By Md. Jahangir Alam Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone Conference 21-23 October 2014, Dhaka, Bangladesh http://waterandfood.org/ganges-conference/

1. Aquaculture production
systems in intertidal areas of
Bangladesh: a review
Md. Jahangir Alam
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh

2. Contents
Introduction
..................................................................................................................................................
4
Importance
of
brackishwater
aquaculture
...............................................................................................
4
Aquacultures
contribution
to
livelihoods
.................................................................................................
8
Historical
development
of
brackishwater
shrimp
farming
in
Bangladesh
..................................................
10
Main
shrimp
farming
areas
.....................................................................................................................
10
Ownership
of
shrimp
farms
....................................................................................................................
11
Historical
development
of
shrimp
production
........................................................................................
11
Brackishwater
aquaculture
practice
...........................................................................................................
13
Cropping
pattern
in
brackishwater
aquaculture
.....................................................................................
13
Shrimp
aquaculture
systems
in
the
coastal
zone
....................................................................................
14
Rice-­‐based
shrimp
farming
.........................................................................................................................
16
The
change
from
rice
to
shrimp
..............................................................................................................
16
Climatic
and
hydrological
suitability
for
rice-­‐shrimp
system
..................................................................
17
Shrimp
farming
in
rotation
with
paddy
...................................................................................................
18
Pre-­‐stocking
management
......................................................................................................................
19
Stocking
of
shrimp
in
rice-­‐shrimp
systems
.............................................................................................
20
Water
quality
..........................................................................................................................................
21
Fertilization
of
ghers
...............................................................................................................................
21
Shrimp
aquaculture
feeds
.......................................................................................................................
22
Health
and
disease
management
...........................................................................................................
23
Production
and
economics
of
shrimp
aquaculture
.....................................................................................
24
Wet
season
rice
cultivation
.........................................................................................................................
29
Rice
varieties
and
production
.................................................................................................................
29
Water
and
nutrient
management
...........................................................................................................
30
Integration
of
aquaculture
with
wet-­‐season
rice
cultivation
in
rice-­‐shrimp
system
..............................
31
Environmental
impact
of
shrimp
farming
...................................................................................................
32
Social
impact
of
shrimp
farming
.................................................................................................................
35
Opportunities
for
increasing
brackishwater
aquaculture
productivity
and
profitability............................
37
Semi-­‐intensive
shrimp
farming
...............................................................................................................
38
iversifica*on
in
brackishwatr
aquaculture
…………-­‐………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..39
Conclusion
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
40
References
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………42

3. Brackishwater
aquaculture:
historical
development
• Farming of shrimp, which is believed to have started in 1829
in the southwest Sundarbans mangrove area (Paul, 1995),
• An age-old practice in the coastal areas of Bangladesh
involving the most traditional way of trapping-holding-
growing shrimp in polyculture with shellfish and finfish
species in tidal and low-lying areas isolated by dykes (locally
called “bheri”).
• Polderization started from early 60s brought an end to
traditional shrimp trapping and holding systems in these
areas (Paul, 1995, Williams, et al., 2003)

4. Brackishwater
aquaculture:
historical
development
• Controlled shrimp (P. monodon) farming within
polders was resumed in early 70s in polders within
the embanked areas (Akhtaruszzaman, et al., 1985).
• Economic importance of shrimp and unviability of
rice production together provided a catalyst for an
accelerated development of shrimp farming within
the polders,
• FW prawn (M. rosenbergii) farming started in early
80s (Abedin et al., 2001).
• Shrimp farming was declared as industry in the 2nd
FYP (1980-85).

5. • In 1979-80, about 19,500 ha of coastal land were under
bagda (P. monodon) and 3,500 ha under golda (M.
rosenbergii) cultivation (Ahmed, 1988).
• BW aquaculture farming area expanded rapidly (DoF, 2011)
• 162% from 1984 to 1997
• 3.19%, from 1997 to 2002
• 58.86% from 2002 to 2010
Brackishwater aquaculture: historical
development
20
87
108
138
141
141
203
217
217
246
276
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Farm
area
(x000)ha)
Financial
Year
107962
202576
29792
65200
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
Area
(ha)
Khulna
Division
ChiLagong
Division
79% shrimp and 21% golda

6. • Shrimp farming is majorly in four coastal districts
• 74% in Khulna region
Brackishwater
aquaculture:
historical
development
Districts
Shrimp
farming
area
(ha)
10-­‐11
Bagda
Golda
Total
Bagerhat
47900
18556
66456
Khulna
35557
13960
50517
Satkhira
60348
7664
68012
Barguna
108
179
287
Barishal
00
686
686
Patuakhali
2478
1733
4211
Pirojpur
420
1440
1860
Cox’s Bazar
62907
00
62907
Khulna,
202576,
74%
Barishal,
7128,
2%
ChiLagon
g,
65200,
24%
Costal
division-­‐wise
shrimp/prawn
farm
area
(ha)
(2010-­‐11)

