Assessment of soil and source water characteristics of disused shrimp ponds in selected coastal states of India and their suitability for resuming aquaculture

The key objective of this study was to assess the suitability of soil and source water quality of abandoned shrimp farms in selected coastal states of India, for resuming aquaculture activities. Soil samples along with associated source water were collected from 60 disused shrimp ponds in different districts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Kerala and analysed for basic physico-chemical parameters. Results of the analysis indicated that the reason for disuse might be reduction in price/repeated occurrences of diseases and that the sampled farms are suitable for aquaculture use. Most of the soil in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are suitable for aquaculture without any remediation. Few ponds in Jagatsingpur and Puri districts of Odisha and Kerala needs simple remediation measures like application of lime to increase the soil pH. Source water in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (Harishpur Creek, Budhabalanga Creek and the coastal canal) fall under high saline areas and are suitable for culture of tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon , white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and finfishes like Asian seabass Lates calcarifer and mullets whereas, Kerala and northern parts of Chilka Lake of Odisha fall under low saline areas and are suitable for culture of white shrimp L. vannamei and pearlspot Etroplus suratensis .