Final

report

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BAR C Contract rosearch Scheme

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, PRELIMINARY STUDY a\I

CULTURE OF

ARTEMIA
IN THE COASTAL SALTPANS
OF BANGLADESH

..

Nuruddin Mahmood
Associate Professor

INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCES

University of Chlttagong
Chlttagong

January,

1990

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LIST OF CONTENTS
A.

B.

PROJECT DIGEST
TECHNICAL REPORT
1. Abstract
2. Introduction

3. Materials and methods

4. Results
5. Discussion
S. Acknowledgements
7. Refe rences

1
2
2
2
4
4
4
5
5

PROJECT DIGEST
1. Title

Preliminary study on growth of Artemia in

the coastal saltpans of Bangladesh

2.

Prj~cipal

Investigator

3. Implimenting Institute

Nuruddin Mahmood
Institute of Marine Sciences. University of

Chinagong, Bangladesh.

4. Project location
5. Project period

Chanua, Banskhali. chittagong.

6. Total budget

Taka 562,068

January, 1988 to Oecember,1989

Fund reeieved

Taka 529,221 .50

8. Expenditure made

Taka 529,223.20

7.

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON CULTURE OF ARTEMIA IN THE

COASTAL SALTPANS OF BANGLADESH
ABSTRACT
In view of its importance to rapidly growing coastal aquaculture Industry and in the face of
pressing need to establish shrimp hatcheries in Bang ladesh two attempts were made to
introduce production of Artemia cysts in the coastal saltpans. The lasl experiment gave
success for the firsl time in this country to produce Artemia cysts in the coastal saltpans as a
bye product of sail extraction. Field experiment was done between December 1988 and March
1989 on a small plot of land ( 1OOOm 2 ) at Chanua. Banskhali, Chittagong . A total of 517 g( dry
weight) of cyst and 2.6 Ions of salt have been produced . The whole experiment has been
described as under.

INTRODUCTION
Artemia is an Anostracan phyllopod Crustacean of about 12 mm in length. It is
found in brackish to high saline water. The most interesting features of this animal in
respect of aquaculture is that it serves as an important food for early stages of
shrimp and other organisms in aquaria and small ponds having no natural foods. Being
live food, the larvae of Artemia are readily taken by aquatic animals under nursery
conditions without fouling the aquarium waler. As such the brine shrimp, Artemia is
widely used by aquaculturist as an excellent live food for crustacean and fish. It
constitues the principal ration and frequently the only food for the larvae and juveniles
of many cultured species, such as freshwater prawns {Mac robrachjum sp.}, shrimps
(penaeids), lobsters (Homarus sp.), crabs and various finfish (8ardach .e.1 al.. 1972;
150rgel001 1976; Rosemark 1978). In extreme salinity conditions in earthen
saltpans constructed aU over the world in the tropical and sub- tropical belt for solar
salt extraction only few plant and animal species can live. the most popular organism
being the Artemia (Persoone and 50rg8100$, 1980).
In Brazil a great potential for commercial scale integrated production of salt +
Arta m ia + shrimp production in saltpans has been demonstrated (80rgeI005, 1983).
Now it has been proved that salt extraction and Artemia production go hand in hand. In
many thousands of heclres of salinas in the tropical and sub-tropical belt, in fact often
in climates thai favour farming of crustacean and fish, this new type of vertically
integrated aquaculture has most interesting prospects . Furthermore, in many
developing countries, it can lead to extra income for famity size salt operations that
often run at limits of profitability (8ah avachasln , 1981).