7. • Farm ownership by absentee operators in larger
ghers (11-37 ha) was common earlier.
• Presently most of the farms (80%) are operated
by the landowners.
• Farm size has been reduced gradually over the
years to an average of 8-10 ha.
Brackishwater
aquaculture:
historical
development

8. • Shrimp (both bagda and golda) production increased over the
period
• The output growth in shrimp production up to 1990s was
mainly the result of the expansion of the farm area.
• Per ha bagda and golda procuction production averaged
approximately 245 and 500 kg/ha, respectively in 2008-09
Brackishwater
aquaculture:
historical
development
14.773
17.889
18.235
18.624
19.489
20.335
23.53
28.302
34.03
46.223
52.272
62.167
63.164
64.647
64.97
65.579
66.703
75.167
82.661
85.51
86.84
94.211
102.854
87.972
124.648
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Produc?on
(x1000
mt)
Financial
Year

9. • Golda production share is increasing
• Production (incidental) of M. monoceros in also increasing
• Finfish production increased from 47839 mt (2008-09) to
60290 mt (2010-11)
Brackishwater
aquaculture:
historical
development
Bagda
(P.
monodon)
51%
Golda
(M.
rosenbergii)
27%
Harina
(M.
monoceros)
12%
Chaka
(P.
indicus)
2%
Other
shrimp/
prawn
8%
Bagda
(P.
monodon)
45%
Golda
(M.
rosenbergii)
32%
Harina
(M.
monoceros)
14%
Chaka
(P.
indicus)
2%
Other
shrimp/
prawn
7%
2008-­‐09
2010-­‐11

10. Shrimp cropping
pattern
Months
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Satkhira
Year-round bagda
Bagda-rice rotation
Khulna
Bagda-rice rotation
Golda-rice integration
Bagerhat
Bagda-rice rotation
Golda-rice integration
Cox’s Bazar
Year-round bagda
Bagda-salt rotation
Legend: Bagda Rice Golda-fish Salt
Brackishwater
aquaculture
prac*ces

11.
Shrimp
aquaculture
produc*on
systems
SHRIMP
CULTURE
SYSTEM
Tradi*onal
extensive
(85%) Semi-­‐intensive
No
Prepara*on
No
fer*liza*on
Mostly
naturally
trapped
seed
PRODUCTION
LEVEL
Improved
extensive
(14%)
Prepara*on
Fer*liza*on
External seed stocking Prepara*on
Fer*liza*on
External
seed
stocking
Feeding
(inconsistent)
Water
management
Prepara*on
&
fer*liza*on
External
seed
stocking
Formulated
feeding
Closed
system
water
management
Aera)on
Low
yield
50-­‐250
kg/ha Medium
yield:
250-­‐750
kg/ha
High
yield
1000-­‐2500
kg/ha

12.
Shrimp-­‐rice
produc*on
system
Modified
ader
DaLa,
2001

13. Dry
season
shrimp
culture
management
in
shrimp-­‐rice
system
Management
measures
Produc?on
Authors
Prepara?on
Stocking
Grow-­‐out
Survival
rate
(%)
Yield
rate
(kg/ha)
• Pond
drying
and
ploughing
• Liming
()
depending
on
soil
pH
• Fer?liza?on:
cow
dung
@
500kg/ha;
MOC
@
100
kg/ha;
TSP-­‐urea
&
35
kg/ha
(3:1
ra?o)
• 2.0
-­‐
2.5/m2
• Single
stocking
• Water
depth
40-­‐100
cm
• Water
exchange
during
new
and
full
moon
• Fer*liza*on
with
urea
and
TSP
()
depending
natural
food
availability.
• No
feeding
39
-­‐
41
231
-­‐
299
Roy
et
al.
(1999)
• Pond
drying
and
ploughing
• Liming
()
depending
on
soil
pH
• Fer?liza?on:
cow
dung
@
500kg/ha;
MOC
@
100
kg/ha;
TSP-­‐urea
&
35
kg/ha
(3:1
ra?o)
• 1.5-­‐1.75/
m2
• Treated
in
100
ppm
formalin
solu*on
for
30
minutes
• Single
stocking
• Water
depth
1-­‐1.2
m
• Water
exchange
during
new
and
full
moon
• Fer*liza*on
@
15
kg/ha
(TSP:Urea=3:1)
ader
each
water
exchange
• Liming
with
CaCO3
@
150-­‐250
kg/ha,
as
and
when
required
49
-­‐
58
334
-­‐
448
Ahmed
et
al.
(1999)
• Pond
drying
and
ploughing
• Applica?on
of
liquid
insec?cides
(thiodan)
at
the
first
water
intake
• Liming
@
67-­‐82
kg/ha
• Fer?liza?on:
cow
dung
@
700-­‐1000
kg/
ha;
MOC
@
35-­‐45
kg/ha;
TSP
@
30-­‐55
kg/ha;
urea
15-­‐20
kg/ha;
DAP
@
30-­‐55
kg/ha
• 1.4
–
2.0/
m2
• Mul*ple
stocking
• Water
exchange
every
4-­‐6
days
at
every
lunar
cycle
• No
fer*liza*on
and
feeding
24
-­‐
25
146
-­‐
153
Alam
and
Phillips
(2004)

