Penaeid prawns and their culture in mangrove areas

Abstract

Culture of penaeid prawns in mangrove areas has been described. Mangrove ecosystem is rich in particulate organic matter or detritus. Detritus is nutritionally very rich and is the major source of food for the juvenile prawns. The mangrove substratum is also rich in microflora and meiofauna which further enriches the nutritional quality. Other favourable conditions like shallow and calm water, soft bottom for burrowing, protection and shelter providEd. by the mangrove roots and leaves, less number of predatory animals, etc., make this ecosystem the ideal nursery for the penaeid prawns. But prawn culture in the mangrove region would not only disturb and destroy this ecosystem but also work out to be very expensive or uneconomical. Hence it is advisable to select a flat land close to the mangrove environment which is also suitable in all other aspects for aqua farms rather than the mangrove area itself