1 ~ \ ~ :;, ~\ , x 1 I" '::' 0' 1 '-' 0\ I, ~ = 19~ -~ \ 01, •'" ~ 0 ~ I 1 Q" ~\ DIKE - , . ., -DI~E , U' \ 2 --, , ~I .-" - 1 . /' /-- ...... \ , .0 :, / "- 0,1 .----- / ..... / "- ..... \ , '/ / \ I' "- ~ 1 \ I \ / 1 \ I \ / I , ~.~ I \ I " / \ / I ..... / \ I \ I , -----)=t - CATCH PON D t SLUICE--- -GATES \ 1\

TID AL STREAM

SCALE ~- ~ ~ FEEf o SC ')n 300

Figure 1.--Layout of Philippine shrimp pond. (After Delmendo and Rabanal. 1956).

life which is a prime source of food for young shrimp entering the from young shrimp . After a good growth of the sea will be swept into the pond. When "lab-lab" is established, the water depth the tide turns, t he sluic e gate is screened, is increased to about 12 inches, and the thus retaining the young shrimp in the s eed shrimp are introduced. pond. This process m a y be repeated on each tide. Of cou rse, many other marine The shrimp grow from juvenile to adult organisms, some objec tionable, are intro­ stage in a large rearing pond. Prior to duc ed into the pond with the shrimp when being stocked with juvenile shrimp from the this method is used. nursery pond, the rearing pond is drained, cleaned, and dried before refilling to a Neither method described above supplies depth of 3 to 4 feet with s c reened tide­ a cons i stently adequate supply of seed water. shrimp. The most highly developed methods of shrimp culture are those now practiced Acquisition of Seed Shrimp in Japan, where kuruma shrimp (P. japonicu s) To obtain a successful harvest of shrimp, are reared from egg to adult stage under it is necessary that the pond be adequately closely c ontrolled conditions. Although de­ stocked. Consequently, much effort is di­ tails are lacbng, the process may be rect ed toward the critic al problem of ob­ described generally. Eggs obtained from taining a supply of seed shrimp (fry). captive spawnin"g shrimp hatch and develop into larvae in a hatching tank. Since spe­ In the Philippines and Formos a, clusters cial food is required by certain larval o f mar ine plants are strung across tidal stages of the shrimp, minute marine c reek s and shallow bays. The young shrimp organisms, including diatoms, are arti­ enterin g the estuaries from the sea gat her ficially cultured and fed to the tiny shrimp On t h e plants, from which they are netted at this time. Upon completion of the last at intervals . These f ry a r e transported to larval stage, the young shrimp are trans­ n urseries in earthenware containers. ferred to a nursery tank. Thus, in Japan, the problem of obtaining a reliable supply N urseries are not used where seed s h rimp of seed shrimp has apparently been solved. a r e obtained by ent rapment from incoming sea wat er. The sluice gate (fig. 2) is opened In the United States, captive white shrimp on a rising tide so that the swarms of have spawned successfully in large tanks