14. Management
measures
Produc?on
Authors
Prepara?on
Stocking
Grow-­‐out
Survival
rate
(%)
Yield
rate
(kg/
ha)
• Pond
drying
and
ploughing
• Liming
with
dolomite
@
200-­‐250
kg/ha
• Fer?liza?on:
urea:TSP
(1:1)
@
100
kg/ha
• 1.8
–
2.2/
m2
• Single
stocking
• water
depth
• Water
exchange
at
every
lunar
cycle
• Irregular
inorganic
fer*liza*on
and
feeding
with
rice
bran
in
smaller
(2.32
ha)
and
medium
(6.13
ha)
ghers
• No
fer*liza*on
in
larger
(54.24
ha)
ghers
• Smaller
ghers:
37-­‐
71
• Medium
gher:
35-­‐39
• Larger
ghers:
7-­‐24
• Smaller
ghers:
164-­‐277
• Medium
gher:
155-­‐164
• Larger
ghers:
29-­‐121
Islam
et
al.
(2005)
Milstein
et
al.
(2005)
• Pond
drying
• Liming
with
CaCO3
@
250
kg/ha
• Applica?on
of
Fostoxin
(1
tb/210c2
at
first
water
intake
• Fer?liza?on
with
TSP
and
urea
(2:1)
@
35
kg/ha
• 2.6
-­‐
3.6/
m2
• Single
stocking
• Water
depth
83-­‐95
cm.
• Applica*on
of
lime
@
50
kg/ha,
as
required
• Fer*liza*on
with
TSP
and
urea
(2:1)
@
30
kg/ha,
as
required
• Feeding
with
prepared
diets
63-­‐74
400-­‐533
Islam
and
Alam
(2008)
• Peripheral
canal
of
1.5
m
depth
• Pond
drying
• Liming
with
CaO
@
250
kg/ha
• Applica?on
of
Fostoxin
(1
tb/20t
of
water)
at
first
water
intake
• Fer?liza?on
with
urea
@
1
ppm;
TSP
@
2
ppm
and
MP
&
0.5
ppm
• 3.0/m2
• Single
stocking
• Water
depth
31-­‐44
cm
• Water
exchange
as
required
• Applica*on
of
0.6-­‐0.8
ppm
dolomite
at
every
12
days
• Applica*on
of
urea
@
0.5-­‐1.0
ppm,
TSP
@
1.0-­‐1.2
ppm
and
MP
@
0.3-­‐0.4
ppmFeeding
with
prepared
diets
25
32
168-­‐226
Islam
et
al.
(2009)

15. Dry
season
shrimp
culture
management
in
shrimp-­‐rice
system
Management
measures
Produc?on
Authors
Prepara?on
Stocking
Grow-­‐out
Survival
rate
(%)
Yield
rate
(kg/
ha)
• Drying
• Liming
with
CaO
@
250
kg/ha
• Bleaching(@
25
ppm)
at
first
water
intake
• Fer?liza?on:
TSP
@
3
ppm
and
urea
@
2.5
ppm
• 3.0
–
5.0/
m2
• Single
and
double
stocking
• Water
depth
45-­‐80
cm
• No
regular
water
exchange,
but
replenishment
of
any
loss
• Applica*on
of
7-­‐8
ppm
dolomite,
1.25
ppm
urea
and
1.5
ppm
TSP
at
every
15
days
interval
• Feeding
with
commercial
diet
27-­‐36
162-­‐584
Alam
et
al.
(2010)
• Pond
drying
• Liming
with
CaCO3
@
250
kg/ha
• Applica?on
of
Fostoxin
(1
tb/210c2
at
first
water
intake
• Fer?liza?on
with
TSP
and
urea
(2:1)
@
35
kg/
ha
•
• 3.0/
m2
• Single
stocking
• Water
depth
83-­‐95
cm.
• Applica*on
of
agricultural
lime
@
250
kg/ha
ader
every
raining
• Fer*liza*on
with
TSP
and
urea
(2:1)
@
30
kg/ha,
as
required
• Zeolite
gold
@
50
kg/ha
and
Gasonex
@
0.5
kg/ha
• Feeding
with
prepared
diets
58-­‐73
417
–
615
Islam
and
Mahmud
(2010)