The above discussions make it clear that there is a great possibility of Artemja
culture as a bye product of salt production in the coastal saltpans of Bangladesh.
Favourable environmental conditions do occur at least during the pre and post-monsoon
seasons (middle of October through middle of April) in the coastal salinas of Banskhali,
Chakaria, Cox's Bazar, Kulubdia, Mathemari and Moheskhali islands,
This is a very important and most timely needed aspect of resarch in respect of
establishment of prawn (Maccobrachjum rosenbergiD and shrimp (penaeus manadon)
hatcheries. Government has already set up a prawn hatchery at Cox's Bazar, which
has already started trial production, also private hatcheries are coming up soon .
Recent declaration of Fisheries Ministry says that Government will help develop thirty
hatcheries in the private sector. As such the urgent need for Artemja to be utilized in
this new prospective aquaculture industry can be felt .
Currently. main brine shrimp exporting countries are U. S. A, Brazil, Canada.
China, Australia and some European countries. Because of transportation cost, balance
of payment and great demand, they command a very high price of $ 40-901 Kg (U.S).
With increasing number of shrimp and other aquaculture oriented industies round the
world demand of Artemja is rising. Thus, local production of Artemja will be very
lucrative especially in view of costly importation .
Successful attempts have already been made to produce cysts in countries having
no natural population of Artemia such as Thailand. India and the Phi lippines (Vas and
Tansuatapanlt, 1979; de los Santos1tlal. 1980) by inoculation in existing or
renovated evaporation ponds of salt farms.
Periodic and cyclic culture of Artemja in the normally "empty" evaporation
compartments of these areas will tend to enhance utilization of the available
env ironmental space and provide additional source of income for the sail pond
opelators (Jumalon.eta! 1983). It may be an attraclive and added aspect of income to
our saltpan owners who are desirous to convert their land entirely for shrimp culture
without considering to extract salt during dry season (post and pre-monsoon).
Although successful Artemia inoculations have been reported in different countries
of south-east Asia no such attempt has yet been made for producing Artemja cyst in
our poastal saltpans except the present endeavour. Earlier two laboratory scale
rearing experiments were done by Karim (1973). myself and my co -worker
(Mahmood and Begum 1978). The main objective of this venture is to find ways and
means to introduce cyst production of Artemia in our coastal saltpans aUeast for local
use, to utilize the existing salinas to the fullest in order to upgrade the standard of
living of our coastal salt farmers; and to gain experience in culture of Artemia outside
our laboratories.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

With a view to earlier attempt (Mah mood~ 1988), and failure to produce Artemia
cyst because of rainfall in April 'S8, the whole experiment was scheduled to be
completed within the dry period at the year (November-March). Field preparation was
started in December 1988, on a small plot of land (1000m 2 ) owned by a private salt
production farm at Chanua, 8anskhali (Fig. 1); where a reservoir, two Artemia
production ponds (45m 2 each) and a series of evaporation compartments were
constructed (Fig. 2). On January 1, seawater of 28%0 was pumped in the reservoir,
gradually passed through the evaporation compartments to Artemia production ponds
(APP) where salinity concentration of about 55%0 was attained on 8th January . This
water was fertilized by adding Urea and dry chicken manure at the rate of 180g and
3.6kg respectively in each pond at start, followed by weekly replenishment at the rate
of 45g and 900g respectively .
30g of Artemia cysts were put in a container and 3 lUres of seawater (35%0 )
:-vere added with provision of continuous aeration. After 60 hours of incubation nauplii
were inoculated to the Artemia production ponds (Fig. 2). Environmental paramelers
such as water temperature . dissolved oxygen, salinity pH and water turbidity were
recorded at frequent intervals following slandard procedures. Simultaneously
population density of Artemia (Individuals/l) and cysts were collected. From time to
time. concentrated brine from the Artemia production pond were drained to the salt
crystallisation pond to produce sail.
I

RESULT
Average data of the two ponds on environmental parameters, population density of
Artemia and cyst harvest records have been shown in Table 1 and 2. Salinity
gradually increased to as high as 120%0 . A continued and steady increase in
- population density of Artemia is also apparent from the Data, highest density (257
individuals/I) was recorded on March 18. cysts were found to accumulate on Ihe cyst
barrier on 27th of January, 1989. collecleion was started on 30th January and
continued till March 28. A tolal of 517g (dry weight) of cysls were harvested (Table
2), and in addition 2600 kgs of salt were extracted during the whole course of this
experiment .
DISCUSSION
The two experiments conducted to in troduce production of Artem ia cyst in the
coastal sallpans of Bangladesh suggest that the dry period between winter and spring,
1. e., from November through March is suitable for culture of Artemia. Favourable
climatic conditions such as absence of r3infall and presence of high salinity in

