Ecological reproduction of shrimps- OekoReproShrimp

Worldwide, there is still no commercially freely available organic broodstock of the species Penaeus monodon (black tiger shrimp). Similarly, there is no protocol for a technically and commercially successful larvae rearing of the species P. monodon under the requirements of the EU organic regulations.

This deficiency means that farmers who want to follow the production principles of organic shrimp aquaculture still lack organic larvae for stocking their ponds. This particularly affects smallholders in Asia and Africa who follow the principles of a traditional extensive aquaculture. The so-called Integrated Shrimp Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) is an ecologically sustainable form of production that is based entirely on the natural release of nutrients (phyto- and zooplankton) from the managed mangrove forests and thus does not require the use of formulated feed. It thus provides an important ecosystem service and promotes the conservation of mangrove forests and their biodiversity.

Our joint project aims to contribute to strengthening this form of production in the future by providing a protocol demonstrating the rearing of organic P. monodon larvae.

The objective of the project is to demonstrate in Germany the rearing of organic P. monodon larvae under the requirements of EU Bio regulations. For this purpose, an organic broodstock of P. monodon animals is to be established and a protocol for the ecological rearing of larvae is to be developed.

In order to realize this, it must be ensured that the commercially necessary reproduction and survival rates are also achieved in compliance with the requirements of EU Bio. In support of this, the OekoReproShrimp project is investigating the combined use of pathogen diagnostics and probiotics to detect and control infectious diseases in the rearing of organic shrimp larvae.