Recent developments in prawn pond culture

Abstract

This document presents the recommended methodology, nominal projections and partial costs and returns, for extensive prawn culture at two production objectives, and semi-intensive culture with costs and returns breakdown for three production targets. Intensive prawn culture procedures are not discussed.

Extensive Prawn Culture System I projects a production yield of about 110 to 160 kg/ha/crop or more in four months and survival rate of from 65 to 70%. The extensive Prawn Culture System II aims for a production rate of about 230 kg/ha/crop in four months at about 70% survival with expected average body weight of about 25 grams. The procedures indicated have been verified and are now widely practiced.

Production targets under the Semi-intensive Prawn Culture System I range from 350 to 500 kg/ha in four months at survival rate of about 70 to 75% and expected average size at harvest of about 28 to 30 pcs/kg. This method has been confirmed at different collaborative sites using the modified SEAFDEC diet developed by the Feed Development staff of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department.