Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the efficiency of green water culture strategy for production of Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in high density polyethylene (HDPE) lined ponds (300 m(2)) for a period of 96 days. Green water from a broodstock fish pond was used for rearing shrimp in treatment ponds; whereas, filtered seawater was used for growing shrimp in control ponds, with both treatment and control in triplicates. Shrimp juveniles (specific pathogen free, SPF) of uniform size (1.74 +/- 0.46 g) were stocked at the rate of 100 nos. m(-2) per pond. Feeding, water exchange, sampling and water quality analysis were done as per standard shrimp growout procedure. Shrimp health status and microbial load in culture ponds were recorded periodically. Water quality parameters did not show significant variations between control and treatment ponds. Enhanced growth, survival (19.7%) and biomass (23.3%) were observed in treatment ponds when compared to control. Significant reduction in bacterial population and improved shrimp health status were also noticed in treatment ponds. Green water culture technique reduced harmful bacterial population in culture ponds and enhanced shrimp growth, survival, health and production.