Prawn
Culture
One of the most
economically important shell fish resources of India are prawns. They are
crustaceans which inhabit freshwater, marine water, estuaries, backwaters and
shallow waters of temperate and tropical countries. They are of great demand
both in the local and international market. Due to their great taste, they are
a cherished delicacy to be served as food.
In view of their
popularity and marketing avenues in foreign countries there is a need for
developing advanced technology and intensify prawn culture in India. The export
earning from prawn and prawn products has increased tremendously during the
last 25 years.
They occur in coastal
waters. Penaeus indicus (Indian prawn) and Penaeus monodon (Giant
tiger prawn) are the important species of Indian coast. The marine penaeid
prawns are also called as shrimps. The mature shrimp breeds in deep sea. Most
of the developmental stages are spent in estuaries and backwaters.
They inhabit rivers and
lakes. They migrate to brackish water for breeding. Macrobrachium rosenbergii
(Giant river prawn) and Macrobrachium malcomsonii (small prawns) are
the common freshwater prawns.
A number of species of
prawns of different sizes are found distributed in water resources. Only those
prawns which are good in size, weight, available in plenty and easily
cultivable are commonly selected for prawn culture on commercial basis.
The rearing of marine
penaied prawn is called marine prawn culture or shrimp culture. Penaeus
indicus can attain a maximum length of upto 20 cms and Penaeus
monodon upto 30 cms when fully grown.
The rearing of
freshwater prawn is called fresh water prawn culture. Macrobrachium rosenbergii
and Macrobrachium malcomsonii can attain a maximum length of 20 and
15 cms respectively when fully grown.
In our country different
localized methods of prawn culture are being followed. The methods employed for
prawn culture are given below.
a. Seed collection and hatchery method
b. Paddy cum prawn culture method
The larvae and juveniles
obtained by collection from natural resources (estuaries, lagoons and
backwaters) or by hatchery methods (controlled breeding) are reared and grown
into adults with supplementary feeding.
It is also called
Pokkali culture. It is the oldest and traditional method of prawn culture
practiced in Kerala. The low lying paddy fields along the coastal areas serve
as suitable grounds for prawn culture. It is the practice of rearing prawns as
‘secondary crop’ in paddy fields. Prawns are cultured in these fields after the
harvest of paddy. Both freshwater and marine prawns are cultured by this method
based on their required salinity conditions.
Apart from being a
delicacy, prawns are a rich nutritive source of protein, vitamin A and D,
glycogen and amino acids. They contain less amount of fat. Cultured prawns also
provide polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) which plays an important role in
health and weight maintenance.
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