June 29, 2010

 

Australian scientists breed record-yielding black tiger shrimp species

 

 

After eight generations of selective breeding, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) scientists and Australia's aquaculture industry have bred a black tiger shrimp that's producing record yields.

 

One of CSIRO's partners, Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture, this year produced average yields of 17.5 metric tons per hectare, more than double the industry average. Several ponds produced 20 tonnes per hectare and one produced a record yield of 24.2 tonnes per hectare.

 

With about 50% of all shrimp sold in Australia currently imported, developing an Australian shrimp that breeds in captivity and is completely sustainable is a major gain for both the local shrimp industry and consumers seeking Australian seafood, said CSIRO.

 

If the rest of the Australian black tiger shrimp industry adopted the new breeding technology, Australia's annual shrimp production could increase from 5,000 tonnes to 12,500 tonnes, adding A$120 million (US$105 million) annually to the industry's value by 2020.

 

"The new shrimp's yield has exceeded all our expectations. The average industry productivity for farmed shrimp is only five tons per hectare, so this year's average yield of 17.5 tonnes per hectare is a major leap forward," said Dr. Nigel Preston, leader of the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship shrimp research project.

 

Preston noted that these huge yields can be replicated year after year, which means consistent supply of a reliable and high quality product -- all vital factors for the long-term growth and prosperity of the Australian shrimp farming industry.