3 There they consume small living and dead /, orga nIsms swept through the slUlce gates by the tide and also organIc Inatter pro­ duc ed wit hm t h e pond. In addition to natural , and depending upon loc al practices, s u p p lement al foo d Inay i nclude such diverse organic mat erial a s water and lan d p l ants, silkworm pupae, fi s h , a nd s h e llhsh . In the absence of adequate nat u r al food, artifiCi al " feeding may serve t o promote g rowth and survival. Even m the ponds whe r e the m t ake w ater IS screened, the Yield of shr i m p may be reduct'd .,y predators or compet itors. T hese pests may Include fish, birds, reptiles , and mammaJ.s. Some may be r emoved by t r ap ­ pIng. In Formosa, saponin, a compound e x­ Figure 2.- -Diagram of a sluice gate, showlnp. drawboaris and tracted from tea seeds, has been us e d to screen. kill £Jsr , apparently without affecting s hrimp contained In the same pond. Rotenone in cont aining shallow salt v,'ater. By dddmg sUitable concentrations may also be u s e ful nutrient s to t h e wat er , J. supIJly of smdll for thiS purpose. Growth and s u rviv al oj marine pla nkt on organisms .vas maintained cult Hed shnmp can also be affe c t ed b -y as food f o r the lar val s hrimp, which were dseases and pdrasltes, f or which nc successfully r eared t hrough the JuvenIle mett'ods of control are yet p r actice d. sLlge . Elsewh ere m thi s c ountry, c aptiv e pInk s h rimp hav e s pawned t heir egg s m Harves t glas s a quaria, a fte r which t he r e s ultant larvae w ere confIned In small cont aine r s . The length of tlme t hat s h rim p a re h elc He r e, s e p a r ately cultur ed mlC r o s coplc belore h a r ve s tin g depends upon l ocal marine algae we r e p r ovided as fo od untIl p r act 1 c e s and rat e of s hrimp g r owt h. t he beginning o f the juvenile stage . In Shrimp may be held f r om a few mont h s tc neithe r case, however, has t h e method a yec.r. TC'lree methods of har v e st used lr been s uffIc lently developed to p r ovide seed Southeast Asia merit de s c r ipt ion: s h r imp on a commercial scale. P r esent t echniques fo r obtalnIng s eed shrimp rely 1. screen trap (fig . 3) - t h i~ either upon t heir tId( -associated move ­ t rap consists of a fence o r leader extend­ ments int o ponds , 01 ,.. pon capt u r e by trawl Ing at r ight angles from t h e dike and l eadinl and net . T he llmite d product ion of int o a heart - shaped catch cham b er. M OVInl a fe w d omestic s h r imp farm s can be a t shrimp meet the fence while Cl r chng thE leas t pa rt i al ly at t r i buted t o madequate borde r s of the pond and follo w t h e fencE stocks o f young s h r imp. int o t he cat ch chambe r . Ligh ts are some· t i mes used t o a ttract s hnmp to the trap. Management of the Shrimp Crop 2 . Bag n e t - t hiS n et IS fastened ove] In Southeast A Si a , pond w at e r i s the downstrea m side o f t h e sluice gate. A: periodically renew ed w it h screened tide l o w tide t he water wh ich h as been coniine( w ater during the p eri od shrimp are con­ In the pond i s a llo w e d to flow out, flus h in! f in e d. Since losses of shrimp occurring the shrimp into the net. t h rough hole s in dikes and screens a re particularly common during periods of waterflo w, continued maintenance of the 3. Draining - the pond is drained OJ pond unit i s required. outgoing tide and the shrimp are collecte( by hand. While confined in the nurseries, seed shrimp feed upon bottom plant and animal None of these methods is completel: life that is occasionally supplemented with efficient because some shrimp avoid th, rice bran. After several weeks, the young screen traps and others bury in the mue shrimp are transferred to the rearing ponds. when the pond is drained.

4 i------I I I I I I I I I I I

!I SCALE, ---=I IFEET 0:I I 0 5 10 I L ______'\______~

I (

Figure 3.--Diagram o f bamboo screen shr imp trap, shO\ving leader and catch chambers. (After Delmendo and Rabanal. 1956.)

The rate of production in shrimp ponds (Metapf'nnf'lIS masters1i) , which spawns varies markedly, being dependent upon local naturally in estuarlne waters. Finally, the pr a ctices and biological conditions. Annual possibility t t river shrimp may be SUlt­ yields of more than 600 pounds of heads­ able for pon 1 culture should not be over­ off s h r imp per acre have been reported in looked. South east Asia. 2. The maximum production of cul­ RECOMMENDATIONS tured shrimp can be obtained only when optimum conditions are established in Information derived from shrimp cul­ shrimp ponds. An understanding of the tural practices in the Far East, particularly physical, chemical, and biological factors in Japan, could be useful to prospective that control shrimp growth and survival s h rimp farmers in the United States. The are necessary for successful pond manage­ following basic problems, however, 3hould ment. The need for research must be be resolved before commercial shrimp emphasized. farming is undertaken in this country. 3. The present methods of harvesting shrimp from ponds by trapping and drainage 1. The current method of obtaining are not satisfactory. It may be more effl­ seed shrimp is unsatisfactory. If, in cap­ cient to drag the ponds with frame trawls. 3 tivity, the local marine shrimp will not Possibly, the use of artificial light as a regularly spawn and the young cannot be shrimp attractant can be more fully de­ reared through their larval stages by t he veloped. In addition, chemical and electri­ use of Japanese culture tec hniques, then cal shrimp collecting techniques should be other shrimp species should be considered. in ve stigated. Following preliminary experimentation and observing necessary precautions, it may 4. The expected yield of shrimp per be feasible to transplant kuruma shrimp, acre per year in the United States cannot which are successfully cultivated in Japan, or the Australian greentail 3 Small drag nets with rigid, metal-frame opening and roller.

