Greene Prairie Aquafarm, L.L.C. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.7

Description

The U.S. is the largest importer of shrimp in the world, and in order to compete with foreign imports, production efficiencies need to be drastically improved. A principle problem that affects profitability, and ultimately, sustainability of inland shrimp farming in Alabama and other regions is highly unpredictable survival. Survival can be affected by stock-out success of post larval shrimp or by unexplained mortality later during grow-out. Poor survival upon stocking can be assessed early and compensated with additional stockings of expensive shrimp young. Late term mortality is economically devastating, because no time is available for compensatory action, and much costly resources will already have been lost in the production cycle. We have discovered that both early and late term mortality can be greatly reduced when shrimp are produced in tanks located on shore, even when supplied with water from ponds where mortality is high.In this research project we propose to change our penaied shrimp culture system from semi-intensively stocked, static water, earthen ponds to one that combines intensive on-shore confinement of shrimp with natural water treatment in earthen ponds. This is a modified partitioned aquaculture design where the cultured animal is intensively confined and physically separated from water treatment compartments. Water from on-shore tanks is circulated through earthen ponds where metabolytes and organic wastes are naturally decomposed. Confining shrimp on shore will give us better management control of aeration, water quality and feeding processes. We hypothesise that use of this modified partitioned aquaculture system will significantly increase survival and yields, while using land and water resources more efficiently.