16.
Wet
season
rice
cul*va*on
• Jotabalam, Ghunshi, Hokoz - local varieties mostly
cultivated in the shrimp farms.
• Yield varies from 1-2 t/ha
• Under the CP#10 project HYVs viz., BR-23,
BRRIdhan-40, BRRIdhan-41 yielded 4-5 t/ha
• Not much nutrient application. However, in shrimp-
based rice farming, application of urea (N) at the rate of
75 kg and TSP (P) 37.5 kg/ha after 24 and 60 days of
transplanting respectively, has been recommended.
• Under CP#10 project, the benefit of integrating
aquaculture with rice cultivation has been
demonstrated.

17. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Wet seasonDry season
Gher
preparation
• Water depth- 60-80 cm
• Single stocking:
@ 3-5/m²
• Yield: 350-550 kg/ha
• NR: 0.75-1.00 lakh/ha
(1:1.9)
Golda
GIFT
5,000-10,000/ha
at 1:1 ratio
Yield:
• Rice: 4-5 t/ha.
• Fish: 200-250 kg/ha
• Prawn: 70-90 kg/ha
Seedling
Bagda
Rice
Improved rice (aman)-shrimp system
HYVs: BR 23/40/41

18. 68,337a
48,908b
43,160b
Control
11.69
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
June
July
August
Net
return
('ooo
Tk./ha)
Prawn
stocking
?me
Prawn
GIFT
Rice
37.90
45.50
67.50
13.29b
23.30a24.64a
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
RG RGP RP SS DS3/2 DS2/3
Culture treatments
Netprofit(,000Tk./ha)
AC
Dry season shrimp
Improved rice (aman)-shrimp system
• Advancing the stocking of prawn can provide
farm net returns of about 300% higher than is
the case with the wet season rice crop that
was currently practiced

19. Characteristics of different shrimp production systems that
are presently being practiced in south-west region of
Bangladesh (Adapted from Joffre et al., 2010)
Framing
Characteristics
Shrimp monoculture Rice and
shrimp
rotation
Rice-
aquaculture
and shrimp
rotation
Extensive Semi-
intensive
Pond size (ha) 1-40 1-2 1-5 1-5
Mean stocking
rate (ind/m2)
1-3 5-15 1-3 1-3
Input use Lime, fertilizer Pellet feeds,
water
treatment
Lime, fertilizer Lime, fertilizer
Yield (kg/ha) 10-380
(av. 242)
49-2067
(av. 1058)
Rice:
1000-3000
Shrimp:
73-268(av.
160)
Rice:
1000-3000
Fish: 10-50
Shrimp: 73-268
(av. 160)

20. Freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii)
farming
• Prawn aquaculture, which is widely adopted in Bagerhat
and Khulna districts.
• Spreading to other south and central coastal zones
namely Jessore, Patuakhali and greater Noakhali districts
(Abedin et al., 2000).
• Mostly practiced in an integrated manner with filter-feeding
carps, paddy and growing of vegetables on the pond dyke.
• Integrated prawn-rice-fish-vegetables cycle begins in May/
June, with stocking of prawn PL and fish fingerlings,
followed by planting of boro rice in January (Williums and
Khan, 2001; Azad et al., 2005).

21. Freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii)
farming
• Prawn aquaculture, which is widely adopted in Bagerhat
and Khulna districts.
• Spreading to other south and central coastal zones
namely Jessore, Patuakhali and greater Noakhali districts
(Abedin et al., 2000).
• Mostly practiced in an integrated manner with filter-feeding
carps, paddy and growing of vegetables on the pond dyke.
• Integrated prawn-rice-fish-vegetables cycle begins in May/
June, with stocking of prawn PL and fish fingerlings,
followed by planting of boro rice in January (Williums and
Khan, 2001; Azad et al., 2005).

