According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the quantity of captive-bred shrimp has surpassed wild-caught shrimp volume since 2007, fostering a colossal industry with an annual production value exceeding US $10 million. While the global demand for shrimp products is substantial, the aquaculture sector grapples with environmental challenges, including diseases and elevated mortality rates resulting from erratic climate patterns.
Situated within a subtropical region of East Asia, located at the junction of East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, Taiwan has huge climatic variations throughout its four seasons. Furthermore, the impact of the island’s extreme weather events has critically impacted the traditional shrimp farming sector in the coastal areas. Excessive rainfall has resulted in devastating losses. Moreover, diverse regional conditions, including water and soil quality, present challenges to the standardization of shrimp farming practices.
Tackling Climatic Challenges
Kazuo Aquaculture, ltd. has constructed an inland greenhouse recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), fortifying risk management within the farm environment. This innovative approach bolsters yields and revenues while conserving water resources through the recycling of up to 90% of the aquaculture water. Evaporation losses are offset through rainwater, with salinity adjustments achieved through salt supplementation.
Given that the upfront costs exceed those of traditional earthen ponds, this approach has found limited adoption in Taiwan. Acknowledging this, Charlie Hsu, the company’s general manager, concedes that the expenses of establishing a comprehensive greenhouse RAS are significantly higher. However, he says that successful high-yield aquaculture should lead to satisfactory returns on investment. As experience accumulates and technology matures, the expenses for constructing similar indoor aquaculture ponds are expected to decrease, coupled with improvements in pond quality.
Revolutionizing Farming Conditions through Technology
Despite the initial higher costs, this technology proves highly effective in curbing the transmission of diseases through waterbirds and mitigating the impacts of severe weather events.
“Since the inception of the farm, we have placed paramount importance on both biological control and water purity,” said Hsu. “Our approach involves nurturing shrimp within specialized greenhouses equipped with a recirculating aquaculture system. This necessitates the construction of greenhouses in various sizes for precise environmental controls. Furthermore, schrimplets are sterilized and examined before they are allowed entry into the farm, avoiding the intrusion of any pathogens.”
Moreover, an Internet of Things (IoT) network has been established to provide real-time monitoring of water quality through a mobile phone application. These parameters include temperature, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen content. This technological innovation has enhanced farmers’ decision-making, reduced labor requirements and elevated survival rates of shrimplets to approximately 90%, in addition to enabling year-round farming, accommodating diverse seasons and species, including vannamei schrimp, kurumaprawns, and groupers.
Kazuo Aquaculture’s sapphire tiger prawns are cultivated without the use of pharmaceutical interventions, offering sweet and succulent meat. Their exceptional quality has also earned a place on menus featured at top Taiwanese restaurants as well as onto the freezer aisle shelves and into the cabinets of leading Canadian supermarkets.
