Proven technology - Induced maturation of prawns for production of spawners for hatcheries

The collection of spawners for hatchery production of prawn seeds has been a serious problem as their availability is not only seasonal and uncertain but their procurement and transport is expensive.Adult prawns,from the grow-out ponds of the farm are subjected to unilateral eyestalk ablation and treated in special broodstock development pools where they attain full gonadial development and become ready to spawn. Using this technique several generations of the Indian White prawn, Penaeus indicus, that have not gone to the sea during any phase of their life cycle, have been grown. The researchers made it possible to mature and develop the spawners from the farm reared prawns.The special inventory required for the maturation facility is described here and the production cost per spawner may not exceed Rs.