Culture Performance and Economic Return of Brown Shrimp (Metapenaeus Monoceros) at Different Stocking Densities Reared in Brackishwater Pond

Abstract

Shrimp recognized as the white gold of Bangladesh because it is the second largest export earning product after garments sector. The brown shrimp (M. monoceros) have high growth rates together with that they tolerate wide ranges of salinity and environmental parameters which makes them highly attractive for culture purposes. The purposes of this research were to assess the culture performance and economic profitability of brown shrimp (Metapenaeus monoceros) in brackish water ponds. This research lasted from February to June 2020 under three different stocking densities such as 35, 45 and 55 individuals/m2 in treatments T1, T2 and T3 at Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Brackishwater Station, Paikgacha, Khulna. After 90 days culture periods the total production was 1703.32±144.48, 2768.25±167.63 and 2535.03±253.52 kg/ha in T1, T2 and T3 respectively which was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T2 compared to T1 and T2. Benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 0.32, 0.87 and 0.52 in T1, T2 and T3 respectively and found significantly higher (p<0.05) in T2 than T1and T3. Both culture performance and economic analysis implies that brown shrimp (M. monoceros) with a stocking density of 450000 individuals/ha might be environment conciliatory and economically enduring in coastal areas of Bangladesh.