The successful Vannamei shrimp farming model has motivated Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) to launch more aquaculture initiatives in the State.

The University is gearing up to set up a Vannamei hatchery at its fisheries station in Puthuvypeen to produce around 20 lakh of seeds within one year.

The other proposals included extending this shrimp farming into more ponds, developing farming practices of brackish water species Pompano and Cobia suitable to Kerala’s particular ecosystem.

B Madhusoodana Kurup, Vice Chancellor, said that the first of its kind hatchery would be utilised for the farming purposes of the University in the initial stage and for farmers associated with it. However KUFOS has sought permission of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority, Chennai for converting its newly-completed hatchery complex for the shrimp hatchery.

In the second phase, Vannamei shrimp will be cultured in 11 more ponds with a size of 1000 square metre each. It is expected to produce 11 tonnes of Vannamei from the 11 ponds after farming in mid September, he said.

KUFOS has been engaging with the development of Vannamei farming technologies in varying densities in association with Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture (CIBA). There are also plans to develop a Vannamei farming system similar to that of being followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu by fully exploiting the potentials of brackish water resources in Kerala.

Some private entrepreneurs have shown interest in associating with KUFOS to popularise Vannamei farming in Kerala, he said adding that the proposed hatchery would boost shrimp production and thereby exports from the State.

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