1. Industry review
• Tilapia in India and
Bangladesh
• Epidemiology of
Streptococcosis in
Malaysia
Benefits of Nursery
Phase in Shrimp Farming
Tracking Typhoons
and WSSV
Super Intensive
Vannamei Shrimp
Farming in Sulawesi
MARCH/APRIL2015
Volume 11 Number 2
ISBN 1793 -0561
MCI(P)014/10/2014PPS1699/08/2013(022974)
www.aquaasiapac.com

2. 8 March/April 2015 AQUA Culture Asia Pacific Magazine
Shrimp Culture
Super intensive shrimp farming
in West Sulawesi
How extreme can we push vannamei shrimp
culture? In Sulawesi, Bhakty Baramuli showed
after three crops, that a high stocking density of
500-1,000 PL/m2
is possible
By Poh Yong Thong
Situated at the northeast of Java and southeast of Borneo, the
Indonesian island of Sulawesi is endowed with rich fisheries
resources and is surrounded by good quality sea water. Hence the
farming of Penaeus monodon in Sulawesi is very popular since
the 1990’s. According to official statistics from the Department
of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF),
15,000 tonnes of monodon shrimp were produced in south
Sulawesi in 1996 and this rose to 60,428 tonnes in 2013. For
example, PT Bangai Sentral Shrimp, a French shrimp farm of
200 ha was first to establish itself in central Sulawesi. Since the
introduction of the vannamei shrimp to Indonesia, its farming has
been increasing, mainly in central, south and west Sulawesi. In
2013, total production of this shrimp was 29,408 tonnes (MMAF).
However, Sulawesi’s distance from the densely populated Java
island results in higher shrimp feed costs and low prices for the
harvested shrimp. Feed prices might differ by IDR 2,000 (USD
0.16) per kg and the differences in shrimp prices may range from
IDR 6,000 to 10,000 (USD 0.48 to 0.80) per kg. Recently, there is
a re-emergence of shrimp farming as a result of the late 2012 rise
in shrimp prices due to a shortage in supply. The increase in price
and demand is now attracting shrimp farmers back to this remote
island. Interestingly, south Sulawesi is reputed with its innovative
super intensive vannamei shrimp farming systems, such as that
by Dr Hasanuddin Atjo (AAP, 2013). In early November 2014, a
visit was made to another interesting super intensive vannamei
shrimp farm in west Sulawesi.
Baramuli is the largest producer of postlarvae in west Sulawesi
and currently its production is 130 million post larvae (PL) per
month. Relative to south Sulawesi, the western region is a small
shrimp production area with a volume of 3,036 tonnes in 2013.
Perhaps this is one reason why Bhakty Baramuli, the owner
decided to start super intensive farming of vannamei shrimp. The
farm has a total of three ponds. Another two ponds are still under
construction. At the time of our visit, the farm was running its
third crop, after two successful crops where ponds were stocked
at a very high density of 1,000 PL/m2
.
Main features
The ponds are entirely concrete with sizes of about 3,000 m2
and
depths close to 3 metres. However, sea water is filled up to the
2.2 m mark. Out of the three ponds, one pond uses a total of 48
HP for aeration with 6 paddlewheels of 1 HP and 6 paddlewheels
of 2 HP. The total aeration for the pond described in this article is
is 18 HP. There are also two blowers, each of 15 HP.
In this cycle, post larvae (PL10) shrimp are stocked at 500 to
550 PL/m2
. The pond, as normally practised in Indonesia, has a
central discharge system to drain away sludge at least five times
a day. In addition, frequent siphoning is carried out to remove
other accumulated matter.
The level of dissolved oxygen is maintained above 4.5 ppm.
pH was maintained at 7.6 to 7.9 when shrimp was stocked at 57
days of culture (DOC). Alkalinity was kept at 130 ppm; probiotics
and magnesium sulphate were routinely added to maintain water
quality. Water was replaced at 70 to 120 cm daily depending on
water quality conditions.
At the farm, Pak Bhakty Baramuli
(middle) with the author Poh Yong
Thong (third left) with farm technicians,
chief technician, Budi (second left) and
John Miduk, Gold Coin Sulawesi Sales
(third right) and Mohd Bima (Area
Sales manager, of Gold Coin (right).
The pond, as normally practised in
Indonesia, has a central discharge system to
drain away sludge at least five times a day.

3. March/April 2015 AQUA Culture Asia Pacific Magazine 9
The total number of post larvae stocked in the pond was
1,650,000 and at DOC 57, the feed demand was 525 kg/day. For
this cycle, Bhakty used Gold Coin Forte feeds, with 36% crude
protein. At DOC 53, shrimp were sampled and averaged 6 g in
weight. Each pond uses three auto feeders for feeding.
A previous harvest was 28 tonnes from a 3,000 m2
pond. The
feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 1.4 for shrimp size of 60/kg
(average weight of 16.7 g) and survival rate was 93% after DOC
107.
On 16 December 2014, Bhakty harvested the pond visited.
The harvest after DOC 97 totalled 27 tonnes, after three partial
harvests. This time, FCR was 1.49 and harvest size was 55/kg
(18.2 g) and survival was 97%.
Air bubbles are from blowers. Autofeeders are used which is not a common feeding
method in Indonesia
Blowers and paddlewheels vigorously aerate and move pond water.
Some comments
Super intensive shrimp farming at above 300 PL/m2
, has its
prerequisites. Foremost, is the requirement of very good quality
sea water. The farm should be located in a friendly ecological
setting away from other farms. A small number of ponds, not
exceeding the carrying capacity of the area is also a prerequisite.
Such a system can be adopted when the operator not only
strictly adheres to standard operating procedures, but also
possesses a high level of understanding and technical skills in
shrimp farming.
Poh Yong Thong is based in Sabah, Malaysia where he runs
a small shrimp farm. Email: poyoto2002@yahoo.com
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