The reproductive performance of wild and pondreared Penaeus semisulcatus de Haan

A controlled comparison of the reproductive performance of individually tagged wild (P0) and first generation pond-reared (P1) Penaeus semisulcatus is presented. Eyestalk ablated and nonablated females matured and spawned in 3-m³ maturation tanks. Females which had undergone unilateral eyestalk ablation showed: (1) a slower growth rate (g/day); (2) a trend towards shortening of the molt cycle; (3) a significantly smaller number of eggs and nauplii per spawn; and (4) significantly increassed spawn frequency and increased rate of egg and nauplii production. The fertility and hatchability of spawns from ablated females were not different from those of spawns from nonablated females. All of these trends were observed for both P0 and P1 spawners. The average spawn from a P1 female had fewer eggs than the average spawn from a P0 female. Fertility and hatchability of spawns from both generations were variable and no significant difference was found in the number of nauplii in an average spawn. No significant differences were found between the two generations in the average number of spawns, eggs and nauplii produced per day. Thus the reproductive potential of P1 broodstock was not different from that of P0 females induced to mature and spawn in captivity.