FRESHWATER PRAWN FARMING IN TAIWAN—THE PATTERNS, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS1

In Taiwan, large acreages of suitable freshwater ponds, streams and dams, as well as irrigation canals used for culturing various freshwater fishes, are available to shift to freshwater prawn farming because of its proven good flavor, higher price and the established propagation and cultivation techniques. Since 1974, the number of stockable juveniles supplied by Tungkang Marine Laboratory (TML) and some private hatcheries has increased year by year from 110,580 to over 5,000,000 in 1978. Therefore, several culture patterns have been set up as demonstrations in TML and in the private farms consulted by TML. Extensive and intensive culture, polyculture with fishes, as well as river ranching, are discussed. The bottom choice of mud pond, sand pond, cement pond, and polyethylene sheet pond, and the food choice, mainly of egg custard, steamed rice, fish paste in early culture stage, with trash fish, cereals and prepared feed in late culture stage are summarized. The marketing system is discussed and an estimation of total production is made on updated investigation. A speedy solving of the listed local problems would lead to steady progress in freshwater prawn farming.