Although reared in captivity from time immemorial, modern farming of this species originated in the early 1960s when FAO expert Shao-Wen Ling, working in Malaysia, found that freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) larvae required brackish conditions for survival. This discovery led to larval rearing on an experimental basis. By 1972 the Hawaiian team led by Takuji Fujimura had developed mass rearing techniques for commercial-scale hatchery production of prawn post larvae (PL). This development spawned the first commercial farms in Hawaii and elsewhere. Both Thailand and Taiwan Province of China became pioneers in modern giant river prawn culture. The introduction of brood stock, initially from Hawaii and Thailand, into non-indigenous areas around the world began in the 1970s. The first major FAO project designed to expand the culture of this species began in 1978 in Thailand. Since then, giant river prawn culture has developed in every continent, particularly in Asia and the Americas. Global production had increased to over 200 000 tones/yr by 2002 (including production in Viet Nam). Furthermore, there is considerable production of other freshwater prawn species, notably M. nipponense that does not appear in official statistics.
Latin name – Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Taxonomic Code: 2281202307
Local Names
U.S.A. : Giant freshwater shrimp, Giant freshwater prawn
India : Golda chingri (Calcutta), Mocha chingri (Calcutta)
Bangladesh : Golda chingri, Mocha chingri, Bharo chingri, Bara chingri, Chooan chingri, Mota chingri, Shala chingri
Indonesia : Udang satang (Java), Udang duri (Java), Udang galah
Malaya : Udang galah
Thailand : Koong yai
Turkish : Karides
Diagnostic Features
Males can reach total length of 320 mm; females 250 mm. Body usually greenish to brownish grey, sometimes more bluish, darker in larger specimens. Antennae often blue; chelipeds blue or orange. 14 somites within cephalothorax covered by large dorsal shield (carapace); carapace smooth and hard. Rostrum long, normally reaching beyond antennal scale, slender and somewhat sigmoid; distal part curved somewhat upward; 11-14 dorsal and 8-10 ventral teeth. Cephalon contains eyes, antennulae, antennae, mandibles, maxillulae, and maxillae. Eyes stalked, except in first larval stage. Thorax contains three pairs of maxillipeds, used as mouthparts, and five pairs of pereiopods (true legs). First two pairs of pereiopods chelate; each pair of chelipeds equal in size. Second chelipeds bear numerous spinules; robust; slender; may be excessively long; mobile finger covered with dense, though rather short pubescence. Abdomen has 6 somites, each with pair of ventral pleopods (swimmerets). Swimmerets of sixth abdominal somite stiff and hard and, with the median telson, serve as the tailfan. Eleven distinct larval stages.
Habitat and Biology
This species lives in tropical freshwater environments influenced by adjacent brackishwater areas. It is often found in extremely turbid conditions. Gravid females migrate downstream into estuaries, where eggs hatch as free-swimming larvae in brackishwater.Before metamorphosis into post larvae (PL), the planktonic larvae pass through several zoeal stages. After metamorphosis, PL assume a more benthic life style and begin to migrate upstream towards freshwater. Larvae swim actively tail first, ventral side uppermost. From PL onwards prawns swim forwards, dorsal side uppermost. From metamorphosis onwards prawns can also walk, not only on the sub-stratum but also over damp areas including stones by river edges, up vertical surfaces (small waterfalls, weirs, etc.) and across land. Larvae mostly consume zooplankton (mainly minute crustaceans), very small worms, and larval stages of other crustaceans. Post larvae and adults are omnivorous, eating algae, aquatic plants, mollusks, aquatic insects, worms, and other crustaceans. Males and females have different growth rates and males exhibit heterogenous individual growth (HIG); these are vitally important factors in grow-out management. Three distinct male morphotypes (and a number of intermediary types) exist: small male (SM), orange claw males (OC), and blue claw males (BC). The normal male developmental pathway is SM → OC → BC. BC males have extremely long second pereiopods; those of OC males are golden colored; SM have small, slim, almost translucent claws. The type and behavior of the males affects the growth rates of other prawns. The transition from rapidly growing OC to the slowly growing BC morphotype follows a "leapfrog" growth pattern. An OC metamorphoses into a BC only after it has become larger than the largest BC in its vicinity. The presence of this new BC male then delays the transition of the next OC to the BC morphotype, causing it to attain a larger size following its metamorphosis. BC males dominate OC males, regardless of their size, and suppress the growth of SM.
Market And Trade
Both domestic and international markets exist and are expanding. Peeled, mostly wild-caught Macrobrachium rosenbergii have long been exported globally, but farmed shell-on (and normally head-off) freshwater prawns are also a familiar sight in the supermarkets of Europe now. To a lesser extent, this also occurs in the USA (mainly for consumption by Asians or in restaurants serving Asian food) and Japan. India, Bangladesh, Viet Nam and Thailand export a significant proportion of their wild-caught and farmed prawns. Potential for expansion exists but small-scale producers may need to co-operate in collective marketing to exploit these opportunities. Freshwater prawns are a distinct product from marine shrimp, which have their own favorable culinary characteristics.
