Objectives:
1. Development of sustainable and biosecured shrimp farming practices in Texas
and Korea.
2. Evaluation of the reproductive performance of Fenneropenaeus chinensis in
closed recirculating system.
3. Evaluate the feasibility of producing the Fenneropenaeus chinensis in Texas.
Attached is a short summary of the trip activities:
Left Corpus Christi, Texas on July 14, 2003 arrived Incheon, South Korea on the night of the July 15.
7/16 – Visited the West Sea Research Institute and Fenneropenaeus chinensis
shrimp farm. This farm had few earthen ponds and two
HDPE-lined ponds that were built with fund from NFRDI through Dr. Jang. Few
days before our visit, mass shrimp mortality was observed in the
earthen ponds. This shrimp mortality was attributed to the white spot syndrome
virus outbreak. As the HDPE-lined ponds were stocked with
WSSV-free postlarvae and because these ponds were maintained with very little
water exchange, no shrimp mortality was observed in these ponds.
In a meeting with the owner, we discussed different aspects associated with
the operation of ponds with limited water discharge with an
emphasis on the tolerance of the shrimp to high levels of ammonia and nitrite.
7/17 - Visited the Taean Marine Hatchery Lab. During this visit we had reviewed
the management and the system setting used by the staff.
Recommendations were made in terms of improving growth and survival in the nursery
phase with minimal water exchange. In addition, some
modifications were made to improve spermatophore transfer and egg fertilization
rates in a broodstock population of Litopenaeus vannamei
that was kept at the facility. An immediate improvement in spermatophore transfer
and fertilization rates was observed the
following day. Two slide presentations was given to the staff: one dealt with
the use of intensive nursery system with limited discharge
and the other on the use of closed recirculating system for induced maturation
of penaeid shrimp species.
7/18 - Visited several shrimp farms that use earthen ponds. In a discussion following the visit the importance of using biosecure practices with limited discharge was emphasized.
7/19 – Visited a shrimp hatchery that maintained a viral pathogen free
broodstock population of Litopenaeus vannamei imported from Hawaii.
This population was kept in a flow through system without treating the incoming
water to avoid introduction of viral-pathogen. In a discussion
with the owner following the visit, the significance of using closed recirculating
system for induced maturation was emphasized.
Recommendations were made to reduce the number of airstones in the maturation
tanks to improve reproductive performance. In addition the
owner agreed to convert several of his flow-maturation tanks to be operated
in a closed recirculating mode.
7/21 - Visited the NFRDI. Meetings with the General Director (Dr. Yeon Kang),
the Director of the Aquaculture Division, the Director of
Aquaculture, and the Head of the Training Department. In all these meetings
we discussed the use of sustainable and biosecure shrimp
production systems and the potential for expending the cooperation between TAES,
Texas A&M University and NFDRI. I gave a departmental
seminar on sustainable shrimp farming practices. A guest lecture was given with
Dr. In Kwon Jang via video teleconference to shrimp producers
and extension personnel on the use of biosecurity and sustainable practices
to minimize crop losses.
7/23-7/26: Traveled to Haikou, China. Visited a fully integrated biosecured shrimp farm that used closed recirculating induced maturation system, larval rearing, intensive nursery system and HDPE-lined grow-out ponds.
7/27 Visited RAS used for growing F. chinensis. Recommendations were made to improve system performance in terms of water treatment, feeding and management.
7/28 - A departmental seminar at the West Sea Research Institute: Development of sustainable shrimp farming with limited discharge.”
7/29 - Return to Corpus Christi, Texas.
Summary:
In light of the major losses suffered by shrimp farmers in Korea due to viral
disease outbreak it was obvious that in order for this industry to
survive a biosecure and sustainable shrimp production methods have to be adopted.
Conceptual designs for closed recirculating induced maturation
system and intensive nursery raceway system were discussed with Dr. In Kwon
Jang. One commercial hatchery was interested in converting part of
its flow through maturation tanks into a closed recirculating system. Owners
of a recirculating aquaculture system agreed to implement few
modifications in their system to improve production. In addition they have expressed
an interest in using the limited discharge system for
nursery. It was decided that the final conceptual designs for closed recirculating
system for the production of marketable size shrimp would
be finalized after visiting few facilities in the U.S.
As for future cooperation, we have discussed potential ways to increase cooperation
between NFDRI, TAES-SMRF and Texas A&M University-Corpus
Christi. Among the different options discussed were students and researchers
exchange programs, organizing seminars, and training programs.
With respect to the introduction of the Fenneropenaeus chinensis to Texas:
Although it was agreed that because of its cold tolerance, this
species can be used for a second crop production during the cold months of the
year, at this time Texas Parks and Wildlife will not authorize
the introduction of this species into coastal zone. Because of this limitation,
the species cannot be kept at the research facility of the
TAES in Corpus Christi or in Port Aransas. Under these circumstances any research
to be done with this species will have to take place
inland. We will try to identify funding sources that will enable us to evaluate
the reproductive performance and the growth potential of this
species in West Texas.