Importance of live feed organisms in prawn hatcheries: a review

Live food organisms play a vital role in the artificial propagation of penaeid prawn seeds. The methods practiced for the culture of phyto and zooplankton for rearing prawn larvae through their various developmental stages are reviewed. Selection of a suitable species depends mainly on the culture characteristics, local environmental factors and the food requirements of the species of prawns cultured. Suitability of a few species isolated from Karwar waters is discussed.

Concentration of toxic metals in benthic organisms off Bombay coast

Concentration of toxic metals namely Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd and Pb in the marine benthos off Bombay Coast, Maharashtra (India) was estimated. Maximum concentration of Zn, Fe and Pb was from the organisms of Thana Creek. Higher concentration of Cu was encountered in benthic organisms off Versova. Cd was detected in some organisms and was maximum in the organisms collected from Mahim.

Faecal indicator organisms in frozen prawn products. Pt. 2. Survival of the organisms during freezing and frozen storage

The rate of survival of different types of faecal indicator organisms like Escherichia coli, enterococci etc. during freezing and frozen storage has been studied. Peeled and deveined prawns inoculated with a mixed culture of the above organisms were subjected to freezing and storage at -10̊F and examined for over four months.

Faecal indicator organisms in frozen prawn products. Pt. 1. Incidence and general distribution

A general survey carried out on several brands of frozen prawn products has shown that along with the standard plate count (SPC), the numbers of pathogenic organisms like Escherichia coli, enterococci and coagulase positive staphylococci have also to be taken into consideration for the evaluation of the quality of these products. No correlation could be established between the total plate count and the number of E. coli, enterococci or staphylococci. Enumeration of enterococci, however, is advocated as a better index of faecal contamination of the products than E. coli.

Some observations on the problem of marine timber destroying organisms of Indian coasts

In India the chief marine timber boring organisms are 2 species of Martesia, 28 species of shipworms, 4 species and a variety of Sphaeroma and 9 species of Limnoria besides bacteria and fungi. The occurrence, abundance and activity of the various species of borers show remarkable variations and fluctuations in the different harbours of India, each harbour or area having its own dominant set of species and an assemblage of less important forms. These species have their own characteristic preferences, life history and seasons of attachment and a scheme evolved for one locality may prove ineffective for another. Through a delicate and complex ecological adjustment the borers occurring in a locality have reached an interrelationship reducing interspecific and intraspecific competition. The seasons of settlement of the dominant borers in the different harbours of India are indicated. The need for a detailed biological enquiry is stressed.