DEVELOPMENT OF A CRUSTACEAN MARICULTURE PROGRAM AT SOUTH CAROLINA'S MARINE RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE1

The crustacean mariculture program being developed at the Marine Resources Research Institute embraces several long-range goals including: research, hatchery development, demonstration and pilot projects, and technical assistance. In this program priority has been given to studies on Macrobrachium prawns, with secondary emphasis on Penaeus setiferus and Menippe mercenaria. Although the program is new, considerable progress has been made. Much of the initial research effort is directed toward closed system culture of crustaceans. Preliminary experiments with larvae have demonstrated the feasibility of closed system culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae and that Instant Ocean artificial seawater is a satisfactory medium for rearing larvae. Results of other studies concerning some effects of salinity and diet on post-larval M. rosenbergii and the survival and growth of juveniles in recirculating system culture are briefly described.