Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Institute Produces 'Eco-Friendly Tiger Prawns' Using Microorganisms Without Water Replacement

Gyeonggi Province has succeeded, for the first time in Korea, in raising 1.5 million native tiger prawn juveniles using an eco-friendly aquaculture method that utilizes microorganisms without changing the water.

The Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute announced on May 14 that, in order to restore the native tiger prawn population on the West Coast and increase fishermen's incomes, it had released 1.5 million native tiger prawn juveniles that it produced in-house. The release was conducted over two days from May 13 at Gungpyeong Port in Hwaseong and the coastal area of Oido in Siheung as part of a pilot program.

The released tiger prawns were raised entirely using the eco-friendly Biofloc Technology (BFT) method—from immediately after hatching to the release size (about 1.2 cm). This is the first time in Korea that tiger prawn juveniles have been mass-produced and released using BFT.

The conventional aquaculture methods mainly used are the "static" method, which involves periodically replacing the water, and the "flow-through" method, where water is continuously circulated. The static method poses a high risk of mass mortality when ammonia from feed residue accumulates due to difficulties in water quality management. The flow-through method requires large volumes of water, resulting in high management costs.

The Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute took a commemorative photo after releasing 1.5 million native prawns into the West Sea. Provided by the Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute.

In contrast, the BFT method maintains water quality by using microorganisms to break down harmful substances in the water without changing it. This eco-friendly aquaculture technique enables immediate treatment of ammonia generated from feed residue, thereby stably maintaining water quality.

As a result of applying BFT technology, the feeding interval increased from the previous 3–4 hours to 5–6 hours, reducing management burdens. Survival and growth rates also improved, making it possible to produce healthy juveniles even in high-density farming environments.

Kim Seong-gon, Director of the Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute, stated, "The tiger prawns released this time are expected to grow to a size of about 15–20 cm by October and be harvested at fishing sites. We hope that the prawns released on this occasion will directly contribute to fishermen's incomes in the fall season."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.