Marine prawn farming along the coast of the Gulf of Kutch its prospects and problems

Abstract

Along the 250 kilometer coastline of the Gulf of Kutch, there are no prawn farming activities Millions of juveniles of prawns ascending the creeks in the little Rann of Kutch are trapped by staked bag nets are marketed for meagre revenue. The fishermen remain in perpetual poverty due to drought prone conditions of the coast during remaining period of the year. A tidal range of 2.6 metres and high salinity conditions of the Gulf of Kutch necessitate capital investment for supply, retention and exchange of seawater in farming operations. The available seed are not of quick growing variety of prawns. An experimental project was initiated in 1979 firstly to explore the feasibility of utilisation of low saline reservoirs of solar salt works in Okha mandal for extensive prawn farming using the indigenous seed and there after to assess the culturability, economic viability and management problems associated with small scale intensive farming. During September 1986 to IVIarch 1987, seed of Penaeus mergulensis and Metapenaeus kutchensis @ 36332 nos/hectare were stocked in three ponds of 1.92 hectare each. A growth rate of 0.437 mm/day length and 0.056 gm/day weight in respect of the former and 0.33 mm/day length and 0.037 gm/day weight in respect of the latter species in 187 days of rearing was achieved. The harvested prawns were acceptable to freezing industry and fetched Rs. 14000-23000 (Headon) per tonne. The advantages of employment generation, economic up liftment and utilisation of the monsoon seed resources for farming are discussed.