seawater are useful to create an environment for culture of Artemia and production of
cysts in the coastal saltpans. In our earlier expe riment (Mahmood, 1988) lowering of
salinity in the sallpans following rainfa ll in April, 1988 placed a strong and
unmanageable limitation in the way of production of Artem ia cyst. Since more and
more rainfall caused continued lowering of sa linity (Fig. 3), the field experimen t had to
be suspended. Following this path finding failure, the edxperiment was rescheduled and
designed to slart our activities in the beg inning of the next winter season. and thus t he
desired success was attained to produce and harvest Artemia cyst.
Although some preliminary success have been attained, a lot more rem ains to be
done on performances of different geographical stain s of Artemia in our cl imate and
soil, nutritional value of local cysts. cyst collectio n and preservation; and transfer of
tec hnology to the farmer level.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to Or. A. K. M. Nu ruzzaman, Member-Director (Fisheries) of the
BARC, who not only to got this research scheme sanctioned bu t also was confident in
our way of approach in this research work. Two other scientists of the same division
Or. S. K. Paul and Mr. Khabir were very keen to see our Performances in the field.
theIr appreciation was a . source of encourageme nt .to us. Without th e devoted
assistance of MIS M. A. Chowdh ury and Manirul Alam, Scientific Officers and Mr. M.
A. Sattar, Field Assistant it would be impossible to execute this research work.
Valuable help and co-operation extended to me from begi nning to end of th is work by
my esteemed colleagues MI S N.G. Das, Director, and Md. Zala r. Lecturer. IMS,
University 01 Chittagong is duety acknowledged. Last but not the least the untiring help
of my studentsM/S Sayedur Rahman Chowdhury, Md. Alzal Khan and Nurul Akter in
designing the cover and printing this final report is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES
Bardach. J.E .. J.H. Ryther and W.C. Mclarney 1972 Aqu ac ultue. John Wiley. N. Y. 868 PP .
de los Santos. C .. Jr.; P. Sor99100s ; E. Lavina: A. Bernardino 1980 Succes sful Inoc ul ati o n
of Art e m I p and production of cysts In man-made salterns In the
Philippines: 159 163.

Jumalon. N.A.. D.G. Esteror. A. A. Bombeo and A. M. Dadole 1983 Stud I. . on ArJemla
production In earthen ponds In the Philippine First International Biennial
Conference on Warm Water Aquaculture: Crustacea, Brigham Young University. Hawaii
Campus, Lale, Hawaii. In proceedings : 202 205.
Karim, M. 1974 Survival of brln. shrimp, Art.ml. n.uplll und.r controll.d
condition of temperature and salinity ; Bangladesh J. Zool.. 2 (1).
Mahmood. N . 1988 Pr.llmlnary atudy on growth of Art.ml. In the coast. I
a.llp.ns of aangladesh , Annual progress Report, IMS., University of Chittagong ,
Bang ladesh . 12 pp.
Mahmood. N. and B. Begu m 1978 On hatching of Arteml. nauplll und.r different
conditions 01 t emperature and salinity . Chittagong University studies. PI. 11
Vol. 2. 103 . 106.
Persoona . G. ; P . Sorgeloos 1980 General aspecls of the ecology and blog.ography of
Arteml, : 3 24 . In : The brine shrimp Artemia. Vol. 3 Ecology. Eds. Personne . G. ; P.
So(geloos: O. Roels ; E. Jaspers. University Press. Waltern (Belgium) , 456 pp.
RosQmark, R. 1078 Growth of Homarul amerlClDu, on Art.ml. 1.lIn. dl.t. with
and without supplementation. Proc. Annu. Meal. World Maric. Soc. 9 : 251 257.
Sahavachasin. S. 1981 Ways to convert salt farm to Artoml. f.rm . Thai Fisheries
Gazette. 34 (5) ; 467 480.
Sorgeloos. P. 1976 Art.mla salina 88 live tood In aquaculture. In E. Jaspers (ED),
European Mariclture Society Special Publication No. 2, pp. 37 46 .
Sorgeloos , P. 1983 Llv. animal food for larval rearing in .quaculture : the brine
shrimp. Art.mla, In : Realism in Aquaculture : Achievements , constraints,
perspeclives (Eds. M. 8ilio. H. Rosenlhal and C. J. Sinderman), European Mariculture
Society special publ ication . 300 pp.
Vos. J. and Tansutapan it. 1979 Detailed R.port on Artemla cyst inoculation In
a.ngp.kong,
Ch.che.ngasao
Province . FAO/ UNOP F ield Document
(THA / 75 / 008) .

Table 1. Environmental parameters in the experimental Arlemia cyst production ponds during pre monsoon

dry season of 1989

Salinity
(%0)

Date

..

