Operation plan: Back to the black tiger shrimp

Culture models to revitalise its farming in the Philippines

Dr Leobert D de la Pena shared information on hatchery operations. Only disease-free post larvae tested at all three stages (PL5, PL10 and PL15) are stocked into ponds.

During the 11th Philippines Shrimp Congress in 2017, Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Centre Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) Chief Dan Baliao introduced the “Oplan Balik Sugpo” program, a joint effort with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to bring back Penaeus monodon farming. Similar to other countries in Southeast Asia, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) decimated its farming in 1997. Production hovered at around 40,000 tonnes for several years (Mamauag et al., 2021) and led to the introduction of Penaeus vannamei farming in 2007. Industry estimated only 5,000 tonnes were produced in 2020, in contrast with 55,000 tonnes of vannamei shrimp (Hipon, 2021). Despite this much larger production of the vannamei shrimp, in Japan, the Philippines is still identified with the monodon shrimp. The aim of this program is to develop eco-friendly culture models, with enhanced biosecurity and proactive disease monitoring at hatcheries to encourage farmers to venture again into monodon shrimp farming. At the virtual 13th Philippines Shrimp Congress held from November 9-12, Dr Leobert D de la Pena, Head, Research Division, AQD, described the hatchery operations at the monodon shrimp spawner/broodstock facility in Iloilo. “In disease monitoring of broodstock, WSSV was prevalent in wild broodstock at almost 60% in 2020. Hatcheries then screen post larvae at PL5, PL10 and PL15 stages and only disease-free post larvae tested at all three stages are stocked into ponds. PL18-20 are transported for growout at the Dumangas Brackishwater Station in Iloilo.”

Dr Roger Edward P Mamauag described the success to date in grow-out using lowwater exchange.

Dr Roger Edward P Mamauag, Head Technology Verification and Extension Division, AQD said, “We use three ponds ranging from 5,000 to 7,000m2 for grow-out and two ponds of the same size as reservoirs. We keep water in reservoir ponds for at least a week before use. Water salinity is 1820ppt since lower salinity prevents the growth of luminous bacteria.”

The environmentally friendly farming protocol includes the use of biomanipulators in reservoir ponds – milkfish, grey mullet and all male saline tilapia. These help to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. Grow-out ponds have central sludge collectors. Biofilters in the sedimentation ponds include mussels, oysters and seaweeds. Mamauag also discussed the use of substrates to reduce negative effects of high stocking densities as well as provide larger surface areas, maintain water quality and act as a food source. These are installed during the first 45-50 days of culture.

At a stocking density of 20-25 PL/m2, the average body weight (ABW) was 30g at 113-120 days of culture (DOC) in 2019 and 28g at DOC 121 in 2020. In 2021, at a stocking density of 15-20 PL/m2, ABW was 29-30g at DOC 123126. Overall, crop yields were high at 4.5 to 5.6 tonnes/ ha and survival rates ranged from 85% to 93%. In 2020, BFAR registered 771 monodon shrimp farms. According to Maria Abegail A. Albaladejo, Chief, Fisheries Planning and Economics Division, BFAR, the goal is a steady increase of 1,000 tonnes annually, from 2021 to 2025 and subsequently, 2,000 tonnes annually.

Mamauag concluded that the long-term plan is to focus on disease diagnostics, vaccine and specific pathogen free (SPF) broodstock development. BFAR will have a broodstock multiplication centre for the vannamei shrimp at its new hatchery complex in Mindoro and the plan is also to include the monodon shrimp. The panel at the hatchery and nursery session, led by Dr Emilia Tobias Quinito, stressed that the Philippines should not give up farming its indigenous monodon shrimp as the demand is for large shrimp. Furthermore, countries like India are resuming monodon shrimp farming using SPF broodstock such as from Moana.

Source: SEAFDEC/AQDsource: SEAFDEC/AQD

More information: Mamauag, R.E, Dan Baliao, D., dela Cruz, J.M. 2021. Black Tiger Shrimp Culture Rejuvenation: the OPLAN Balik Sugpo of SEAFDEC/AQD. Volume 19 Number 2: 2021. repository.seafdec.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12066/6694/Black-tigerMore information: Mamauag, R.E, Dan Baliao, D., dela Cruz, J.M. shrimp.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 2021. Black Tiger Shrimp Culture Rejuvenation: the OPLAN Balik Sugpo of SEAFDEC/AQD. Volume 19 Number 2: 2021. repository. seafdec.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12066/6694/Black-tigershrimp.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y