The Culture of <i>Penaeus semisulcatus</i> in Israel

Abstract

Abstract Growth performance data on Penaeus semisulcatus under semi‐intensive pond culture conditions were collected in Israel between 1985 and 1987. In 1985, shrimp growth, from PL to 21.5 g, was accomplished in separate nursery and grow‐out phases. Pond production during the grow‐out phase was 3,000 and 3,943 kg/ha, and mean weight was 21.5 g. Shipments to Europe revealed a need to produce larger shrimp to maximize revenues. Any increase in individual shrimp weight at harvest would require new management practices. Juvenile shrimp (3.4 to 6.3 g) were held during the winter of 1986 in open ponds and restocked in grow‐out ponds in the spring of 1987. Shrimp survival during overwintering was 12 and 15%. A maximum mean shrimp weight of 25.6 g and a maximum pond production of 7,451 kg/ha were obtained in 1987 using this strategy. It is possible that comparable pond production results and shrimp weight, but with higher overall shrimp survival, could be obtained by headstarting shrimp in greenhouses. Two major problems that need to be solved before commercial shrimp culture can succeed in Israel are the formulation of a locally produced feed and the out‐of‐season induced maturation and spawning of P. scmisulcarus .