Article info.

ABSTRACT

Received 21 Feb 2017
Revised 21 Jun 2017

Accepted 31 Oct 2017

Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man, 1879) is one of important aquaculture species in Vietnam, especially the Mekong Delta. Farming of giant freshwater prawn has been so far very well-known in the freshwater area with some important systems, typically the alternative rice-prawn farming system. However, this activity has recently expanded rapidly and largely to the brackish water area. Currently, there are 15,270 ha of prawn culture in the Mekong Delta with total production of 5,306 tons, of which coastal provinces cover for 90.1% of total culture area, and 64.8% of total production. Two important systems for prawn culture in the brackish water area are (1) prawn and rice farming alternatively with tiger shrimp culture on the rice field; and (2) prawn culture in pond alternatively with tiger shrimp culture. The survey on 108 households in Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh provinces found that the system (1) is in extensive management with the average yields of 110 kg/ha/crop and net income of 11.5 million VND/ha/crop, the system (2) is considered the semi-intensive farming system with the average yield and net income of 886 kg/ha/crop and 68 million VND/ha/crop, respectively. A trial on prawn culture in 9 brackish water ponds with salinity of 0-10‰ carried out in Tra Vinh province showed improved yield as of 988-1342 kg/ha/crop. Prawn culture contributed significantly to the total income of the farming systems. The success of these new farming systems together with a large area of brackish water surface in the Mekong Delta gives prawn farming a great potential for further development.

Keywords

Giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, brackish water, Mekong Delta, prawn farming, Vietnam

Cited as: Hai, T.N, Huong, H.K., Viet, L.Q., Huong, D.T.T. and Phuong, N.T., 2017. Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man, 1879) farming in brackish water areas of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Can Tho University Journal of Science. 7: 82-90.