Farming freshwater prawns

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENTA PREVIOUS MANUAL ON THIS TOPIC was prepared for FAO in 1982 and revised in 1985 but theEnglish edition is now out-of-print. Research has generated considerable benefits on this subjectand substantial advances in technology have occurred since the original manual was published.These facts, combined with a revival in interest in expanding the farming of freshwater prawns, havecreated the need for a new technical manual.This document has therefore been prepared to provide up-to-date and practical information onfreshwater prawn farming. Its emphasis is on techniques for cultivating the major farmed species,namely the giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). The manual also contains information ofrelevance to the farming of other Macrobrachium species and to the enhancement of freshwaterprawn fisheries.The document was prepared under contract for the Inland Water Resources and AquacultureService, FAO Fishery Resources Division, by one of the authors of the original FAO manual, MichaelB. New. It is a synthesis of the personal experience of the author and of his many internationalfriends and colleagues working in this field, who are gratefully acknowledged within the manualtext.The principal targeted audience includes trainers, extension agents, farmers, and students. It isalso hoped that the manual will provide background information and reference sources for thoseembarking on research in this field.The designations employed and the presentation of material in this informationproduct do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever onthe part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsconcerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of itsauthorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.The mention of specific companies, their products or brand names does not imply any endorsement by the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations.All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercialpurposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fullyacknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited withoutwritten permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to the Chief, PublishingManagement Service, Information Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy or by e-mail to copyright@fao.org©FAO 2002