5 even be c onjec tured, but it would be of H edgpeth , Joel W. prime import ance to the prospect ive shrimp 194 9. The North American species of farmer. Prior to investment in a large ­ Macro brachium (river s h rimp). Texas scale shrimp farming operation, realistic Journal of Science, vol. l, no. 3, production rates s hould be determined from p . 28-38. pllot experiments. Hudinaga, M otos aku. 1942. Repr o duction, development and CO NCLUSIONS rea r i n g of P enaeu s japonicus Bate. Japanes e Journal of Zoology, vol. In the United States, nat ural populations 10, no. 2 , p . 305 - 3 9 3,46 plates . of shrimp occur in estuaries along the Gulf and South Atlantic c oasts. This region appear s well suited for shrimp farming, but Hutton, Robert F ., Franklin Sogandares­ commercial ventures In this f ield have been Bernal, Bonnie E ldred, Robert M . Ingle, unsucces sful. If shrimp culture problems and Kennet h D. Woodburn. relating to seed supply, growth, survival, 1959. In vestigat ions on t he parasites and and harve stmg can be resolved, and proven disease s o f s alt water shrimps methods followed closely, Gulf and Scuth ( ) of sports and c ommer­ Atlantic coastal marshes may supIJ'">rt a cial importa nce to Florida . (P re­ new Industry. liminary r eport.) Florida State Board of Conse r vation M arine Laboratory, Technical Ser ie s N o. 26, 3 8 p. BIBLIOGRAPHY \nonymous. Ingle , Robert M., and B onnie Eldred. 1 Q58. Controlled culture of shrimp seen 1960. Notes on the a rtificial c ultivation on horizen on a commercial scale. of fresh water shr imp. West Indie s Frosted Food Field, vol. 26, no. 6, F ish e r i e s Bulletin N o.4, July/ p. 1,9-10. August, p. 1 - 5 . 1962. Prawn farming shows promise. World Fishing, vol. 11, no. 4, p. 59- Johnson, Malcolm C., a nd J. R. Fielding. 60. 1956. Propagation of the whit e shrimp, 1963. t>1arme blOlogy, cultured . I'enaeus seti ferus (Linn.), in captivity. Time, vol. 81, no. 13 (March 29), Tulane Studies in Zoology, vol. 4, p. 43, 45. no. 6, p . 175 - 190 . Kesteven, G. L., and T. J. Job. Delmendo. M. N., and p. F . Rabanal. 1958. Shrimp culture in Asia and the 1956. CultivatlOn of 'sugpo' (jumbo tiger shrimp) I'cn(/cils lI,o/!od(m Fabricius, Far East : a preliminary review. Gulf and Ca r ibbe an Fisheries Insti­ In the PhIlIppines. Indo - Pacific Fisheries Council, Proceedings, 6th tute, 10t h Annual Ses sion, p. 49- 68. Session, Sections 2 and 3, p. 424- 431. K r use, D w a yne N athaniel. Dobkm, Sheldon. 1959. Pa r a s i tes of the commercial 1961. Early developmental stages of pink s h r i m p s , I' e n a c usa z t e c u s I ve s . shrimp,I'('/lal'lls r/t'uoranlm, from Florida I'. duorarum B u rke nroad andP. s eti ferus waters. U.S. Fish and Serv­ (L in n a e us). Tulane Studies in , Fishery Bulletin 190, vol. 61, Zoology, vol . 7, n o. 4, p. 123-144. p. 321-349.

Gopmath, K. Lewis , John B. 1956. Prawn culture in the rice field s 1962. P r eliminary experiments on the of Travancore-Cochin, . Indo ­ rea ring of the fresh water shrimp, Paciflc Flshenes Council, Proceed­ Mae ro brachium carcinus (L.). Gulf and mgs, 6th SesslOn, Sections 2 and 3, Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Pro­ p.419-424. c eedings, Annual Session, p. 199-201.

