Giant freshwater prawn seed production starts in Andaman

Giant freshwater prawn seed production starts in Andaman - INDIA - A scientist and his team of the Division of Fisheries Science, Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), Port Blair, have initiated research on breeding and larval rearing of Giant Freshwater Prawn (M Rosenbergii) under controlled conditions at the CARI farm complex.

The technique of breeding and seed production of the Giant Freshwater Prawn has been standardised and a model hatchery has been set for this purpose.

''CARI has now started the seed production of M Rosenbergii and the availability of the same may be over 50,000 post larvae for every two months. The approximate requirement for the islands may be 7-10 lakhs which is expected to be met,'' said Dr R B Rai, director of Andaman's CARI unit.

Dr Rai said as the islands of Andaman and Nicobar was free from disease producing pathogens and far away from mainland India, the culture of freshwater prawn with locally produced seed would be generally free from disease.

The larvae after being released in ponds, takes about six months to gain weight of about 60-70 grams, which is marketable size. Thus, every two years, at least three crops of prawns can be easily cultured alongwith Catla, Rohu and Mrigal variety of fishes.

''Macrobrachium lar, is the locally available species 'recorded' from the freshwater streams of Andamans by CARI in 2001. There is a good scope of culture of this species in poly culture system.

Captive breeding of this species has already been initiated in the CARI hatchery,'' he added.

There are more than 800 dual purpose freshwater ponds, besides water reservoirs in the islands, which were being used for composite fish culture. However, due to acidity, the productivity is low.

Source: Central Agricultural Research Institute - 5th October 2005