Resumo

MIRANDA, Ismael; VALLES, José Luis; SANCHEZ, Roselena  e  ALVAREZ, Zoraya. Culture of Marine Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (BOONE, 1931) in Freshwater. Rev. cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2010, vol.20, n.4, pp.339-346. ISSN 0798-2259.

Culture of L. vannamei marine shrimp is very important to Venezuelan aquaculture. Until 2005, Venezuelan production by hectare was one of the highest in Latin America. Part of the industry success was built upon domestication of the species and selection of favorable traits and to work under closed cycle conditions, which have led to the possibility to stay free -for more than two decades- of severe viral diseases such as Taura and White Spot virus. However, by 2005 Taura virus was confirmed affecting a total of 67% farms in Zulia, Falcón and Nueva Esparta States. Epidemic diseases have lead to farmers to look for new alternatives, one of which is the culture of marine shrimp in inland low-salinity water. The aim of this present study was to culture L. vannamei marine shrimp in inland low-salinity water in Paraguana, Falcon State, Venezuela. Postlarvae at PL12 stage, were cultured in a 969 m2 pond. Before culturing, samples of water and soils were analyzed to accomplish recommended culture parameters for L. vannamei in low-salinity conditions. Postlarvae studied came from a genetic program and were acclimated by reducing salinity to 4 ppm through 58.5 hours. Once acclimation was reached, postlarvae were stocked at a density of 42 PLs/m2. Physical and chemical parameters were registered during culture (dissolved oxygen, salinity and temperature). A pellet dry-diet K-maron 35® was given as diet. Survival percentage, average weight, growth rate (g/week), total average length, feed conversion rate and productivity were evaluated through monthly sampling. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. L. vannamei marine shrimp was cultured during 94 days and the following production data was registered: 65.19% survival, 10.66 gr. average weight, feed conversion factor of 1.01:1 and a productivity level of 2,579.98 kg/ha/cycle. Results show this type of culture is highly feasible and it might become a new alternative for the small-medium local agriculture producers of Paraguaná-Falcón, Venezuela.

Palavras-chave : Marine shrimp culture; Litopenaeus vannamei; culture in low-salinity; acclimation.