The pilot farming of Litopenaeus Vannamei, an exotic shrimp has proved successful in the state’s brackish water ecosystem.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) which launched the pilot farming said the harvesting of vannamei shrimp recorded a huge success with 85 per cent survival rate and better growth.
The university had started the pilot farming of vannamei shrimp, the first of its kind in the state, in four ponds at its regional station in Puduveypu in March to develop a model farming system of the shrimp suitable for the particular brackish water ecosystem of the state.
As part of this, 40,000 specific pathogen-free seeds of vannamei shrimp were released into a pond and after 94 days of farming, a catch of 650 kg of vannamei were harvested today.
Kerala Minister for Fisheries K Babu inaugurated the harvest in Puduveypu in the presence of the shrimp farmers, fishery scientists, researchers and students.
The farming also proved 5.5-6 tonnes vannamei could be produced from one hectare, earning a profit of Rs 14 lakhs.
During the farming, KUFOS maintained a reservoir and an effluent treatment system (ETS) and set up bio-fencing, bird fencing, crab fencing and other biosecurity measures.
The minister said that the success of the pilot culture of vannamei shrimp would make easier to usher in a ‘Vannamei Revolution’ in the state in coming years.
“The positive result of the pilot farming will definitely change the lives of shrimp farmers in Kerala. The newly developed farming model of vannamei shrimp will be extended to other parts of the state. The Fisheries Department will use two acres of farms in Poyya, Thrissur for culturing vannamei”, the minister said.
The government would utilise the highly prospective inland water resources and “pokkali” (rice cultivation) fields for the farming of vannamei and would boost the aquaculture production of the state, he added.
“KUFOS will extend the farming into more ponds with varying densities. Now, the university plans to develop diversified farming practices of vannamei shrimp. KUFOS will transfer the technology and farming model developed by the varsity to more farmers”, KUFOS Vice Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup said.