Biotechnological interventions

in aquaculture with special

reference to shrimp farming
Saleem Mustafa, Melissa
Joseph James &
Annita Yong Seok Kian
Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Aquaculture &
Biotechnology
Two important areas of R & D in this
century:
Aquaculture & Biotechnology
Aquaculture Food producing activity
BiotechnologyTool of increasing production
efficiency

Aquaculture-Biotechnology
interface
Biotechnolgical intervention in
mariculture & marine ranching
are considered a most feasible option
of meeting qualitative & quantitative
seafood security.

Production potential of
aquatic animals is
higher:
Live in multidimensional environment
Body density similar to aquatic medium
Efficient food conversion
Faster growth
Most having body temperature similar
to environment

Comparative
production efficiency
Cattle
Produces 0.454 kg (=1 pound) from 1.83.6 kg feed
Catfish
Produces 0.454 kg (=1 pound) from
0.681 0.908 kg feed

Marine aquaculture more

economical than freshwater
aquaculture
Freshwater:
Short supply
Multiple uses
- Drinking
- Irrigation
- Power generation
- Sanitation

Marine aquaculture more

economical
Sea water:
- Never in short supply in costal areas.
- Can pump it in any volume needed in
hatcheries, ponds, raceways, etc.
- Can directly stock animals in sea.

EEZ promulgation
Law of the Sea in the form of EEZ has
given maritime countries vast areas in
sea for economic exploitation.
Malaysia: Marine area more than land
area:
Marine area = 332,673 sq.km
Land area = 330,434 sq.km

Vast marine area

Potential of vast marine area should be
exploited using sustainable methods.
Interest in aquaculture is picking up.
Annual growth of aquaculture 9.2%
since 1970.

Contribution of aquaculture
to global food security:
Significant
46 million tons by weight
This is quarter of world food supply
Production expected to rise to 50 million
tons by 2010.
Contribution by value = US$ 57 billion

Application of
biotechnology
Application of biotechnology essential for any
quantum jump in aquaculture production.
Biotechnology getting more & more intricately
linked to aquaculture.
Modern aquaculture can be appropriately
described as a discipline of Aquaculture
Biotechnology.

Biotechnological tools
needed:
Environmental remediation to minimize
or mitigate the impact of stressors.
Efficient artificial feeds
- Microencapsulation
- Bioencapsulation
Disease management-probiotics &
vaccines.

Main areas of aquaculture

biotechnology
Genomics
Deals with genetic material of aquaculture
animals.
Biocomplexity
Biological conditions arising from interactions:
- within biological systems &
- between biological systems & physical
environment.

Main areas of aquaculture

biotechnology
Biocellular technology
Application of techniques to exercise
control on, hormones, maturation,
spawning, fertilization, development,
growth & artificial feeding.

Main areas of aquaculture

biotechnology
Biosecurity
Focuses on issues pertaining to culture
infrastructure.
Environmental security aspects.
Diagnostics for specific pathogens.
Issues relating to GMOs.

Types of aquaculture
systems
Based on:
Groups of of aquatic animals used in culture
Species
Combination of single or multiple species
Stocking density
Culture facilities
Other conditions

Focus of our current research is on

marine shrimp
( Penaeus monodon )

Major problems in shrimp farming:

Poor seed quality
Disease outbreak
We focused attention on seed quality.

Factors determining egg

quality:
Intrinsic qualities of egg.

Environment where eggs are spawned,

fertilized & develop.

Intrinsic qualities of
egg:
Genetic heritage

Biochemical constituents

Inherited genetic
material:
Genetic capital of Tiger prawn
broodstock was intact.
- No. of alleles/locus = 1.7
- Polymorphic loci = 33.3%
- Observed heterozygosity, Ho = 0.194
(exceeded He 0.122)
Data suggested no genetic degradation.

Nutritive & biochemical

factors
Egg needs chemicals, nutrients, various
raw materials & a regulatory mechanism
to direct the developmental processes.
It is important to know:
- what gets into oocytes
- How it gets there
- What role it plats there
- What is its fate in the oocyte

Shortage or
inappropriate quantities
of these substances:
Poor egg quality.

Egg will not be able to sustain

development of viable embryo.
Non-viability of eggs, & death of eggs &
larvae.

Broodstock condition
If female broodstock is poorly
nourished:
inadequate transfer of nutrients to
developing ovary.
Poor quality eggs.

No de novo synthesis of sterol

& HUFA in shrimp:
Sterol & HUFA should be in diet.
Both are important in development &
maturation of ovary.

Our experimental trials: 4

dietary treatments
Squid (40%)+Mussels (30%)+Trash fish
(30%)
Squid 30%)+Mussel (25%)+Trash fish (25%)
+Blood worm (20%)
Squid 930%)+Mussel (25%) + Trash fish
(25%) + Bioencapsulated bloodworm (20%)
Squid (30%)+Mussel (25%)+Trash fish (25%)
+Madmac (20%)

Findings from feeding

trials:
Live bloodworm bioencapsulated with
tricalcic phosphate: Ca3 (PO4)2 most
effective in development of egg quality.
Accelerated RNA & protein
biosynthesis.
Promoted deposition of cholesterol in
oocytes.

Improvement in egg quality

resulted in significant:
Increase in egg & larval survival.
Increase in hatching rate.
Increase in metamorphosis of nauplii to
zoea stage.

Main Biotechnological
procedures involved:
Bioencapsulation of live bloodworm
collected from low energy coastal bays
in the tidelands.

Biotechnological
procedures involved:
Chemical filtration of seawater adsorption of toxic metals on charred
waste of palm oil industry.

Biotechnological
procedures involved:
Induced breeding of tiger prawn in
captivity:
- ablation of one eyestalk to remove
X- organ-sinus gland complex
a quick surgical operation.

Thank you for your kind attention.