This document discusses shrimp hatchery production in India. It provides details on the site selection criteria for hatcheries, including the need for clean seawater supply and accessibility. It describes the typical layout of hatchery systems and production process from broodstock development and maturation to larval and postlarval rearing. By the early 2000s, India had over 1500 hatcheries producing shrimp and fish seeds to meet the growing demand from aquaculture.

1. Hatchery production prawn
seeds
Sameer G. Chebbi
Industrial Fish and Fisheries
Dept. of Zoology
Karnatak Science College, Dharwad

2. Introduction
• India has 1.24 million hector of brackish water area suitable for fish
and shrimp culture of which some area is exclusively under shrimp
farming.
• A rapid development appears in Indian in shrimp culture.
• For this rapid changing scenario, requirement of shrimp seed has
become many folds increased.
• Natural collection of shrimp seed is also limited, which big gap
between the demand and supply of seeds from natural water
bodies.
• This leads to establish commercial hatcheries for production of more
seed under controlled environment.
• The Andra Pradesh Shrimp Seed Production Supply and Research
Centre (TASPARC) at Mangamaripeta near Visakhapatnam and
Orissa Shrimp Seed Production Supply and Research Centre
(OSPARC) at Gopalpur in Oridsia state were the first two
commercial shrimp hatcheries started functioning in India.
• By the 2000, in India there 100 hatchereis producing seeds in mass
scale.
• Many maritime states of India has now more than 1500 hatcheries
producing the seeds of prawn and fishes.

3. Introduction
• Hatchery, as an initial phase in prawn culture, has
become an indispensable step to meet the growing fry
requirement of the industry.
• The first larval rearing techniques were adopted from the
Japanese method utilizing large tanks (Shigueno 1975).
• The use of small tanks was later introduced following the
Galveston method (Mock & Murphy 1971).
• Through the years, considerable progress in the
development of a prawn hatchery technology has been
achieved.
• A much improved and simplified technology which could
be easily adopted by prawn growers was in recent year
by developed at SEAFDEC(AQUACULTURE
DEPARTMENT SOUTHEAST ASIAN FISHERIES
DEVELOPMENT CENTER).
• The techniques may be modified depending on the
problems encountered in a specific site.

4. Brackishwater of India

5. • The number of shrimp hatcheries in India
increased rapidly from the late 1980s to
the early 2000s.
• In the 2002–2003 production year,
approximately 300 hatcheries, mostly in
the state of Andhra Pradesh, used an
estimated 200,000 broodstock to produce
10 billion postlarvae.

6. Number and Production Capacity of Shrimp Hatcheries in India by State
State Penaeus monodon Macrobrachium sp. Total
Number
Capacity
(in
millions)
Number
Capacity
(in
millions)
Number
Capacity
(in
millions)
Andhra Pradesh 148 7,882 43 1,453 191 9,335
West Bengal 2 100 9 66 11 166
Orissa 13 455 2 20 15 475
Kerala 22 484 7 53 29 537
Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry
73 2,863 8 215 81 3,078
Karnataka 13 301 0 0 13 301
Gujarat 2 45 0 0 2 45
Goa 1 20 0 0 1 20
Maharashtra 6 325 2 20 8 345
Totals 280 12,457 71 1,827 351 14,302

7. • Although there are 30 shrimp hatcheries in
Andhra Pradesh equipped with PCR
laboratories, only a few screen the broodstock
for whitespot.
• Random checking is performed by selecting one
or two individuals from a batch of 50–60
broodstock.
• Wild-caught broodstock is the only source of
shrimp seed.
• Studies indicate that about a quarter of wild-
caught spawners are infected with the whitespot
virus.
• Moreover, quality appears to vary with the
season, and there are some indications that
average size has become smaller and quality
poorer.

8. Shrimp Farming Potential, Usage and Production in India
State Potential Area for Shrimp Farming
Area Under
Culture
Production
(Metric Tons)
Production
(Metric Tons Per Hectare Per Year
Andhra Pradesh 150,000 69,640 53,124 0.76
West Bengal 405,000 49,925 29,714 0.60
Orissa 31,000 12,116 12,390 1.02
Kerala 65,000 14,029 6,641 0.46
Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry
56,800 3,214 6,070 1.91
Karnataka 8,000 3,085 1,830 0.59
Gujarat 376,000 1,013 1,510 1.49
Goa 18,500 963 700 0.73
Maharashtra 80,000 615 981 1.60
Totals 1,190,900 154,600 112,780 0.73