Status and trends
Farmed production is rapidly expanding in Asia. The rate of expansion in the largest producer, China, has slowed, partly due to the farming of an alternative indigenous species (Macrobrachium nipponense) and partly because marine shrimp are now being reared in freshwater (and are sometimes referred to erroneously as freshwater prawns). Chinese production actually fell in 2002 but, as the global market expands, is expected to expand again later. Production in India and Thailand expanded by more than 50 percent per year between 1999 and 2002; this trend is expected to continue. There is also potential for expansion in Bangladesh, a traditional exporter from its capture fisheries. Indonesian production is reported in 2002 for the first time. Viet Nam is a significant producer and exporter of farmed Macrobrachium, although its output is masked by being included in the statistical category 'freshwater prawns, shrimps nei'. Statistically, Brazil also appears as a major producer (>4 000 tones/yr since 2000) but this is believed to be an error.
In total, the output of M. rosenbergii from aquaculture expanded during the decade 1993-2002 from 17 000 tones to 195 000 tones, an APR of 31 percent/yr. Since 1996, Chinese production has formed a large proportion (58 percent in 2002); however, even if it is excluded it becomes clear that production elsewhere grew from 17 000 tones in 1993 to nearly 82 000 tones in 2002, an APR of 19 percent/yr. Furthermore, from 1999 to 2002, expansion outside China (41 percent/yr) was much faster than in China (13 percent).
Further global expansion is difficult to predict, since it depends mainly on the volume of consumer demand. However, even if a very modest expansion of 10 percent/yr occurs, global farmed production of M. rosenbergii will have significantly exceeded 400 000 tones by 2010. The farming of other species of Macrobrachium, notably M. nipponense (already very substantial in China), M. malcolmsonii and M. amazonicum, is also expected to expand.
Main issues
The development of freshwater prawn farming was inhibited in the past by its longer hatchery phase and lower grow-out productivity compared to marine shrimp. These constraints are now balanced by a number of positive factors concerning its sustainability (see responsible aquaculture practices below) and the development of a distinct and expanding market niche for freshwater prawns. Furthermore, fewer poor quality products enter the international markets now that the technique for avoiding "mushiness" has become well-known.
FAO. © 19-2011. A world overview of species of interest to fisheries. Macrobrachium rosenbergii. FIGIS Species Fact Sheets. Text by SIDP - Species Identification and Data Programme. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome. Updated. [Cited 12 September 2011]. http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Macrobrachium_rosenbergii/en
Although reared in captivity from time immemorial, modern farming of this species originated in the early 1960s when FAO expert Shao-Wen Ling, working in Malaysia, found that freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) larvae required brackish conditions for survival. This discovery led to larval rearing on an experimental basis. By 1972 the Hawaiian team led by Takuji Fujimura had developed mass rearing techniques for commercial-scale hatchery production of prawn post larvae (PL). This development spawned the first commercial farms in Hawaii and elsewhere. Both Thailand and Taiwan Province of China became pioneers in modern giant river prawn culture. The introduction of brood stock, initially from Hawaii and Thailand, into non-indigenous areas around the world began in the 1970s. The first major FAO project designed to expand the culture of this species began in 1978 in Thailand. Since then, giant river prawn culture has developed in every continent, particularly in Asia and the Americas. Global production had increased to over 200 000 tones/yr by 2002 (including production in Viet Nam). Furthermore, there is considerable production of other freshwater prawn species, notably M. nipponense that does not appear in official statistics.
Latin name – Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Taxonomic Code: 2281202307
Local Names
U.S.A. : Giant freshwater shrimp, Giant freshwater prawn
India : Golda chingri (Calcutta), Mocha chingri (Calcutta)
Bangladesh : Golda chingri, Mocha chingri, Bharo chingri, Bara chingri, Chooan chingri, Mota chingri, Shala chingri
Indonesia : Udang satang (Java), Udang duri (Java), Udang galah
Malaya : Udang galah
Thailand : Koong yai
Turkish : Karides
Diagnostic Features
Males can reach total length of 320 mm; females 250 mm. Body usually greenish to brownish grey, sometimes more bluish, darker in larger specimens. Antennae often blue; chelipeds blue or orange. 14 somites within cephalothorax covered by large dorsal shield (carapace); carapace smooth and hard. Rostrum long, normally reaching beyond antennal scale, slender and somewhat sigmoid; distal part curved somewhat upward; 11-14 dorsal and 8-10 ventral teeth. Cephalon contains eyes, antennulae, antennae, mandibles, maxillulae, and maxillae. Eyes stalked, except in first larval stage. Thorax contains three pairs of maxillipeds, used as mouthparts, and five pairs of pereiopods (true legs). First two pairs of pereiopods chelate; each pair of chelipeds equal in size. Second chelipeds bear numerous spinules; robust; slender; may be excessively long; mobile finger covered with dense, though rather short pubescence. Abdomen has 6 somites, each with pair of ventral pleopods (swimmerets). Swimmerets of sixth abdominal somite stiff and hard and, with the median telson, serve as the tailfan. Eleven distinct larval stages.
