Current Status of Shrimp Fanning in the Southwestern Coast (Manroe Island, Kollam) oflndia

The aim of the present study is to provide the information on the current status of shrimp farming in monroe island, kallam, india. it encompasses the resources, technologies, production systems and envirornnental issues of shrimp aquaculture in general. a survey on fifty eight shrimp farms (42 operational and 16 non-operational) was conducted within the manroe island from november 2008 to august 2009. the black tiger shrimp, penaeus monodon, fabricius was the principal species cultured in south india. presently, small-scale farmers carry out 90% shrimp aquaculture in manroe island. the fanning technology is characterized by modified extensive and semi-intensive production systems, largely dependent on small ponds of less than1 ha. these farms account for ca. 90% of the total area utilized for shrimp culture. the stocking densities range between 4 to 6 post larvae 1m^2 and average shrimp yields after 90-120 days is 320-400 kg.ha^-1. as per our survey, the average production cost for shrimp per hectare is at least rs. 1,50,000 per cycle. during the 1990s, shrimp was cash crop in the kollam with a average production of 900 kgha^- . currently, the unsustainable practices and devastating outbreaks of diseases have forced the industry to shut down.