Maturation and Spawning in Captivity of Penaeid Shrimp: Penaeus merguiensis de Man Penaeus japonicus Bate Penaeus aztecus Ives Metapenaeus ensis de Hann Penaeus semisulcatus de Haan

Abstract

ABSTRACT As no indigenous species of commercial penaeid shrimp live in the waters of French Polynesia, the preliminary step in developing shrimp aquaculture was to obtain maturation and spawning in captivity. Five species have been investigated. Wild‐caught juveniles from the New Caledonia lagoon (P. merguiensis, P. semisulcatus, M. ensis) and postlarvae from the Galveston NMFS laboratory (P. aztecus) and Fujinaga Institute (P. japonicus) have been used to obtain adult stock. Experiments on larval rearing and growth of these species are in progress. Shrimps are reared in circular tanks of 12 m 3 with a continuous water circulation through a coral sand bed. Rate of exchange is from 1 to 3 times a day. Throughout the year water temperature is between 25 and 29 C, salinity around 34.5 ppt, and pH 8.2. Solar energy is reduced by shade covers. Artificial pellets of different composition are given as food. In these conditions we have obtained: 1) about 1,000 spawnings and two generations in captivity from September 1973 to September 1974 with P. merguiensis; 2) spawnings of M. ensis in 1973; 3) four spawnings of P. japonicus in September 1974; 4) about 20 spawnings of P. aztecus, but only after removing one eyestalk; 5) maturation signs in P. semisulcatus but no spawning.