Farming freshwater prawns

2CHAPTERSite selectionA STUDY OF THE POTENTIAL market for the product and careful selection of suitable sitesfor prawn culture, whether it be for the larval (hatchery) or grow-out phases, is an essentialprerequisite for successful farming. Failure to realize this before any project is commencedis likely to cause the ultimate downfall of the enterprise, which not only has unfortunateconsequences for the farmer and investor(s) involved but may also cause seriousdamage to the image of prawn farming, both nationally and even internationally.Marketing is covered later in this manual.The current section of the manual contains a brief description of the essential characteristicsof good sites for freshwater prawn farming. More detailed information is availablein a review by Muir and Lombardi (2000). You are also strongly recommended toobtain and study the FAO manuals on topography (FAO 1988, 1989b), soils (FAO 1985),and water (FAO 1981), as well as the section on site selection in FAO (1995) 1 .2.1 Hatcheries and indoor nurseriesThe site requirements for hatcheries and indoor nurseries, which are normally associatedwith each other, are similar. In this section of the manual, reference to hatcheries thereforeincludes indoor nurseries.NEEDS FOR GOOD QUALITY WATERAlthough the larval stages of freshwater prawns require brackishwater for growth and survival,hatcheries do not have to be located on coastal sites. Prawn hatcheries can be sitedon inland sites. There, the necessary brackishwater can be obtained by mixing locallyavailable freshwater with seawater or brine (and sometimes artificial seawater) which hasbeen transported to the site. Two decades ago, when the original FAO manual was written,1 These manuals are not specific to freshwater prawns. They are relevant to many forms of fish and crustacean farming andare designed for advanced extension workers.CHAPTER 211