9. Site Selection for Hatchery

11. Layout of a small-scale hatchery system.

12. Site selection criteria for a hatchery
• Careful evaluation of various criteria should be conducted before deciding on the site
of a hatchery. The principal criteria are the following:
• 1. Seawater quality and quantity. Seawater with minimum seasonal fluctuation in
quality is most desirable. It should not be affected by inland discharges containing
agricultural runoff or industrial wastes. Turbidity should be as low as possible.
Adequate volume of seawater should be available when needed. The best method to
determine the suitability of sea water for larval rearing is to conduct preliminary larval
rearing experiments using pails or small tanks on the site. The production of
postlarvae with reasonable survival rate from eggs in a series of at least three runs
would indicate the likelihood of success in actual operations.
• 2. Source of spawners. Whether the spawners to be used in the hatchery are
matured by means of eyestalk ablation in tanks, cages or pens, or caught from the
wild, it is most desirable for a hatchery site to be near the source of spawners for a
constant supply. Although there are existing techniques of transporting spawners over
long distances, the quality of eggs may be greatly affected by the transport stress.
• 3. Road accessibility. The hatchery should be accessible by road for convenience in
transporting supplies and other necessities for the hatchery operations. This can also
minimize transport problems in the distribution of the postlarvae to be reared in ponds
far from the hatchery.
• 4. Availability of electric power. Electrical power is necessary for the life support
system in the hatchery. Although an independent generating unit is desirable as a
standby, it is cumbersome for the hatchery staff to operate on a continuous basis.
• 5. Fresh water source. The need for fresh water is minimal but an adequate supply
is essential for miscellaneous activities and personal needs of hatchery staff.
• 6. Availability of technical staff. The technical expertise necessary for hatchery
management at this stage is still rare. More incentives should be provided for
technical staff recruitment.

13. Larval rearing tank

14. Penaeus monodon maturation tank

15. Penaeus monodon female brood
stock selection

16. Penaeus monodon spawning tank

17. Penaeus monodon brood stock
rearing tanks

18. Site selection
• The location of a shrimp hatchery should satisfy following requirements,
• Sea water supply
• The seawater used in hatchery should be clean, clear and relatively free
from slit.
• The water generally should be good with minimum fluctuations in salinity all
year round.
• Suitable site are usually found near sandy or rocky shores.
• Sites, which are not suitable for hatchery, include areas, which are heavily
influenced by rain or turbulence.
• River mouth should be avoided as abrupt salinity changes occurs after a
heavy rainfall.
• An added advantage of having a site on rocky shores is that good quality
sea water is relatively near the shore line.
• This reduces the cost piping installation and pumping.
• The hatchery site should also be free from any inland water discharges
containing agricultural and industrial wastes.
• The seawater with temp 28 to 32 C salinity 28-34 ppt, pH 7.7-8.2 and
suspended solid below 20ppm, is required.

19. Accessibility
• Ideally, a hatchery site should be selected
in areas where there are active shrimp
farming operation so that the seed
produced can be easily transported and
distributed to the grow-out ponds.
• The site chosen for a hatchery must have
an easy access to communication and
transportations channels.

20. Topography
• The ideal site should be spacious, situated
on flat to gently sloping grounds, well
drained and not susceptible of floods,
strong wave and tidal actions.
• It should be on compact soil and
accessible by paved road.

21. Availability of power sources
• A shrimp hatchery cannot be operated without
electricity.
• Electricity is essential to provide the necessary
power to run equipment and other life support
system of the hatchery.
• Hence, the site must have a reliable source of
power.
• Installation of a standby generator is absolutely
necessary especially in areas where there are
frequent and /or lengthy power failures and
fluctuation or without power supply.

22. Other requirements
• The stable quality of fresh water is essential.
• There must be a source of broodstock of the
farm for brood stock development nearer to the
hatchery.
• Availability of technical hands and skilled labours
are also needed.
• It is also advisable to pay attention to land
values early in the site selection phase to ensure
that the site is available for purchase or lease
and at a price consistent with the project budget.

23. Classification of Hatcheries
• The hatcheries are classified into four
categories:
• Backyard Hatcheries: these hatcheries can
produce 1-2 million seeds per year.
• Small Scale Hatcheries: these hatcheries can
produce upto 10 million seeds per year.
• Medium-scale Hatcheries: these produce 10-40
million seeds per year.
• Large Scale Hatcheries: the hatcheries, which
produce more the 40 million seed per year
called large-scale hatchery.

24. Sea Water Intake and Filtration Unit
• Generally pure seawater is drawn from the sea by a
pumping unit through filter.
• The filter is made up of different layer of sand, pebbles
and granite throughout which the water is drawn into a
pvc pipes having slit opening.
• This is called slow sand filter. The rapid sand filters are
also available in the market now a days.
• The water is pumped up into chlorination unit and then
dechlorination unit. These tanks are of RCC from there,
water is pumped into the over head tank and located at
an elevated level adequate enough to flow the water to
the hatchery by gravity.