Habitat and Biology
This species lives in tropical freshwater environments influenced by adjacent brackishwater areas. It is often found in extremely turbid conditions. Gravid females migrate downstream into estuaries, where eggs hatch as free-swimming larvae in brackishwater.Before metamorphosis into post larvae (PL), the planktonic larvae pass through several zoeal stages. After metamorphosis, PL assume a more benthic life style and begin to migrate upstream towards freshwater. Larvae swim actively tail first, ventral side uppermost. From PL onwards prawns swim forwards, dorsal side uppermost. From metamorphosis onwards prawns can also walk, not only on the sub-stratum but also over damp areas including stones by river edges, up vertical surfaces (small waterfalls, weirs, etc.) and across land. Larvae mostly consume zooplankton (mainly minute crustaceans), very small worms, and larval stages of other crustaceans. Post larvae and adults are omnivorous, eating algae, aquatic plants, mollusks, aquatic insects, worms, and other crustaceans. Males and females have different growth rates and males exhibit heterogenous individual growth (HIG); these are vitally important factors in grow-out management. Three distinct male morphotypes (and a number of intermediary types) exist: small male (SM), orange claw males (OC), and blue claw males (BC). The normal male developmental pathway is SM → OC → BC. BC males have extremely long second pereiopods; those of OC males are golden colored; SM have small, slim, almost translucent claws. The type and behavior of the males affects the growth rates of other prawns. The transition from rapidly growing OC to the slowly growing BC morphotype follows a "leapfrog" growth pattern. An OC metamorphoses into a BC only after it has become larger than the largest BC in its vicinity. The presence of this new BC male then delays the transition of the next OC to the BC morphotype, causing it to attain a larger size following its metamorphosis. BC males dominate OC males, regardless of their size, and suppress the growth of SM.
Market And Trade
Both domestic and international markets exist and are expanding. Peeled, mostly wild-caught Macrobrachium rosenbergii have long been exported globally, but farmed shell-on (and normally head-off) freshwater prawns are also a familiar sight in the supermarkets of Europe now. To a lesser extent, this also occurs in the USA (mainly for consumption by Asians or in restaurants serving Asian food) and Japan. India, Bangladesh, Viet Nam and Thailand export a significant proportion of their wild-caught and farmed prawns. Potential for expansion exists but small-scale producers may need to co-operate in collective marketing to exploit these opportunities. Freshwater prawns are a distinct product from marine shrimp, which have their own favorable culinary characteristics.
Status and trends
Farmed production is rapidly expanding in Asia. The rate of expansion in the largest producer, China, has slowed, partly due to the farming of an alternative indigenous species (Macrobrachium nipponense) and partly because marine shrimp are now being reared in freshwater (and are sometimes referred to erroneously as freshwater prawns). Chinese production actually fell in 2002 but, as the global market expands, is expected to expand again later. Production in India and Thailand expanded by more than 50 percent per year between 1999 and 2002; this trend is expected to continue. There is also potential for expansion in Bangladesh, a traditional exporter from its capture fisheries. Indonesian production is reported in 2002 for the first time. Viet Nam is a significant producer and exporter of farmed Macrobrachium, although its output is masked by being included in the statistical category 'freshwater prawns, shrimps nei'. Statistically, Brazil also appears as a major producer (>4 000 tones/yr since 2000) but this is believed to be an error.
In total, the output of M. rosenbergii from aquaculture expanded during the decade 1993-2002 from 17 000 tones to 195 000 tones, an APR of 31 percent/yr. Since 1996, Chinese production has formed a large proportion (58 percent in 2002); however, even if it is excluded it becomes clear that production elsewhere grew from 17 000 tones in 1993 to nearly 82 000 tones in 2002, an APR of 19 percent/yr. Furthermore, from 1999 to 2002, expansion outside China (41 percent/yr) was much faster than in China (13 percent).
Further global expansion is difficult to predict, since it depends mainly on the volume of consumer demand. However, even if a very modest expansion of 10 percent/yr occurs, global farmed production of M. rosenbergii will have significantly exceeded 400 000 tones by 2010. The farming of other species of Macrobrachium, notably M. nipponense (already very substantial in China), M. malcolmsonii and M. amazonicum, is also expected to expand.
Main issues
The development of freshwater prawn farming was inhibited in the past by its longer hatchery phase and lower grow-out productivity compared to marine shrimp. These constraints are now balanced by a number of positive factors concerning its sustainability (see responsible aquaculture practices below) and the development of a distinct and expanding market niche for freshwater prawns. Furthermore, fewer poor quality products enter the international markets now that the technique for avoiding "mushiness" has become well-known.
FAO. © 19-2011. A world overview of species of interest to fisheries. Macrobrachium rosenbergii. FIGIS Species Fact Sheets. Text by SIDP - Species Identification and Data Programme. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome. Updated. [Cited 12 September 2011]. http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Macrobrachium_rosenbergii/en