THE IMPACT OF TIGER SHRIMP, PENAEUS-MONODON FABRICIUS, POSTLARVAE STOCKING DENSITY ON PRODUCTION IN TRADITIONAL TAMBAK SYSTEMS IN EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

The effects of stocking density [range: 2.0-5.5 postlarvae (PL)m(-2)] and water quality on the production of a traditional tambak tiger shri mp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, culture system on one farm in Proboling go, East Java, were studied during one culture period of 126 days usin g eight ponds. Production characteristics were recorded and water qual ity parameters monitored, Production was quadratically influenced by s tocking density. The optimum density was 4.8 PL m(-2), which correspon ds with a production per crop of around 300 kg ha(-1). Production was also quadratically related to mean shrimp body weight at harvest, whil e there was an inverse relationship between production and bottom orga nic matter, indicating that shrimp biomass diminishes the amount of or ganic matter accumulating at bottom of the tambak.