25. Aeration Unit
• Oil free air compressor is required in the
hatchery to ensure oxygen supply for
maturation rearing and related system.
• A pair of positive displacement blowers
are required for a 10 million seed
hatchery.
• The air supply grid with pvc pipes is
connected for all the facilities.

26. Power Supply Unit
• The power requirement varies depending
upon the capacity and type of hatchery.
• A 10 million/annum capacity hatchery
needs around 80kw power supply.
• A stand by generator to combat power
failure with the alternative power supply is
required.

27. Brood stock development and
maintenance unit
• The maturation tank used in hatchery is generally of 10-
16 tones capacity, round or rectangular with oval shape
inside.
• A 50 mm diameter pvc stand pike regulated the water
flow during cent percent water exchange.
• The maturation unit should be sound proof.
• A photo-period of 12 h light; 12 h dark is maintained in
maturation unit.
• Diffused illumination for 12 h a day is provided by
fluorescent light of 40 watt each suspended at 1 m
above the tank.
• The total lighting stimulated like a deep sea environment
for breeding.

28. Spawning and Hatching Unit
• Spawning and hatching unit can be
combined with the maturation shed, free
from dirt.
• FRP tanks or 250 liter capacity are
generally used to spawn the mature
female.
• These tanks should be aerated well and
water quality should be maintented very
well.

29. Larval rearing unit
• The larval rearing section is one of the main
area of activity.
• The tanks used are either parabolic shape and
cement construction of cylindro-conical or round
flat bottom and made of FRP material.
• RCC tanks may also be used and capacity of
tanks differs from 2 tons to 10 tons water.
• Each tank has one out let with maximum slope
drawn to wards the out let which enables to
drain out even the last drop of bottom water.
• Aeration from air grid is provided in each tank
and throughout water supply unit treated sea
water is filled in larval rearing tank.
• The inner surface of the tank is painted with
green apoxy paint.

30. Post Larval Rearing Unit
• The hatcheries having indoor post larval rearing
facility use cemented tanks either of rectangular
flat bottom or parabolic ‘U’ shape of which the
latter is most efficient.
• The capacity varies from 20 to 30 tones of water
holding capacity.
• The inner surface of the tank is coated with good
apoxy resign painted of fiber coating for
maintaining better hygienic condition.
• The post larval unit (PL) is also well connected
with water and aeration system.

31. Algal culture Unit
• Algal section has got two wings that is indoor
algal section and outdoor algal section.
• Indoor section is completely air conditioned for
culture of algea.
• As the space is indoor air condition algal unit is
limited, 20 liters to 200 liters carbouoys are
shifted to out door algal culture section.
• For mass culture 1 to 6 ton cemented tank or
200 liters FRP tanks may also used.

32. Artemia Hatching Unit
• For hatching of Artemia cyst 200-500 liter
capacity FRP cylindro-conical shaped tank
having bottom drain facility with a side
glass window is needed.
• Continuous aeration and 40w light fixed at
20 cm above the tank are provided.

33. Counting and Packing Unit
• For counting, packing and transportation of
seeds a separate section is engaged. Now a
days is just an open shed.
• All these together around 130 sq. meter ground
area per million seed.
• A totally indoor rearing facility of the hatchery will
need 50-70 sq. meter area per million built up
space, in a hatchery shed protected by walls and
roofed with asbestos sheet inter-spred with
translucent FRP sheet for lighting.

34. Nursery rearing
• The larval rearing is one of the most sensitive activity. Larval
rearing in each tanks is separately monitored.
• The nauplii from the spawning tank collected in the harvesting
bucket is estimated for population using sampling method
before stocking.
• Mean values of atleast three samples of 50ml from the bucket
is considered for the estimation.
• The nauplii are stocked in larval rearing tanks normally 60 to
100 number per liter.
• The larvae are reared upto PL4/PL5 for about 15 days clean
healthy environment is needed for the rearing which is
maintained through water exchange daily for zoea stage.
• The feed are provided Arrtemia nauplii and micro algae. The
survival rate upto PL state is bout 50 percent.
• When the attack of any disease occur, antibiotics and other
medicines of aquatic grade are used.

