PACKAGING PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BANANA PRAWN, PENAEUS MERGUIENSIS DE MAN

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the physiological responses of the banana prawn, P.merguiensis over a transportation period of 48 hours and to develop a packaging protocol towards minimum mortality. Experiments were performed to further the understanding of different aspects of packaging Physiology In prawns. The first set of experiment was carried out to determine the oxygen consumption rates of the prawn at different water parameters in a bid to gauge the metabolic rate of prawns actual transport condition. The optimal temperature for packaging was selected to be 22° C which had a low oxygen consumption rate and exerted minimal stress on the prawns. The next experiment looked into the toxicity of selected water parameters to banana prawns. The prawns were generally intolerable of highly acidic medium and high carbon dioxide and ammonia concentrations. Temperatures above 30 C and below 14 C were unfavorable for the prawns. The third set of experiment dealt with the trend of changing water parameters In a Simulated packaging environment. There was a rapid drop in pH for the first three hours which was followed by what appeared as regulated pH level for the next 45 hours. This was taken as an attempt by the prawn to regulate its micro-environment. Accumulation of total ammonia after 48 hours was below the threshold level determined in the tolerance study. Free ammonia increased disproportionately to that of total ammonia due to the fluctuation in pH. Carbon dioxide increased slightly above the level mortality was, observed in the tolerance test. at which Dissolved oxygen was found to be sufficient for the survival of the prawns and oxygen was therefore ruled out as a limiting factor in the packaging environment. The experiments Indicated that packaging prawns In water was highly viable as mortality was low (2.51.) except for the relatively higher cost incurred In freight charges.