Experimental hatchery designed for the prawn Macrobrachium nipponense in Marine science center, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

This study includes an experimental hatchery design for the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense from the brackish water of Basrah region (Al-Mashab Marsh). This hatchery consist of five parts: maturation ponds (closed system), hatching of zoug jars, rearing of ponds to larva (nursery and concrete ponds), water tanks and food live of pond (fiberglass). The production capacity was 53,504-190,000 Zoea larvae, 32,355-99,560 Postlarvae. While production of the out ponds (cage two in mud and fiberglass ponds) were estimated between 4,347-24,098 larvae and 2,527-18,828 Postlarvae. Depending on results the total area of the earthen pond and the fiberglass tank, the potential production of Zoea larvae were estimated to be between 36,559-15,300,000 larvae, and between 21,248-11,954,400 Postlarvae. While the total production in all culture systems were 12,600,188-15,760,462 larvae, and between 9,753,349-12,197,630 Postlarvae.