The importance of behaviour in improving the production of shrimp in aquaculture

Abstract

There is an increasing recognition within the aquaculture industry that understanding the behaviour of farmed animals can help provide solutions to feeding problems. However, most studies have focused on finfish production, with fewer behavioural studies on feeding processes in commercially produced crustaceans. More than 60% of crustacean aquaculture is attributed to the production of penaeids, particularly the Pacific white-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone). The profitability of the Pacific white-leg shrimp for aquaculture stems from its ability to survive in a wide range of environments and its fast growth at high densities. However, there are significant setbacks within their farming. In particular, while they can move rapidly to take food pellets, they can be slow to consume them leading to food wastage and subsequent economic losses for the industry. Understanding shrimp behaviour provides a starting point for refinements to feeding practices. Here, we review the different influences on shrimp behaviour which are likely to influence productivity such as individual-level effects (e.g. moulting, sex), environmental influences (e.g. photoperiod, conspecific presence) and water quality (e.g. salinity, temperature). Although work on feed management has been conducted, providing information on nutrition, feeding frequency and schedules, here we demonstrate that such advances must be accompanied by behavioural approaches to allow the development of optimal feeding efficiencies and to support the continued growth of the crustacean aquaculture industry.

A review on recirculating aquaculture system: influence of stocking density on fish and crustacean behavior, growth performance, and immunity

“…Many countries in the Americas and Asia rely on the production of such shrimp and thus, it is the fastest-growing crustacean aquaculture sector. Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is the most widely reared shrimp species due to its hardiness to diseases, high stocking densities, tolerance to a wide range of water quality parameters (salinity, temperature, NO3 -), and improved growth performance compared to the tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius) (Bardera et al, 2019). A previous study by Otoshi, Arce, and Moss (2003) showed comparable production capacities of broodstock shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) reared in both RAS and flow-through earthen ponds.…”

Monitoring methods of feeding behaviour to answer key questions in penaeid shrimp feeding

“…However, despite this production volume, shrimp farming is prone to significant inefficiencies with regards to feeding, which can comprise up to half of total production costs (Silva et al 2012;Engle et al 2017). Shrimp can be slow to feed on pellets (Gadient & Schai 1994), and feeding behaviour can vary greatly depending on shrimp physiological condition and environmental factors (Bardera et al 2018). This often results in feed losses for farmers leading to increases in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), degradation of chemical and microbiological water quality, higher nutrient discharge rates into the environment (Smith et al 2002;Li et al 2017;Jescovitch et al 2018;Ullman et al 2019a) and increases in water exchange requirements (Davis et al 2006).…”

Automatic Monitoring of Relevant Behaviors for Crustacean Production in Aquaculture: A Review

“…Feeding is the primary factor for determining the efficiency and cost of aqua feed, which may represent a considerable proportion of the crustacean farming budget [ 23 ]. Crustaceans use visual, mechanoreceptor, and chemoreceptor systems to detect the location of food sources, and when food is available, crustaceans change their sound signatures and movements [ 24 ].…”