A Project to establish a shrimp farm in Basrah-Southern Iraq

Abstract

Preparation of the shrimp breeding project began in 2018-2019. And the creation of suitable conditions for farming larvae of the white-legged shrimp, Penaeus vennami. The shrimp project is funded by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The shrimp project was designed by specialists at the Marine Science Centre (MSC). It aims to introduce P. vennami from neighboring Iranian shrimp farms and transfer experiences after reviewing all its details and sharing with them in similar environmental conditions. A contract was signed between MSC and an Iranian company in Abadan, which operates an integrated shrimp farm that includes a hatchery, ponds for breeding larvae, ponds for shrimp production, a plant for making pellets, and a factory for canning shrimp products, visits between both sides were conducted according to the signed contract, and a shrimp farm was designed in one of the mud ponds at the site of the University of Basra in Karmat Ali, with careful follow-up and under the supervision of specialists from both countries. So far, it is possible to start the project to be successful according to the considerations applied in shrimp farms from Iran. Two types of breeding systems were equipped, one of which is 3 fiberglass basins with dimensions of 2.5 m3, and the other system is a mud pond with dimensions of 2500 m2 with ideal specifications linked to a pond through four pipes covered on both sides with a 60-micron mesh. After passing through the mechanical filter made for the farm, a toilet was constructed with an area of 7 meters and a depth of 150 cm.