Water exchange is routinely used in shrimp culture. However, there are few, if any, systematic investigations upon which to base exchange rates. Furthermore, environmental impacts of pond effluent threaten to hinder further development of shrimp farming in the U.S. The present study was designed to determine effects of normal (25.0%/d), reduced (2.5%/d) and no (0%/d) water exchange on water quality and production in intensive shrimp ponds stocked with Penaeus setiferus at 44 postlarvae/m2. Additional no‐exchange ponds were stocked with 22 and 66 postlarvae/m2 to explore density effects. Water exchange rates and stocking density influenced most water quality parameters measured, including dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Kjeldahl nitrogen, soluble orthophosphate, biochemical oxygen demand, phytoplankton and salinity. Reduced‐exchange and no‐exchange treatments resulted in reduced potential for environmental impact. Mass balance of nitrogen for the system indicates that 13–46% of nitrogen input via feed is lost through nitrification and atmospheric diffusion. Growth and survival were excellent in ponds with normal exchange, reduced exchange, and a combination of low density with no water exchange. A combination of higher stocking density and no water exchange resulted in mass mortalities. Mortalities could not be attributed to a toxic effect of any one water quality parameter. Production was 6,400 kg/ha/crop with moderate stocking density (44/m2) and reduced (2.5%/d) water exchange and 3,200 kg/ha/crop with lower stocking density (22/m2) and no water exchange. Results indicate that typical water exchange rates used in intensive shrimp farms may be drastically reduced resulting in a cost savings to farms and reduced potential for environmental impact from effluent.
Experiments on the intensive cultivation of Pacific white shrimp, Penueus vunnumei, in ponds in South Carolina were begun in 1985 at the Waddell Mariculture Center. A preliminary study involved two 0.1 ha ponds stocked at an average of 43 postlarvae/m2, with management practices based on those used in Taiwan for intensive pond culture of Penueus monodon. Harvest yields averaged 6,757 kg/ha for one crop, demonstrating the technical feasibility of such intensive culture of P. vannumei. In 1986, 2.5 ha of ponds at the Waddell Center (six ponds totaling 2.0 ha at 40 postlarvae/m2 and two totaling 0.5 ha at 60/m2) yielded a total of 13,606 kg (5,442 ke/hn). These results were obtained even though aeration and water exchange rates were substanthlly reduced and South Carolina experienced its worst heat wave and drought. This served as a pilot‐sde, proof‐ofconcept test. Tank studies in 1985 and 1986 showed little effect of stocking density on shrimp growth rate at densities of 20–100 animals/m2. This was confirmed in ponds in 1987 when no differences in growth rates were observed at densities of 20–100 postlarvae/m2. Harvest biomass increased directly with stocking density in all trials, reaching a maximum of 12,680 kg/ha/crop at 100 shrimp/m2 in 1987. Initial attempts to intensify production in the nascent South Carolina shrimp farming industry occurred in 1986, when approximately 32 ha of private ponds were stocked at densities of 10–32 postlarvae/m2. Farm harvests increased with stocking density, with maximum yield of 3,656 kg/ ha/crop. This trend toward intensification in the private sector is continuing, and in 1987 maximum harvests from private ponds were 5,050 kg/ha from a 0.3 ha pond and 4,625 kg/ha from a 1.5 ha pond. Prospects for further implementation of intensive culture in the private sector appear excellent, with yields of ≥ 10,000 kg/ha/crop expected from private farms within the next few years.
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