6 Lindner, Milton J., and William W. Ander­ P earson, Joh n C . son . 1939. The ear ly life hist orIes of am 1956. Growth, migrations, spawning and A m e r ic an Penaeidae, chiefly h size distribut ion of shrimp, P enaeu8 c ommercial shrimp, f'rM u. , rlf,' U setiferus. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv­ (Lmn.). [U .S . ] Bureau of FI!:>nenc • ice, Fishery Bulletin 106, vol. 56, Bulletin 30, vol. 49, p . 1-73. p. 555 -645. P illai , T. Gottfried . 19 62. Fish far min g methods In thE' Ling, S . W., and A. B. O. Merican. Philippines, and Hong 1962. Not es on the life and h a bit s Kong. FAO Fisheries BlOlogy T 'ct->­ of t he ad u 1 t sand 1 a r val stages nical Paper No. 18, 6R p. of Macro brachium rosenbervi (De Man). Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council, Pro­ Power, E . A . ceedings, 9th Session, Section 2, p. 1963. Advance report on the flsher.es 55 -61. of t h e Umt ed States, 1962. L .S. Fish a n d Wildllfe Service, Current Fish­ e r y Statis t ics No. 3150, 25 p. Lunz, G. Robert. 1958. Pond c ultivation of shrimp in South Raban a l , H erminia R. Carolina. Gulf and Caribbean Fish­ 194 9 . T he culture of lab-lab. the ndhr.ll erie s Institute, 10th Annual Se s s ion, food of the mllkflsh fry .md fmgt" r­ p. 44-48. (Discussion, p. 71.) ling s under cultivation. Department of and '\Jdtural He­ sources, Manila Techmc .d Bulletlr, N o. 18, 9 p. Lunz, G. Robert, and Charles M. Bearden. 1963. Control of predaceous in shrimp farming in South Carolina. Schuster, W . H . Contributions from Bears Bluff Lab­ 19 5 2. Fish-culture in bracklsr. water oratories, No. 36, 9 p. Wadmalaw p onds in Java. lndo-Pacif c F Ish- Island, South C a rolina. erles Co mcd, SpeCl.d I)ubl.catloll~ No.1, 14) p. Manning, S. F. 1963. Problems of sea f a rming aren It T ang , Yun - An. all technical. National 1961. The use of sapOI'ln to control combined with Maine Coast Fis her­ predaceous fishes In shrimp r~onds. man, v ol. 44, no. 1, p. 22-23. U.S. Fish and Wl~dllfe ':,ervlCf', Progressive Fish-C ultUrlst, vu~ 2.~, no. 1 (January), p. 43-45.

1963. Many factors figure in building of V illa dolid, D . V., and D. Vdlaluz. successful shrimp pond. National 1951. The cultivation of sUgro ""11(/'. Fisherman combined with Maine munod(J/I Fabricius) m the t 'll.!p ­ Coast Fisherman, vol. 44, no. 2, pines. Phihppme Journd: of F S'1- p. 38-39. erie s , vol. 1, no. I. p. 55-bb.

Menon, M. K. Voss, Gilbert L. 1955. On the paddy fi e ld prawn fishery 1955 . A key to the commercia. drd of Travancore -Cochin a n d an experi ­ pot entially cornmerc .al snrlT'"1;' of ment in prawn culture. Indo-Pacific the family Penaeldae of tJ- e weste rr Fisheries Council, P roc e eding s, 5t h Nort h Atlantic and t e Gulf of. 1eXI o. Meeting, Sections 2 and 3, p. 131- Florida State Bo ..lrd of Cons en atlOn. 135. Tee hm cal S e rl e s .. o . 1 4. 2. ~ p . WeyrrlOuth, F. W., Milton J. Lindner, and Williams, Austin B . W. W. Anderson. 1955. A contribution to the life histories 1933. Preliminary report on the life of commercial shrimps (Penaeidae ) history of the common shrimp Penaeus in North C a rolina. Bulletin of Marine s('ti(erus (Linn.). [U.S.] Bureau of Science of the Gulf and Caribbean, Fisheries, Bulletin 14, vol. 4 8 , p. vol 5, no. 2, p . 116 -146. 1- 26. MS # 1293

Cfeated In 1849. the Department of the Tnterlor--Amerlca's Department of Natural --Is concerned with the management. co nservation. and devel opment of the Nation ' s water. fish. wlldlife. . . and park and recreational resources. It also has major responslhilltips for Indian and T erritorial affairs.

As the Nation's principal conservation agency. the Department works to assure that nonrenewable re­ sources are developed and used wisely. that park and recreational resources are conserved for the future. and that renewable resources make th"lr full contribution to the progress. prosperity. and security of the United States--now and In the future.

t:NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR . Stewart L. Udall . Secretary James K. Carr , Under Secretary Frank P . Briggs, Assistant Secretary for Fish and If ildlife

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, Clarence F. Paulzke, Commissionu

BUREAU OF COMME RCIAL FISHERIES, Donald L. McKernan, Dire c tor

Fishery Leaflet 551

Washington, D.C. October 1963

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GPO 861.74 7