higher at 10,000­50,000 prawn juveniles/ha with correspondingly higher annual

production of 500­4,000 kg/ha.

Renovation of an existing milkfish pond costs approximately P25,000/ha and

includes excavation of peripheral or diagonal canals and installation of drain gates
for each compartment, in addition to the supply gate.

3. Intensive — Almost completely independent of nature, the intensive system

stocks 50,000 fry/ha consequently pushing production to 5,000­15,000 kg/ha/yr.
Such high densities can be supported only though major inputs of formulated feeds
mostly in the form of pellets, water exchange through pumps and aeration facilities
(Fig. 5). Ponds are smaller, 1,000 to 5,000 m2 in size, and are lined with concrete
or bricks.

Correspondingly, pond development costs are approximately P500,000/ha

whether for a new pond or an already existing pond and annual operating expenses
require another P500,000/ha. This system was developed in countries with limited
pond areas such as Japan where real estate is expensive and Taiwan where agricul­
ture competes with aquaculture for land use.

This present manual places emphasis on both the extensive system for milkfish
farmers who want to shift to prawn monoculture or polyculture and on the semi­
intensive system for progressive farmers already practicing the extensive system. This
emphasis is due to the relatively lower pond development costs and annual operating
expenses for these low­ to medium­density culture compared to intensive culture.

Fig. 5. Paddlewheels increase oxygen levels in intensive prawn ponds.