The Maricá Centre for Innovation and Aquaculture (Ciamar), a partnership between Maricá City Hall, through Codemar, and the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), is revolutionizing shrimp farming with an innovative technique, focusing on healthy and profitable shrimp.
The first shrimp larvae were released on May 25, 2023, during Maricá’s anniversary week, at the Joaquim Piñero Public Farm in Espraiado. The structure for cultivation consists of huge tanks, 22 meters in diameter and with a capacity for 400,000 liters of water. Two of these tanks are already in operation, while another eight are in the final stages of completion.
The difference in terms of shrimp health lies in the use of bio-inputs, natural microorganisms with no chemical components, which are released into the water to carry out the necessary treatment. This method is harmless to animals, plants and people. The resulting production is high-yielding, providing an excellent cost-benefit ratio for shrimp farming, which are sensitive animals and difficult to manage.
The necessary microorganisms are produced both by Biotec Maricá, a subsidiary of Codemar, and at the local Biofactory.
The type of shrimp bred is known as Pacific shrimp, with the scientific name of Litopenaeus vannamei, which can reach up to 23 centimeters in length and a carapace of 9 centimeters. The larvae used initially were purchased from suppliers in Rio Grande do Norte, totaling 100,000 units.
The shrimp’s growth cycle takes approximately 120 days, from the arrival of the larvae until they are harvested, at which point they are ready for sale. Each tank has the capacity to produce up to 3 tons, with initial production expected to be around 1 ton each cycle.
The water used in the tanks comes from wells drilled on the farm itself, and the system uses biofloc technology. This technique involves the addition of microbiotics with bacteria that treat water, keeping it suitable for growing shrimp. In addition, the system always uses the same water, without waste, thanks to its ability to maintain water quality. This technique, called bioflocs, not only benefits the quality of the culture, but also allows it to be expanded to locations close to consumer markets.
