Tiger prawn

Penaeus monodon

2: Best Choice How we work out the ratings

What to check for

Location

Borneo, Kalimantan

Production method

Pond, extensive

Rating summary

This rating is for tiger prawns produced in extensive pond systems in Kalimantan for the Happy Prawn Company. Tiger prawns produced in extensive ponds require no feed inputs. There are many negative environmental impacts of prawn farming but many of these are mitigated or minimised by the Happy Prawn Co. producers, including the use of chemicals and destruction of mangroves. However, some negative environmental impacts remain and it is unknown if welfare and humane slaughter practices are in place. Management and regulation for the aquaculture sector in Indonesia is thought to be only partially effective in mitigating negative environmental impacts.Rating last updated November 2024

How we worked out this Rating

Giant tiger prawns produced in extensive silvofishery systems and consume a diet of naturally-occurring pond biota, such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. In silvofishery systems, supplementary food is not provided. Therefore, there is no reliance on wild-capture fisheries. This is possible as stocking densities in these ponds are extremely low (no more than 5 fry per m3). In contrast to more intensive production techniques that use commercial diets, silvofishery yields are very small in comparison to their land footprint.

There are many negative environmental impacts of prawn farming, but many of these are mitigated or minimised by the Happy Prawn Co. producers, including the use of chemicals and destruction of mangroves.One of the primary negative environmental drivers of Asian prawn production, including giant tiger prawn, has been the use of illegal chemicals and antibiotics by the sector, coupled with ineffective regulatory control. However, the Happy Prawn Co.’s producer association does not use any chemicals. Prawn farming has also historically been responsible for large-scale mangrove removal, however, this destructive practice has greatly diminished as awareness of its detrimental impacts has grown. Happy Prawn Co. also actively take part in mangrove restoration efforts.Another benefit of extensive pond production systems is that discharged effluents have little environmental impact and when stocking densities are very low, prawn ponds are typically net removers of nutrients from the environment.While prawns are susceptible to an array of diseases, particularly viral pathogens, it is notable that direct environmental impacts of prawn viruses have not been commonly observed in wild populations. While escapes inevitably occur, this species is native throughout the region and escapees are also not thought to pose a genetic or competitive threat to wild populations. While data deficiency concerning predatory control measures warrants a precautionary approach when applied to the sector at large, this is evidently not the case for Happy Prawn Co.’s silvofishery association where the only predator reportedly encountered is the edible mud crab.However, there are still some negative environmental impacts. Tiger prawn producers contribute to soil salinisation, which can impact livelihoods and food security. In addition, while hatchery produced juveniles are largely used, there may also be wild caught juveniles used in extensive pond systems.

References

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Briggs, M. 2005. Introductions and movement of two penaeid shrimp species in Asia and the Pacific (No. 476). Food & Agriculture Org. Available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0086e/A0086E00.htm#TOC [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

CAA. 2018. Coastal Aquaculture Authority (India). Available at http://www.caa.gov.in [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Chakraborti, J. and Bandyapadhyay, P.K. 2011. Seasonal incidence of protozoan parasites of the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) of Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. J Parasit Dis. 2011;35(1):61-5. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114977/ [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

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EJF. 2004. Farming the Sea, Costing the Earth: Why we Must Green the Blue Revolution. Environmental Justice Foundation, London, UK. Available at https://ejfoundation.org/resources/downloads/Farming-Sea-Costing-Earth-ok.pdf [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

FAO. 2005. National Aquaculture Sector Overview: Indonesia. Available at https://www.fao.org/fishery/legalframework/nalo_indonesia/en [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Happy Prawn Company. The Journey. Available at https://www.thehappyprawn.co/the-journey [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Hens, L., Vromant, N., Tho, N., Hung, N.T. 2009. Salination of surface water, groundwater, and soils in the shrimp farming areas of the coastal Cai Nuoc district, South Vietnam. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 66(1), 69-81. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248923902_Salination_of_Surface_water_groundwater_and_soils_in_the_shrimp_farming_areas_of_the_coastal_Cai_Nuoc_district_South_Vietnam [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Lightner, D.V., Redman, R.M., Pantoja, C.R., Tang, K.F.J., Noble, B.L., Schofield, P., Mohney, L.L., Navarro, S.A. 2012. Historic emergence, impact and current status of shrimp pathogens in the Americas. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 110(2), 174-183. Available at https://arizona.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/historic-emergence-impact-and-current-status-of-shrimp-pathogens- [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

MBA. 2015. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch assessment of Farmed Shrimp grown in ponds in Indonesia. Available at https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendation/shrimp/red-shrimp-whiteleg-shrimp-indonesia-ponds?species=156 [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Seafish. 2013. Responsible Sourcing Guide: Marine Warm Water Prawns. Available at https://www.seafish.org/document/?id=d443878e-d50b-4d78-9d68-8b5c393ed0c0 [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Suratin, A. 2011. Restoring neglected coastal land in Indonesia. New Agriculturist. Oxfam Indonesia. Available at http://www.new-ag.info/en/focus/focusItem.php?a=2088 [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Tacon, A.G.J., Jory, D., and Nunes, A. 2013. Shrimp feed management: issues and perspectives. In M.R. Hasan and M.B. New, eds. On-farm feeding and feed management in aquaculture. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 583. Rome, FAO. pp. 481–488. Available at http://www.fao.org/tempref/FI/CDrom/T583/root/18.pdf [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

The Fish Site. 2018. How to improve welfare at slaughter – by Rob Fletcher, March 16, 2018. Available at https://thefishsite.com/articles/seafood-welfare-at-slaughter-explained [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

Walker, P.J. and Winton, J.R. 2010. Emerging viral diseases of fish and shrimp. Veterinary Research, 41(6); Nov-Dec 2010. Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2878170/ [Accessed on 10.18.2025].

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