Growth, survival, distribution, and population estimates of penaeid shrimp in fertilized and unfertilized brackish water ponds receiving thermal effluents.

White shrimp (Penaeus setiferus), brown shrimp (P. aztecus), and blue shrimp (P. stylirostris), were cultured in 0.1 ha ponds receiving thermal effluents from a steam electric generating station between August 10, 1977 and July 10, 1978. Studies included white and brown shrimp growth experiments and attempted overwintering of white and blue shrimp. Urea (45-0-0) fertilizer was added weekly to three white shrimp ponds and to all six brown shrimp ponds during the growth experiments; white shrimp in all ponds and brown shrimp in four ponds received supplemental food. Stocking densities were 50,000 and 75,000/ha for white shrimp, and were 25,000 and 35,000/ha for brown shrimp. White shrimp survival was excellent and ranged from 84 to 99%. Survival was greater in unfertilized than fertilized ponds at similar stocking densities. Shrimp from fertilized ponds, however, were significantly larger at harvest, grew faster, and produced greater yields, than shrimp from unfertilized ponds.