WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2016 47 With more than 2000 km of coastline, Iran has the longest common water border with the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. Capture production of shrimp along the northern coast of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea grew slightly from 5,762 t in 2002 to 8,948 t in 2012 (Table 1). Saline soils and high salinity water have made lands in this area suitable for marine shrimp farming. In this region, shrimp production reached 8,903 t in 2004 but in 2005 industry suffered production losses from a white spot epidemic and production decreased substantially (Table 1). Nevertheless, in recent years the production level has increased gradually. Proper management plans should be established to avoid following the same losses that occurred in 2005 and reach an acceptable amount compared to other Asian countries. Farmed Species The four most important shrimp species of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea are banana shrimp Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, green tiger shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus, Indian white shrimp Feneropenaeus indicus and jinga shrimp Metapenaeus affinis. Jinga shrimp is the smallest, with a market size of 5-7 g. Growth Status of Shrimp Farming on the North Coast of the Persian Gulf Mahmoud Nafisi Bahabadi* and Reza Davoodi rate of this species for aquaculture is slow and it has not been farmed beyond the species recovery stage in Iran. Banana shrimp is present in Oman Sea and around the coasts of Hormuzgan province from Hormuz strait (Queshm Island) to Guater Gulf in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Because of its slow growth, sensitivity to harsh environmental conditions and poor utilization of commercial feed, banana shrimp have not been introduced to Iran’s shrimp farming systems. Green tiger shrimp have a wide distribution from Africa to Australia through warm saline waters and is the most important species in capture production of Bushehr Province. However, this species also grows slowly in culture ponds. Indian white shrimp is distributed through northeast Australia, the Indian Ocean, Hong Kong Island, the Philippines, Oman Sea and Persian Gulf. In Iran, the highest population of this species is found near Jask Port. Culture of Indian white shrimp started about 20 years ago in Kolahi Port (Hormuzgan Province) because of good growth rate and production (2,500 to 5,000 kg/ha). Map of Islamic Republic of Iran with capitals of each province. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 48) TABLE 1. Shrimp production (t) in Iran from capture fisheries and aquaculture and shrimp post-larvae production (millions). (Source: Fisheries Statistics of I.R.I., 2002-2012). Year Capture fisheries Aquaculture Post-larvae 2002 5,726 5,960 683.45 2003 7,100 7,462 764.30 2004 5,940 8,903 1,142.70 2005 9,128 3,577 797.46 2006 5,951 5,700 642.90 2007 7,450 2,508 397.36 2008 8,687 4,372 733.54 2009 6,603 5,128 532.48 2010 7,603 6,359 682.00 2011 6,861 8,026 901.10 2012 8,948 10,152 1,115.30
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