Island Development Company (IDC), a company owned by the Seychelles State, is on the verge of starting by June 2024 the production of black tiger prawn and expects first batches to be available on the market by October or November 2024, the state-run news agency reports, citing a top official of the company.
Christian Lionnet, deputy chief executive of IDC, reportedly indicated last week that this kind of prawns are very susceptible to stress and that is the main reason why 90 percent of the initial broodstock batch did not survive when imported into the country.
“For the first half of this year, we are planning on finalizing our hatchery. Following the first attempt, we’ve decided that it would be better to develop our broodstock here in Seychelles. So, we will produce the larvae and then rear it in the ponds”, said Lionnet.
“By June this year, our hatchery on Coetivy will be ready, that way we’ll be able to produce black tiger prawns. And four months later, during October or November, the first batches should be ready for the market,” he added.
The company also produces white shrimps and the first batches of shrimps came on the Seychelles market in April 2023. IDC expects to produce around 160 to 170 tons, i.e. 85 percent of the estimated 190 to 200 tons that the population of Seychelles consumes per year.
“These figures include both the production of white shrimp as well as the black tiger prawns. At the moment, we have eight ponds with white shrimp. Each pond produces around 8 to 10 tons of prawns. However, once we introduce the black tiger, these ponds will be shared between the two species”, said Lionnet.