INNOVATIVE INTEGRATED PERIPHYTON TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE AND INTENSIVE NURSERY CULTURE OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Tank-based freshwater Integrated Periphyton Technology (IPT) and Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) were compared in triplicate for 44 days for nursery culture of two separate trials of different Post-Larvae (PL) populations (T1 and T2) from different broodstock and stocking densities of mixed sex giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Supplementary feed, alkalinity adjustment, and Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) ratio were managed with water quality parameters that remained within the suitable range for the duration. Performance characteristics of Survival Rate (SR), Body Weight (BW), and final harvest Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) results were compared. Accordingly, IPT was equivalent to or better than RAS for BWG and productivity in T1 and T2. Meanwhile, in T2, IPT and RAS were similar in terms of SR and BW and achieved an FCR of approximately 2.0. IPT is a zero-discharge system that presents advantages to RAS in terms of no external effluent treatment and the potential for improved FCR through the production of edible biomass within the production volume. With further study and design, IPT could reduce water and land requirements, improve farm economics, decrease environmental impact, and improve the sustainability of intensive aquaculture of M. rosenbergii.