Australian prawn farming goals Prawn farming in Australia has developed relatively slowly compared with most other prawn farming regions. Only 350 ha of ponds are currently in production from farms distributed over 2,000 km of coastline. However, growth has still been impressive. The Australian industry is committed to sustainable development and is collaborating with management and research agencies to improve production efficiency and avoid adverse environmental impacts. The water first passes into a deep settling pond where particulates settle to the bottom.
Stakes provide substrate for filter-feeding animals that remove phytoplankton from the water.
The water then passes to a shallow pond where marine plants remove some of the waste nitrogen. The marine plants can then be harvested. This model can be used to help predict the productivity, and hence profitability, of farms in new locations. It can also be used to help make decisions about the best time to stock and harvest prawns, in relation to seasonal temperature cycles. These results will help farmers manage their pond water quality.