TREATMENT SUMMARIES - IMPROVED SHRIMP PRODUCTION

Improved Shrimp Production from Ponds with Probiotics and Reservoir Systems:
Philippine Experience

In the past few years, shrimp growers could hardly produce large volume of market size shrimps due to the occurrence of diseases primarily attributed to poor water quality.

Recently, however, Atty. David Tirol, a shrimp grower in Bohol, Philippines, harvested tiger shrimps (Penaeus monodon) with a total biomass of 3,700 kgs from one of his pond compartments with an area of 3,700 m₂. Using a stocking density of 120,000 PLs (32.4 PLs per m₂), he got an average body weight of 36.4 g and survival rate of 84.6% after 130 days culture period. With an average market price of PhP431.50 (US$ 8.63) per kg at the time of harvest sometime in February 2002, Atty. Tirol was able to obtain a gross sale of about PhP 1.98 million (US$ 39,600) and a net profit of about PhP1.5 million (US$30,000).

What are the protocols currently being used by Atty. Tirol that enables him to achieve such significant result and the succeeding more harvest of tiger shrimps in his ponds?

In addition to the usual pond preparation practices, Atty. Tirol uses BZT® Waste Digester to eliminate organic bottom solids that accumulates on the pond bottom after harvest. During the culture period, a regular application of this product is also undertaken to prevent build-up of waste materials and toxic bottom solids. Likewise, he uses the BZT® Aquaculture at regular frequency to eliminate Vibrio and other luminous bacteria present in the water column, and at the same time, to maintain good water quality throughout the culture period. No other chemicals were used except for these BZT® products known to contain only naturally occurring bacteria and enzymes that are environment-friendly and harmless to humans, plants, and animals. He also maintains a reservoir system where the incoming water for the grow-out pond is temporarily stored for a few days before being used in the grow-out ponds.

Greater harvest of shrimps was also achieved by shrimp growers in other areas in the Philippines such as in Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao where BZT® products are being applied following the recommended application rates and procedures.