Restoration of mangrove vegetation at Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia

1755-1760An attempt was carried out to restore mangrove forests as coastal bioshield at the shoreline of Al-Sharifa Island, Al-Lith, Red Sea. Healthy saplings of grey mangrove, Avicennia marina were grown in the Biosaline agriculture centre of National aquaculture group (Naqua) at Al-Lith, Jeddah. Six month old mangrove saplings (25000) were planted at 11 locations of Al-Sharifa Island in Al-Lith village where mangrove vegetation was found sparse and destroyed by natural disasters. A survey conducted after 2 years showed that saplings planted along the shoreline of south and north lagoon of the island achieved 39% survival and were able to tolerate salinity up to 70 ppt. Causes of mortality were siltation, changes in topography, drying up of lagoon, accumulation of debris, and competition and destruction by crabs. The grey mangrove, Avicennia marina is a salt tolerant variety and is ideal for mangrove afforestation program at Red Sea coast

Semi Intensive and Semi Biofloc Methods for the Culture of Indian White Prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus in High-density Polyethylene Liner Ponds

An experiment (triplicated) was conducted to assess the growth and production of Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus in semi intensive and semi biofloc culture technique for a period of 120 days in polythene liner ponds (300 m2). Water exchange was done at 10% in semi intensive culture method (control) and zero water exchange was done in semi biofloc method (treatment). Soya hull and molasses were added as carbon sources to induce biofloc formation in treatment ponds. Post larvae (PL20) were stocked at the rate of 100/m2 in each pond and fed with a standard shrimp feed. Shrimp growth, physico-chemical parameters of water, bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton population, immune response and physical quality of shrimp were recorded during the period. Significant difference (p < 0.01) in shrimp growth (weight) was observed between control and treatment. Phytoplankton population and total haemocyte count were found to be increased and pathogenic bacteria population decreased in treatment ponds. Strong linear relationship was found between growth and biofloc content in treatment ponds. Shrimp grown in biofloc pond showed better colour and taste compared to control. Semi biofloc technique can be considered as an ideal culture method for bio secure production of white shrimp in semi arid lands

Desert aquaculture & environmental sustainability

1733-1741Aquaculture in semi arid regions has increased social and economic impact through the production of food, contribution to livelihoods and generation of income. The main goal of aquaculture in the desert is to utilize productively and maximally the water resources for an integrated aquaculture-agriculture system. Desert aquaculture increases the water resource’s an economical value rather than a serious competition in water consumption between aquaculture and agriculture. The aquaculture-agriculture system in the desert produces quality sea food all the year round. However, when badly managed, aquaculture can affect the ecosystems functions and services, with negative environmental, social and economic consequences. Under the right conditions and with careful preparation, desert aquaculture can be made sustainable and profitable without causing disturbances to the ecosystem. In the present review, the factors required for semi arid integrated aquaculture system towards sustainable production are discussed with its various components

<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-GB">Antiviral property and growth promoting potential of Punarnava, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:15.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB">Boerhaavia diffusa</span></i><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB"> in tiger prawn culture</span></span>

2236-2243 <span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-GB">Study on disease resistance and antiviral property was conducted in laboratory by feeding juveniles with a supplementary pellet feed containing alcohol extract of B.diffusa at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ml/kg. On 21st day of rearing, juveniles were challenged by feeding WSSV infected (PCR +ve) shrimp carcass.  Juveniles received a diet containing B.diffusa at 8 and 10 ml/kg showed significantly (P<0.01) high survival than other doses.  After standardization, the optimum dosage (8 and 10 ppm) obtained from antiviral study was incorporated in a commercially available supplementary feed and fed to juveniles of tiger prawn for a period of 120 days in brackish water earthen ponds.  An extract free diet was served as control.  Average growth, feed conversion efficiency, apparent nutrient digestibility, total haemocyte count (THC), digestive enzymes activity and RNA/DNA ratio were high in B.diffusa extract fed shrimp compared to control. B.diffusa extract contains bioactive compounds which could induce growth by enhancing voluntary feed intake, nutrient digestion and immunomodulatory property of shrimp.</span