Review of Ten Years of Experimental Penaeid Shrimp Culture in Tahiti and New Caledonia (South Pacific)

Since 1973, the Centre Océanologique du Pacifique has been conducting, in its Tahitian and New Caledonian facilities, tropical penaeid shrimp rearings. Up to now, among the different species tested, Penaeus mnodon, P. stylirostris, P. indicus and P. vannamei have been selected and currently cultured for several generations. P. monodon is a fastgraving species especially adapted to tropical semi‐intensive culture conditions with a 2–3 tons/ha/year production from postlarvae. P. stylirostris is particularly suitable for cultures at lower temperatures (22–28°C). Yields are similar to those obtained with P. mnodon. P. indicus, a smaller species, is easily bred in captivity. In semi‐intensive cultures, production is slightly inferior (1.5‐2 tons/ha/year). However, P. indicus tolerates high density culture conditions (>100/m2), though at a lower growth rate (yields, 15 tons/ha/year). P. vannamei excels in intensive systems. Production, obtained in small volumes (10 m3), averages 40 tons/ha/year but results in larger volumes (100 to 1,000 m3) are still lower.