New shrimp breed to bring new life
Published: April 21, 2009
Source : Fiji Daily Post
Shrimps as we know it are a favourite dish for many, whether it is deep fried, mixed with fresh vegetables, dipped in coconut milk or simply boiled.
In the various communities in Fiji shrimps are cooked in many ways, style and flavour that is sure to bring heaven to your doorsteps.
Our story today focuses on a new shrimp species brought all the way from Malaysia (Ura susu) which has been in hibernation under the watchful eyes of the USP Maritime team of students and its shrimp specialist all the way from Ehime Japan, Tomohiro Imamura.
Though breeding in such a small hatchery at USP Lower Campus at Laucala, Imamura's team of young and very enthusiastic students have been able to produce more of these so called Malaysian Prawns (Ura Susu) and distributed to many dairy farms along the Navua area who have in turn produced more for sales in many of the supermarket outlets in Fiji.
Speaking to the Fiji Daily Post, Imamura said that the Malaysian Prawn was a unique species as it was a totally different breed from those that breed in valleys and rivers in many of our local villages.
As part of the team's effort in making the new breed adapt to the natural Fijian environment, Imamura and his band of staff have been working tirelessly in the hope that the new breed will conjure well in our hot and humid climate.
In 2007, Imamura started ways and new techniques into producing healthy and high quality shrimp seedlings in order to achieve a higher standard and sustainable prawn farming here in Fiji.
As part of an ongoing scheme, Imamura and his team have been working around the clock for the past two and half years in maintaining and keeping the new breed in good condition and health with more of its seedlings growing in numbers day in and day out.
Their effort and hard work has seen the new breed being able to harvest up to 20 tonnes a year through their dairy farm in Navua which has up to 26 ponds of Malaysian Prawn.
Since the inception of his research, Imamura has been able to get scientific proof that the new breed grows more in size than that of the local shrimps.
"We have come to find that the new shrimp species imported from Malaysia is far more bigger than that of our local prawns and is genetically not suited to breeding in our natural environment but we have in many ways been able to breed the Ura Susu in a way that will help it survive through modern technology and special techniques," said Imamura.
"Though many have tried to breed the new shrimp species under our natural environment, many have not been successful due to the fact that they do not know or have the knowledge and techniques to help it survive and multiply," he added.
Through the Rua-Cell System of breeding, it was found that the Malaysian Giant River Prawn was able to produce healthy and high seedlings reliably apart from the Clear Water System of production which began around 1983 which proved to be variable and inconsistent.
Included in the success of the Rua-Cell System of production at the USP Seawater Laboratory is that of the Mangrove Mud Crab (Syclla Serrata), the Crenate Swimming Crab (Thalamita Crenata) and the Monkey River Prawn (Macrobachium Lar).
In terms of feeding the new breed, it is understood that the new prawn breed is able to maintain its health and its sustainable growth through chicken feed which helps them in maintaining their fine form.
Apart from the new breed, the locally bred prawns which are also under care through the Clearwater System of production in Navua are fed with locally produced grow out feed using all local ingredients which is somewhat a success.
The local prawns being bred and cared for were first tried and fed with imported Litopenaeus Stylirostris and Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) post larvae which were imported from Brunei.
It was later found out that these feeds carried viruses which were tested on the grown shrimp when tested in a stressed condition.
With ongoing research and tests still being done by Imamura and his team, they have been able to breed and care for the newly imported Malaysian Giant River Prawn (Ura susu) and continue to help those at the Navua dairy farm in maintaining a good healthy produce for market and supermarket use.
Customers around Fiji can be sure to get the best tasting shrimps when purchasing these new breed from Malaysia as they are much bigger in size and with more meat.
Genetically proven, the Malaysian Giant River Prawn can grow as big as 150 grams, but is sure to have your money's worth.
"The Ura Susu can be harvested within five months for it to grow as big as it is and is already a huge seller amongst many of the locals when visiting shops and supermarkets and just like the local prawns is very tasty....(laughs)," said Imamura.
Seeing the shrimps personally, I could not help but wonder as to how lucky we are to have the services of Imamura and his team to help breed and care for the Ura Susu which could be a huge commodity earner for our economy should the locals use and put the techniques and breeding skills to good use.
"I could say that this new breed which is selling like hot cakes so far here in our own country, could be a huge earner if exported but then again we have to go back to the fact that we really need a huge harvesting farm in order to export them and financially speaking, caring and breeding for them needs a lot of money which will help in many ways," said Imamura.
With all this said and done, I along with my colleagues from work are thinking of perhaps visiting the nearest local supermarket to get our hands on some of these Malaysian Giant River Prawns.
