Current status of culturing techniques and wastes management in intensive whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) ponds in Tra Vinh province

Abstract

    This study was conducted from September 2021 to February 2022 by interviewing 40 households culturing whiteleg shrimps in Tra Vinh province, Viet Nam. The aims of this study were to assess the culture techniques and management status of derived wastes from whiteleg shrimp ponds. Results have shown that the average culture area for each household was 0.80 ha and the average pond area was 0.19 ha/pond. Shrimps were stocked at a density of 195.3 individuals/m². After culture period of 81.5 days/crop, shrimps were harvested with the survival rate around 76.1 %, feed conversion ratio was 1.18 and the average yield of 26.9 tons/ha/crop. The result from regression analysis showed that the shrimp yield was closely correlated to the stocking density, survival rate, while negatively correlated to shrimp market size and area of ponds (R² = 0.89). In addition, the result also indicated that the number of households without treating wastewater and sediment of pond prior discharging into the enviroment were high, with 18/40 households (45.0 %) and 27/40 households (67.5 %), respectively. Moreover, shrimp farmers in Tra Vinh province are facing some difficulties in treating wastes, including the high cost of wastes treatment, small culture area and limited awareness. Therefore, farmers need concerns on treating wastes for sustainable development and intensive whiteleg shrimp farming in Tra Vinh province.