May 17, 2006

Indian centre begins commercial shrimp production using new technology

India's State-run Fisheries College and Research Institute (FCRI) in Tamil Nadu has begun commercial production of shrimps using "raceway technology".

The new eco-friendly technology would help produce disease-free shrimps and requires much less water compared to traditional systems, Prof S Felix of Fisheries Biotechnology Centre of the FCRI said.

The method requires just 2,500 litres of water against the traditional method which required 40,000 litres for production of one kg of shrimp.

This was made possible through the high stocking density in the new method-- 2,000 shrimps are reared a square metre compared with 10 shrimps a square metre in the old system.

Green house structure, blowers and state-of-art raceway tanks provide water circulation to prevent accumulation of toxic wastes, he added.

The Indian government is offering up to 75 percent subsidy for the establishment of shrimp farms to entice producers.