35. • Post larval rearing is done upto PL20 stage
which takes about 20days PL20 is then
harvested for selling.
• Post larvae of good quality, active and healthy
are stocked in the indoor PL rearing tanks 25-50
PL/Liter and 8-10 in outdoor PL rearing tanks.
• Algal feeding is continued at 50,000/ml
concentration.
• Artemia nauplii is added 2 nauplii PL. in addition
egg is given up to PL5. from PL6 and above
pleted feed is give at 2-3 percent per day.
• If any disease problem is seen, the post larvae
are feed with antibiotic with egg lusted or aquatic
grade antibiotic or medicines are directly
applied.

36. Transportation of Prawn seed• Packing of seeds:
• Polythene bags of 15-20 liters capacity are used for packing of
prawn see.
• The corners of the plastic bags are rounded off with the help of
rubber bands so as to prevent the prawn seed from getting trapped
during packing.
• For filling the plastic bags, the water from the post larval tank is
used.
• The use of new water is avoided for packing. If new water is used,
most of the post larvae will moult during transportation with
consequent losses through canniblism.
• In order to provide shelter to post-larvae, a few 10 mm plastic thread
should be placed in the bags.
• The avoid cannibalism of post larvae during long distance
transportations post larvae are fed with like feed such as Artemia
properly, the post larvae in appropriate densities (75 PL/125 L)
depending on the distance of transportations.

37. • After placing post-larvae the air present in
the bag is removed by folding it and
remaining 2/3 of the bag is filled with
oxygen by inserting the oxygen supply
pipe in the water from oxygen cylinder.
• This helps in saturation of dissolved
oxygen in the water.
• The bag is then sealed tightly with a
rubber band.
• For very long distance, the ploythene bags
are placed in a insulated containers.

38. • Hatchery production of seed in prawns
• Life Cycle
• The eggs are demersal and tend to sink
while larvae are Planktonic.
• • Prawn larva thrives mainly offshore and
undergoes three main stages: nauplius,
protozoea, and mysis.
• • At the postlarval and juvenile stages, the
prawn migrates toward the estuary.

39. • As it grows, it starts moving to the shallow
coastal waters. The adult prawn inhabits
the open sea.
• Sexes are separate and can be easily
distinguished through the external
genitalia located at the ventral side. The
thelycum in females and petasma in
males.
• During mating, the male deposits the
spermatophore inside the thelycum of the
female.

41. • Mating can only occur between newly
molted females and hard-shelled males.
• Spawning tanks place throughout the
year. The eggs are fertilized in the water
after the female simultaneously extrudes
the eggs and the spermatophore.
• The number of eggs released by a single
spawner varies from 248,00 to 811,000.

42. • Breeding Management
1. Selection
• For breeding select the males who are
above 60 gm size or 18-20 cm long. Mature
females are bigger than the males.
• Hence, for selection of females a specific
weight is not mentioned. Obviously the
females selected will be bigger than the
males. The selected males and females are
placed into the maturation tank. Select only
the good ones: without any abnomlalities,
infection or injuries, having proper shape
and size.

43. • Induced maturation
• Under the natural conditions the female
attains full ovarian development in the sea
while the male can become mature even in
brackish water.
• Some species may not mature or may be
shy to mature sexually and spawn under
the artificial rearing conditions. Therefore in
the commercial rearing of shrimps! prawns
certain methods of induced maturation is
employed.

44. • The most common and easy method of
inducing maturity in the shrimps and
prawns is to remove one of the eyes (eye
stalk ablation) either with a sharp blade or
with an electrocautery unit:
• This method is preferred, because there is
no bleeding. However the shrimp/prawn
experiences some stress due to eye
ablation and 5-10 % mortality occurs due to
this. Usually only the females are subjected
to eye ablation but if the males are held
captive more than two weeks they are also
subjected to eye ablation.

45. • Soon after the eye ablation maturation takes
place. The gap between eye ablation and maturity
in P monodon is about 10-15 days and in P
indicus about 2-3 days.
• The fully mature females will have a diamond
shape of ovarian lobe in the first abdominal
segment. In the case of P indicus the shells are
translucent and hence the ovary can be seen
clearly but in the case of P monodon we need an
underwater torch to examine the ovarian
condition. An experienced person can observe the
ovary and assess the stage of the maturity of the
ovary.

48. • The spermatozoa produced by the male is
non motile and are packed inside
spermatophores and they are transferred
by the male through the petasma to the
thelycum of the female during mating.
• At the time of spawning the female releases
the eggs as well as the spermatozoa and
the fertilization takes place outside the body
of the female in the water.

49. • Every day the water level in the tank is
reduced by about 80% m the evening and
the shrimps are examined to see whether
the females are mated or not which can be
ascertained by the presence of the
spermatospore in the thelycum. The
females that have been mated are netted
out and placed in the spawning tank.

50. ? Shrimp eyestalk ablation.mp4