Grass Shrimp Culture

Taiwan's efforts to increase its harvest from the sea by artificial means have reached a new stage with the successful culture of grass shrimps. The Taiwan Fishery Research Institute has played a leading role in introducing new techniques to raise the shrimps in order to meet a short age from natural sources. Since Taiwan is an island on the edge of the tropics, its surrounding seas provide an ideal habitat for sea life, particularly in the Ilan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung areas. The Tungkang branch of the institute in Pingtung, headed by Liao I-chiu, has attracted international attention for its success in the field of fishery development.

Grass shrimp proved to be an ideal "crop" for the institute to develop, since the fish can endure high temperatures, grow quickly and thrive in various degrees of salinity and on many types of vegetable food. Although the physical appearance of the grass shrimp is not so attractive as ordinary shrimp when they are alive, both turn an attractive pink on being cooked. Farmers of grass shrimps must pay attention to the climate, rainfall, water temperature, salinity and changes of tides, however. The sea water needed for the shrimp farm must be pumped and filtered on its way from the seashore. The farm is also equipped with a machine to aerate the water so as to ensure sufficient oxygen supplies. In rearing the shrimp, farmers must take care that temperatures and sea water are just right, and be ever on the look-out for disease. Even with these precautions, the survival rate is not more than 40 percent. To catch the shrimp, farmers use open nets with lures. Grass shrimps sold on nearby markets are preserved on blocks of ice, while those which have to be transported are frozen. To satisfy the demands of customers for fresh seafood, the shrimps are sometimes kept alive in tanks of sea water right up to the time they are eaten. Some of the shrimps are also airfreighted to Hong Kong and Japan at a cost of US$8 a kilogram. Since supply cannot meet demand, it is expected that last year's earnings of US$5 million will increase this year. In order to encourage farmers to raise grass shrimps, the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction has allocated US$2.5 million as loans for investment. The Fishery Research Institute is also providing new techniques and intensive courses to promote grass shrimp culture. As a result of this help and encouragement, about 100 farms have been established to promote one more item in Taiwan's growing fishery industry.