TAS XXXX-XXXX 
THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD 
GOOD AQUACULTURE PRACTICES FOR HATCHERY OF DISEASE FREE 
PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) 
1. SCOPE 
1.1 This Thai Agricultural Standard cove rs hatchery producing Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus 
vannamei  nauplii 
1.2 This Thai Agricultural Standard establishes requirements on good aquaculture practices for 
Litopenaeus vannamei  nauplius production, covering from broodstock receiving  up until shrimp 
nauplii ready to be moved from the hatching pond or other hatching containers, in order to obtain 
Litopenaeus vannamei  nauplii free from target diseases.  
2. DEFINITIONS 
For the purpose of this standard: 
2.1 Pacific white shrimp means a marine shrimp of the scientific name of Litopenaeus vannamei 
or any recognised synonyms. 
2.2 Pacific white shrimp at nauplius stage means shrimp larvae after hatching and before 
entering into zoeal stage.   
2.3  Pacific white shrimp broodstock means sexually mature shrimp that are collected, reared, or 
imported for breeding purposes.  
2.4 Disease free Pacific white shrimp means Paci fic white shrimp broodstock and nauplii that 
are free of the diseases listed in Annex A 
2.5 Pacific white shrimp hatchery means premises specifically used to produce Pacific white 
shrimp nauplii such as a production office, water pumping station, water preparation ponds, 
water storage facility, air blower station, quaran tine area, natural feed culturing area, broodstock 
house, nauplius production house, packing area, and effluent water treatment system. 
2.6 Natural feed means live animals or plants, includ ing animal parts or plant parts that have not 
been processed and can be used to feed Pacific white shrimp broodstock. 
2.7 Formulated feed means instant pre-mixed aquatic animal feed as defined under the Animal 
Feed Quality Control Act B.E.2525 (1982) and its amendments. 
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3. REQUIREMENTS  
Pacific white shrimp hatchery shall follow the requirements as specified in Table 1.  
Table 1 Requirements 
Items Requirements  
1. Production 
principles  1.1 Availability of Standard Operating Procedures of hatchery to control 
target diseases. Standard Operating Procedures shall be implemented accordingly.  
1.2 Targeted surveillance shall be participated.   
1.3 Availability of surveillance report showing that the hatchery is free of 
the target diseases for at least six consecutive months, except for a newly operating hatchery. However, such hatchery shall obtain inspection report showing the absence of target diseases.   
2. Personnel 2.1 The operators in hatchery shall obtain knowledge, training and/or 
experience in Pacific white shrimp  hatchery operations. 
2.2 Control measures for personnel and visitors that may be the carrier of 
target diseases into the hatchery shall be in place.  
3.  Selection of 
disease free Pacific white shrimp 
broodstock 3.1 Select target disease free Pacific white shrimp broodstock. Their source 
shall be traceable. 
3.2 Availability of effective quaran tine system for Pacific white shrimp 
broodstock.  
4. General 
management 4.1 Availability of an operating manual for Pacific white shrimp hatchery. 
Operating manual shall be implemented accordingly.  
4.2 Closed housing operation shall be applied to Pacific white shrimp 
broodstock, nauplius production and disease quarantine areas. 
4.3 Tools, equipment and systems used for each house shall be clearly 
separated and properly disinfected according to the technical methods 
before and after the use of each batch of broodstock.  
4.4 Water used in the hatchery shall be of suitable quality or properly 
adjusted to the suitable quality for Pacific white shrimp nauplius production. Prevention of disease carriers from the  water shall be 
implemented.  Disinfection of water used in hatching and transporting shall 
be in accordance with technical methods.  
4.5 Vehicle shall be disinfected at the hatchery entry and exit.  4.6 Pest shall be controlled and prevented from the production areas of the 
hatchery. 3  TAS XXXX-XXXX 
 
 
Items Requirements  
4.7 No pet is allowed in the production areas of the hatchery.  
4 .8  Rubbish and waste shall be collected and discarded hygienically to 
prevent cross contamination.  
4.9 Waste from bathroom and toilet shall be discarded hygienically.  The 
contamination of such waste to the water system shall be prevented.  
5. Feed 
management for 
Pacific white 
shrimp broodstock  5 . 1  Registered formulated feed in accordance with the Animal Feed 
Quality Control Act B.E.2525 (1982) and its amendments which is not 
deteriorated shall be used. Nevertheless, on farm and/or natural feed 
hygienically prepared and stored may be used.  Inspection report for such on farm and/or natural feed indicating the absence of target diseases or risk 
mitigation method of target diseases shall be available.  
5 . 2  Feed shall be kept in a secure place that is able to prevent 
contamination and keep the quality of the feed.  
6. Pacific white 
shrimp health 
management 6 .1  Measures shall be in place to prevent and control disease spreading 
within hatchery and from hatchery to outside.   
6.2 Inspection report of shrimp random sampling indicating the absence of 
the target diseases shall be available. The broodstock shall be free of the diseases listed in Sections A.1 - A.6, Annex A. Shrimp nauplii shall be free 
of the disease described in Section A.6, Annex A.  
6.3 In case abnormal mortality is found and target diseases are suspected, 
disease transmission shall be controlled and relevant competent authority 
shall be immediately informed.    
7. Records 7.1 Record the production process and keep for at least three years. 
 
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ANNEX A  
TARGET DISEASES 
(Sections 1.2, 2.4 and 6.2) 
The target diseases are as follows:  
A.1 White spot disease is a disease occurs in marine shrimp caused by White Spot Syndrome 
Virus (WSSV). The infected shrimp s usually have white spots or rings under the exoskeleton on 
the carapace (cephalothorax), abdomen (body) and base of the tail. Occasionally, red to pinkish 
discoloration may also appear on the abdomen. The disease can cause rapid mortality in cultured 
shrimp.   
A.2 Yellow head disease is a disease occurs in marine shrimp caused by Yellow Head Virus 
(YHV). The infected shrimps usually have yellow ish coloration of the cephalothorax due to the 
discoloration of gill and hepatopancrease to pale and yellow colour. The disease can cause rapid mortality in cultured shrimp.   
A.3 Taura Syndrome (TS) is a disease occurs in marine shrimp caused by Taura Syndrome Virus 
(TSV). The disease is often found in Pacific white shrimp . The clinical signs are usually dark red 
markings, especially on the tail and appendages. Sometimes, the disease may cause death. In 
case infected shrimps survive, advanced stage occurs with the black markings of ambiguous shape presented on the shell. 
A.4 Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus disease (IHHNV) is a disease 
occurs in marine shrimp caused by parvovirus so called Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV).  The infect ed shrimps usually have irregular and slow 
growth, cuticular deformities, bended rostrum, and fragile, misshape antennae. Mortality rate is 
low. Non-uniformity of shrimp size is commonly found in the affected crop.  
A.5 Infectious Myonecrosis (IMN) is a disease occurs in marine shrimp caused by Infectious 
Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV). The clinical signs of in fected shrimp are white discoloration of the 
muscle at the last abdominal segment which may spread to the other segments. Necrosis of 
muscle cells occurs and orange discoloration of the muscle like boiled shrimp may appear. 
A.6 Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute He patopancreatic Necrosis  Disease (AHPND) is 
a disease occurs in marine shrimp caused by the infection of virulent strain of Vibrio 
parahaemolyticus. The infected shrimps usually show signs of hepatopancrease shrinkage and 
reduction of fat droplets within the hepatopancrease.