Jan.

"
"
"

"
Feb.
"

"
"

"
",
Mar.

"
"
"
"
"
"

16
21
23
24
27
30
2
7
10
13
20
28
2
6
10
14
18
22
28

60
87
90
81
85
30
94
97
98

"-'"'

110
120
120
110
110
116
120
120
118

Water temperature. (Oc )

6 A.M.
12
11
13
14
14
13
14
16
17
18
22
19
20
21
20
21
19
22
21

12 A.M.

Mean

22
23
22
23
23
24
28
29
30
28
26
31
32
33
30
30
30
34
34

17
17

Dissolved 02, (mill)

6A. M. 12A. M.
4
3.9
4. 1
4.8
2
2.9
3'1
2'9
3
2'3
2'1
1'4
2'9
1'1
3
3'3
2'5
3
3'7

17.5

18.5
18.5
18.5

21
22'5

23'5
23
24
25
26
27
25
25'5
24'S

28
2 7'5
--

8
7.5
8.8
7
4.4
4.7
5'5
4' 1
5
4'7
5'3
3'5
4'6
4' 1
4' 8
5'1
5'6
5'5
5'7

pH

6P.M. Mean

7.5
6.6
6.9
5.9
3.9
3'9
5
5'4
4'7
4'3
4'2
4'2
3'9
4'5
4
4'2
4'1
4'3
4'2

6.5
6
6.6
5.9
3.4
3'8
4'5
4'1
4'2
3'8
3'9
3
3'8
3'2
3'9
4'2
4 '1
4'3
4'5

Water depth
(em)

7.9

22
25

7.8

-25

28

7'8

30
28
27

7'8

2s

7'6

7'7

7'9

25
2

--- -- - - -

--

Table 2. Artemia density and cyst harvest record of the experimental ponds during
premonsoon dry season of 1989.
Population density

Date

indills.ll
January

"
"

"
"

"
February
"
"
"

"
"
March

"
"
"
"
"

"

16
21
23
24
27
30
2
7
10
13
20
28
2
6
10
14
18
22
28

I
I

25

70

160

240

257

250

20
26
30

60
79
72
80
80
77
83
81
83
87
101
83

210

227

43

Dry wI. (0)

Total

cyst wI. (Q)

Nauplii Released

harvest

Cyst

1009 9

.~

37
35
39
40
38
42
39
40
44
48
39
517 9

I,

80

50

~-APp

1
APP 2

45

75
'.......

70

~i

65

""

0.
0.

601-

1-\

551-

V\ /_,/1

\J

40
35

.....-1

30
25

--'

>-

f-

Z
-'

20 -'

50

<l:

LL

<l:

CfJ

45
40

10

H:,.-?

35
30 1

24
MARCH,1988
Fig.3

31

10

rl I I I

15
APRIL,1988

I I

20

Shows effects of rainfall on salinity of two Arlemja prod uction pond s(APP) during the
experimental period . (After Mahmood,1 988)

15

<l:

a:

Q.

:>
UJ

0:

:>
UJ

0:

Q.

:>

>
UJ

UJ

.:

0:
0:

<-

0:

0:
0:

0:

:>

UJ

~
VI

a:
0

...J

u
>...J

>
a:
w
w
W
a:
0:.

:>

UJ

".
Q.

0:

:>
W

:>
UJ

0:

:>

:>
UJ

UJ

0..
0..
OJ

<-

-----

Fig.2

--

---

Layout of our experimental Aftemja cyst production and evaporation ponds (over
1000m2) in the coastal salt producing area of Chanua, Banskhali , Chittagong.
( Ev. P._ Evaporation pond , A.P.P. = Artemja Production Pond. S.C.P.=Salt
Crystall isation Pond)

0:

>
UJ

.."
0;

CHANUA

Fig.1

showing geographical location of our experimental Artem ia cyst production ponds in a

coastal sallpan of Chanua, Banskhali, Chittagong .

. -

PHOTOGRAPHS
Top lett
Showing a dense population of adult Artemia in our experimental ,saltpan at
Chanua, Banskhali.
Arlemja Cysts aggregate at the corner of the cyst barrier placed at the dyke
Top right
of the pond.
Cysts are being skimmed up.
ttlBottom left
Boltom right Two BARC scientists and a research fellow poise to show/collected cysts on a
strainer.