PRAWN-CULTURE
Prawns occur in marine, fresh and brackish water habitats. They are extremely delicious, hence find a good export market. Maharashtra occupies the first place with 50% of total prawn production. Kerala occupies second position with 32% of production, Andhra Pradesh occupies the third place with 6% production in prawn culture. Of late, prawns are cultured extensively in the brackish water ponds in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Prawns are exported in deep- frozen, canned, dried and even in powdered condition. Prawns constitute 90% of exported fish of high commercial value.
Prawns can be grouped into two categories.
1. Penacid prawns and 2. Non-penacid prawns.
1. Penacid prawns
The species of prawns which belong to penaeus and its associated species are called penacid prawns. These are generally marine prawns. The important penicid prawns are:
i. Penaeus mondon (tiger prawn), 
ii. Penaeus indicus (white prawn),
iii. Metapenaeus monoceros,
iv. Metapenaeus dobsoni,
vi. Metapenaeus brevicornis, (yellow prawn), (jinga prawn) and
vi Metapenaeus affinis
vii. Parapenaeus spa
2. Non-penacid prawns
The species of prawns which do not belong to penaeus species are called Non-penacid prawns. These prawns are either fresh water or brackish water forms. The non-penacid prawns are
I. Palaemon tenuipes, 
ii. Palaemon styliferus,
iii. Hippolysmata ensisotris
iv. Acetus indicus (paste shrimp).
About 45% of Penaeus sps. are used as food. For every 100 gms. of penaeus flesh 19gm. of proteins, 1 gm. of fat, 90 K.cal of energy, 325 mg. of calcium, 280 mg. of phosphorus, 5.5 mg. of Iron and some vitamins are present. In palaemon sps. 100 gms. of flesh consists of 20gm. of proteins, 1 gm. of fat, 90 K.cal. of energy, 280 mg. of phosphorus and 16 mg. of calcium.
Macrobrachium rosenbergi, the largest fresh water prawn grows very fast in brackish water. Hence, this prawn has a good commercial value. Certain other cultivable prawns are also used extensively in brackish water culture. The good financial returns in this line are attracting many farmers. As a result, prawns are grown extensively in the paddy fields and brackish water ponds in our state.
Macrobrachium rosenbergi occurs in brackish waters in
monsoon and post monsoon seasons in Kerala. It occurs from December to July in the brackish waters located along the east coast.
Stake nets, cast nets, trawl nets, boat seines and dip nets are the gear used to capture prawns.
The fishing seasons vary for marine prawns in west coast and those of east coast. In west coast, November to May is considered as the season for fishing prawns. In east coast, December to August forms the season. The most important prawns in the reccent days are penaeus monodon and penaeus indicus. They are having highest capacity of growth. These two species of prawns are also having high commercial value. Hence they constitute most important cultivable species of India ‘today. Besides there are number of species in penaeus, Metapenaeus and Parapenaeus genera which are cultivable.
Extensive research work on prawn culture has revealed that the annual income from one hectare is about Rs. 7000/- excluding the expenditure. In Kerala state number of agriculturallsts are being attracted towards it and started prawn culture in their fields. The prawn culture is also being taken up in brackish waters in that state. Recently, the prawn culture is also started extensively in fields and brackish waters in Andhra Pradesh.
