Managing shrimp pond water to reduce discharge problems

Abstract

The excessive feed used in intensive and semi-intensive shrimp production systems is the basic cause for shrimp pond water quality problems, which are currently resolved by flushing. Flushing is not only wasteful of water resources, but also creates effluent discharge problems. The two major contributors to pond water quality problems are the over-population of algae and the presence of suspended solids. Algae can be removed by bivalves and suspended solids can be removed by sedimentation devices. With algae and suspended solids removed, a large portion of the water can be returned to the shrimp pond. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of a shrimp/oyster co-production system which uses shrimp pond water to feed oysters, while using oysters to remove small suspended solids (including algae) from the water and using sedimentation devices to remove the larger suspended solid particles. The production process produces two high-priced products while sharing many of the production inputs, such as feed, water, energy and ponds.