Who knows eating shrimps could be a new hobby, but that my fellow readers is just something for you to ponder.
In the various communities in Fiji shrimps are cooked in many ways, style and flavour that is sure to bring heaven to your doorsteps.
Our story today focuses on a new shrimp species brought all the way from Malaysia (Ura susu) which has been in hibernation under the watchful eyes of the USP Maritime team of students and its shrimp specialist all the way from Ehime Japan, Tomohiro Imamura.
Though breeding in such a small hatchery at USP Lower Campus at Laucala, Imamura's team of young and very enthusiastic students have been able to produce more of these so called Malaysian Prawns (Ura Susu) and distributed to many dairy farms along the Navua area who have in turn produced more for sales in many of the supermarket outlets in Fiji.
Speaking to the Fiji Daily Post, Imamura said that the Malaysian Prawn was a unique species as it was a totally different breed from those that breed in valleys and rivers in many of our local villages.
As part of the team's effort in making the new breed adapt to the natural Fijian environment, Imamura and his band of staff have been working tirelessly in the hope that the new breed will conjure well in our hot and humid climate.
In 2007, Imamura started ways and new techniques into producing healthy and high quality shrimp seedlings in order to achieve a higher standard and sustainable prawn farming here in Fiji.
As part of an ongoing scheme, Imamura and his team have been working around the clock for the past two and half years in maintaining and keeping the new breed in good condition and health with more of its seedlings growing in numbers day in and day out.
Their effort and hard work has seen the new breed being able to harvest up to 20 tonnes a year through their dairy farm in Navua which has up to 26 ponds of Malaysian Prawn.
Since the inception of his research, Imamura has been able to get scientific proof that the new breed grows more in size than that of the local shrimps.
"We have come to find that the new shrimp species imported from Malaysia is far more bigger than that of our local prawns and is genetically not suited to breeding in our natural environment but we have in many ways been able to breed the Ura Susu in a way that will help it survive through modern technology and special techniques," said Imamura.
"Though many have tried to breed the new shrimp species under our natural environment, many have not been successful due to the fact that they do not know or have the knowledge and techniques to help it survive and multiply," he added.
Through the Rua-Cell System of breeding, it was found that the Malaysian Giant River Prawn was able to produce healthy and high seedlings reliably apart from the Clear Water System of production which began around 1983 which proved to be variable and inconsistent.
Included in the success of the Rua-Cell System of production at the USP Seawater Laboratory is that of the Mangrove Mud Crab (Syclla Serrata), the Crenate Swimming Crab (Thalamita Crenata) and the Monkey River Prawn (Macrobachium Lar).
In terms of feeding the new breed, it is understood that the new prawn breed is able to maintain its health and its sustainable growth through chicken feed which helps them in maintaining their fine form.
Apart from the new breed, the locally bred prawns which are also under care through the Clearwater System of production in Navua are fed with locally produced grow out feed using all local ingredients which is somewhat a success.
The local prawns being bred and cared for were first tried and fed with imported Litopenaeus Stylirostris and Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) post larvae which were imported from Brunei.
It was later found out that these feeds carried viruses which were tested on the grown shrimp when tested in a stressed condition.
With ongoing research and tests still being done by Imamura and his team, they have been able to breed and care for the newly imported Malaysian Giant River Prawn (Ura susu) and continue to help those at the Navua dairy farm in maintaining a good healthy produce for market and supermarket use.
Customers around Fiji can be sure to get the best tasting shrimps when purchasing these new breed from Malaysia as they are much bigger in size and with more meat.
Genetically proven, the Malaysian Giant River Prawn can grow as big as 150 grams, but is sure to have your money's worth.
"The Ura Susu can be harvested within five months for it to grow as big as it is and is already a huge seller amongst many of the locals when visiting shops and supermarkets and just like the local prawns is very tasty....(laughs)," said Imamura.
Seeing the shrimps personally, I could not help but wonder as to how lucky we are to have the services of Imamura and his team to help breed and care for the Ura Susu which could be a huge commodity earner for our economy should the locals use and put the techniques and breeding skills to good use.
"I could say that this new breed which is selling like hot cakes so far here in our own country, could be a huge earner if exported but then again we have to go back to the fact that we really need a huge harvesting farm in order to export them and financially speaking, caring and breeding for them needs a lot of money which will help in many ways," said Imamura.
With all this said and done, I along with my colleagues from work are thinking of perhaps visiting the nearest local supermarket to get our hands on some of these Malaysian Giant River Prawns.
Who knows eating shrimps could be a new hobby, but that my fellow readers is just something for you to ponder.
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