Biology of Farmed Brackishwater Crustaceans

Abstract

For several hundreds of years crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs has been raised in coastal aquaculture ponds in many South East Asian countries including India. The advent of sophisticated refrigeration techniques and transportation facilities provided access to the artisanal aquafarmers to the lucrative international markets. Thus traditional coastal aquaculture transformed to an export oriented and industrialized aquaculture. Although many crustaceans attract lucrative markets, shrimp has become the single most successful crop, and that form the mainstay of coastal/brackishwater in India and across the world. In addition to penaeid shrimps, other crustaceans such as mud crabs have been gaining importance due to the high market demand. Any species can only be rationally cultivated when there is an extensive knowledge on biology of those species (Dall et al 1990). At this context, this article outlines the major biological aspects of penaeid shrimps and mud crabs.