22. • Techniques available for increased production by adoption
of improved to semi-intensive farming system
• Approximately 20,000 ha are suitable for semi-intensive
farming (BFFEA , 2001)
Modified closed system (Saha et al. 2006-07)
• Stocking density 9-15/sqm; yield rate of 1250 – 1885 kg/ha
with FCR 1.4-1.6 and net return of Tk. 0.2 million/cycle
Modified improved culture
• Stocking density 5-9/sqm; yield rate 670-759 kg/ha with
2.15-2.4 and net return Tk. 0.07 – 0.15 million (Laif and
Alam, 2008)
• Stocking density 5/sqm; yield rate 667-811 kg/ha (Saha et
al., 2008)
Opportuni*es
for
increased
produc*vity

23. Species diversification in shrimp farming
• Success in captive breeding and seed
production of Mystus gulio, locally called “nona
tengra” (Alam et al., 2006; Alam et al., 2007b).
• Shrimp-tilapia (GIFT/monosex) mixed and/or
rotational (Alam et al., 2008; Saha et al., 2009)
• Shrimp-Pangas-tilapia polyculture (BFRI, 2007)
• Shrimp-mud crab biculture (Momtaz et al., 2007;
Momtaz et al., 2010)
Opportuni*es
for
increased
produc*vity

24. Environmental impact of shrimp farming
Two major
environmental
issues: are
addressed:
clearing of
mangroves for
farm
development and
coastal land
degradation due
to salinization.
Area Location Total area of mangrove (ha) Total loss
(ha)1975 1983 1999
South-west SRF 600,386 600,386 600,386 -
South-east Chakaria 8,512 4,758 411 8,54
Maiskhali Island 1,645 n/a 2,773 290
Matabar Island 125 n/a 315 104
Jaliardwip Island 140 146 13 133
Naf River 667 n/a - 667
Total: 613,470 n/a 605,897 9,734
Loss
of
mangrove
areas
in
Bangladesh
aLributed
to
shrimp
culture
(Shahid
and
Islam,
2002)
• There are reports that shrimp farming is not solely
responsible for increased soil salinity.
• Reduction in upstream freshwater flows, together with
changes in siltation patterns and extensive groundwater
extraction has had a much more profound effect on the
salinity increase in coastal region (Huntington, 2003).

25. Environmental impact of shrimp farming
• Degraded soil qualities due to 5-15 years of
continuous shrimp farming in the areas were
minimized with the beginning of present rice–
shrimp rotation practices (Ali, 2006)
• Shrimp pond effluents impact on surrounding water
quality is not yet a primary issue of concern
(Bergheim et al., 2002).
• Biodiversity loss has been minimized through
adequate supply of hatchery bred shrimp PL
• Water quality problem – mainly due to shallow (<60
cm) water depth.

26. Social impact of shrimp farming
• Literature available on social issues highlighting negative
social consequences : land and water use conflict, income
inequality, displacement of small and marginal farmers, etc.
(Ahmad,1996; Alauddin and Tisdell, 1998; Begum and
Alam, 2000)
• Positive social benefits are also recognized : mobility and
diversification of the sources of income, increased
employment, greater household food security, education
and health facilities, communication, etc (Begum and Alam,
2000; Pokrant and Bhuiyan, 2001)
• With the gradual but widespread increase in owner
occupation, reduction in gher size and operation, paddy
farmer vs shrimp farmers conflict has much been reduced
Huttington, 2003).

27. Social impact of shrimp farming
• With the gradual but widespread increase in owner
occupation, reduction in gher size and operation, paddy
farmer vs shrimp farmers conflict has much been reduced
Huttington, 2003).
Negative consequences (Ahmad,
1996; Alauddin and Tisdell, 1998;
Begum and Alam, 2000)
Positive consequences
(Begum and Alam, 2000; Pokrant and
Bhuiyan, 2001)
Land and water use conflict
Income inequality
Displacement of small and marginal
farmers
Violence, etc.
Mobility and diversification of the
sources of income
Increased employment
Greater household food security
Education and health facilities
Communication, etc

28. Sectorial linkage and livelihoods
(Alauddin
and
Hamid,
1998).
More than 600,000 people iengaged in activities related to
shrimp aquaculture (Alam and Phillips , 2004) ; 25% are
women

29. Conclusion
• The future development challenge in brackishwater
aquaculture should focus on :
• Multidisciplinary empirical R&D to explore the
development prospects of regulated shrimp
cultivation protecting environment and
agriculture.
• Assessment of the carrying capacity of different
areas of coastal zones for the production and
shrimp and rice.
• Identification area/zone specific farming pattern.

30. Conclusion
• Improvement of land-water management system
are of prime importance to setting R&D strategies.
• Supply and value chain at each level of production
and marketing for greater benefit of producers and
consumers as well.
• Policy guidelines with flexibility to respond
effectively to changes in different variables that
determine success and failure of shrimp farming.