LIVE TRANSPORT OF GRAVID-PENAEUS INDICUS USING COCONUT MESOCARP DUST

At present, the transport of gravid Penaeid shrimp in polythene bags a nd styrofoam boxes often results in high mortality. A new method of tr ansportation by packing the gravid Penaeid banana prawn (Penaeus indic us) with coconut mesocarp dust in PVC tubes in a transportation tank r esulted in high survival (99.4 +/- 0.23% over 42 h), reduced reabsorpt ion of total and partial eggs (4.33 +/- 1.52% and 2.33 +/-: 1.52%, res pectively) and quicker spawning (90% within 7 days of stocking in matu ration tank). The new transportation device has a double-jacketed box containing a space in between the two jackets for an ice and salt mixt ure to reduce water temperature, and provision for water exchange, aer ation and securing the packed shrimp. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.