Penaeid shrimp (Penaeus monodon) culture in Bangladesh.

Abstract The shrimp (Penaeus monodon), locally known as bagda, is known as white gold for its high economic value in Bangladesh. The shrimp sector of Bangladesh is seen as having become important in economic terms, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings and employment generation in rural areas. P. monodon culture is practiced in the Bagerhat, Chokoria, Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Moheshkhali, Shatkhira and Teknaf regions and recently has been introduced in some coastal areas of Noakhali district. Three culture systems are found in Bangladesh, i.e. traditional, improved traditional and semi-intensive with production rates of 150-200, 250-400 and 2,000-2500 kg ha-1, respectively. Seed is collected from natural sources and is produced in hatcheries. There are 44 penaeid shrimp hatcheries in Bangladesh. The present shrimp fry production is 3.05 billion. More than 200,000 people are engaged in shrimp fry collection and marketing and more than 350,000 people are engaged in shrimp farming. Ancillary industries like shrimp hatcheries, feed industries, ice factories, processing factories, net industries and shrimp culture apparatus industries provide direct employment for 25,000-30,000 people. Adverse environmental impacts reported are reduction of grazing land and saline water intrusion due to mismanagement but these could be overcome by introducing environmentally friendly shrimp culture. As the climate of Bangladesh is favourable for P. monodon culture, it is necessary to give more attention to improve it as it will open a new horizon in the economy of the country.