Biotechnological interventions in aquaculture with special reference to shrimp farming

Saleem Mustafa, Melissa Joseph James &

Annita Yong Seok KianUniversiti Malaysia Sabah

Aquaculture & Biotechnology

Two important areas of R & D in this century:Aquaculture & Biotechnology

Aquaculture Food producing activity

BiotechnologyTool of increasing production efficiency

Aquaculture-Biotechnology interface

Biotechnolgical intervention in

mariculture & marine ranching

are considered a most feasible option

of meeting qualitative & quantitative

seafood security.

Production potential of aquatic animals is

higher:Live in multidimensional environment

Body density similar to aquatic medium

Efficient food conversion

Faster growth

Most having body temperature similar to environment

Comparative production efficiency

Cattle

Produces 0.454 kg (=1 pound) from 1.8-3.6 kg feed

Catfish

Produces 0.454 kg (=1 pound) from 0.681 – 0.908 kg feed

Marine aquaculture more economical than freshwater

aquaculture

Freshwater:

Short supply

Multiple uses

- Drinking

- Irrigation

- Power generation

- Sanitation

Marine aquaculture more economical

Sea water:

- Never in short supply in costal areas.

- Can pump it in any volume needed in

hatcheries, ponds, raceways, etc.

- Can directly stock animals in sea.

EEZ promulgation

Law of the Sea in the form of EEZ has given maritime countries vast areas in sea for economic exploitation.

Malaysia: Marine area more than land area:

Marine area = 332,673 sq.km

Land area = 330,434 sq.km

Vast marine area

Potential of vast marine area should be exploited using sustainable methods.

Interest in aquaculture is picking up.

Annual growth of aquaculture – 9.2% since 1970.

Contribution of aquaculture to global food security:

Significant

46 million tons by weight

This is quarter of world food supply

Production expected to rise to 50 million tons by 2010.

Contribution by value = US$ 57 billion

Application of biotechnology

Application of biotechnology essential for any quantum jump in aquaculture production.

Biotechnology getting more & more intricately linked to aquaculture.

Modern aquaculture can be appropriately described as a discipline of ‘Aquaculture Biotechnology’.

Biotechnological tools needed:

Environmental remediation to minimize or mitigate the impact of stressors.Efficient artificial feeds

- Microencapsulation - Bioencapsulation

Disease management-probiotics & vaccines.

Main areas of aquaculture biotechnology

GenomicsDeals with genetic material of aquaculture

animals. BiocomplexityBiological conditions arising from interactions: - within biological systems & - between biological systems & physical environment.

Main areas of aquaculture biotechnology

Biocellular technology

Application of techniques to exercise control on, hormones, maturation, spawning, fertilization, development, growth & artificial feeding.

Main areas of aquaculture biotechnology

Biosecurity

Focuses on issues pertaining to culture infrastructure.

Environmental security aspects.

Diagnostics for specific pathogens.

Issues relating to GMOs.

Types of aquaculture systems

Based on:

Groups of of aquatic animals used in culture

Species

Combination of single or multiple species

Stocking density

Culture facilities

Other conditions

Focus of our current research is on marine shrimp

(Penaeus monodon)

Major problems in shrimp farming:

Poor seed quality

Disease outbreak

We focused attention on seed quality.

Factors determining egg quality:

Intrinsic qualities of egg.

Environment where eggs are spawned, fertilized & develop.

Intrinsic qualities of egg:

Genetic heritage

Biochemical constituents

Inherited genetic material:

Genetic capital of Tiger prawn broodstock was intact.

- No. of alleles/locus = 1.7

- Polymorphic loci = 33.3%

- Observed heterozygosity, Ho = 0.194

(exceeded He 0.122)

Data suggested no genetic degradation.

Nutritive & biochemical factors

Egg needs chemicals, nutrients, various raw materials & a regulatory mechanism to direct the developmental processes.It is important to know:

- what gets into oocytes - How it gets there - What role it plats there - What is its fate in the oocyte

Shortage or inappropriate quantities of these

substances:Poor egg quality.

Egg will not be able to sustain development of viable embryo.

Non-viability of eggs, & death of eggs & larvae.

Broodstock condition

If female broodstock is poorly nourished:

inadequate transfer of nutrients to developing ovary.

Poor quality eggs.

No de novo synthesis of sterol & HUFA in shrimp:

Sterol & HUFA should be in diet.

Both are important in development & maturation of ovary.

Our experimental trials: 4 dietary treatments

Squid (40%)+Mussels (30%)+Trash fish (30%)

Squid 30%)+Mussel (25%)+Trash fish (25%)+Blood worm (20%)

Squid 930%)+Mussel (25%) + Trash fish (25%) + Bioencapsulated bloodworm (20%)

Squid (30%)+Mussel (25%)+Trash fish (25%)+Madmac (20%)

Findings from feeding trials:

Live bloodworm bioencapsulated with tricalcic phosphate: Ca3 (PO4)2 most effective in development of egg quality.Accelerated RNA & protein biosynthesis.

Promoted deposition of cholesterol in oocytes.

Improvement in egg quality resulted in significant:

Increase in egg & larval survival.

Increase in hatching rate.

Increase in metamorphosis of nauplii to zoea stage.

Main Biotechnological procedures involved:

Bioencapsulation of live bloodworm collected from low energy coastal bays in the tidelands.

Biotechnological procedures involved:

Chemical filtration of seawater - adsorption of toxic metals on charred waste of palm oil industry.

Biotechnological procedures involved:

Induced breeding of tiger prawn in captivity:

- ablation of one eyestalk to remove

X- organ-sinus gland complex

a quick surgical operation.

Thank you for your kind attention.