A STUDY OF CARRYING CAPACITY OF WATER RESOURCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECO-FRIENDLY SHRIMP FARMING IN MALAKA REGENCY, WEST TIMOR OF INDONESIA

Abstract

This research explores the opportunities for developing eco-friendly shrimp farming. It aims to examine the environmental carrying capacity of nearshore water for shrimp farming. Quantitative estimation method was employed to assess the carrying capacity of an environment based on the total volume of seawater and the capacity of available oxygen dissolved in the water. The research result shows that the development potential of shrimp farming in Malaka Regency is fairly great, based on the total volume of available seawater in coastal Wewiku, reaching up to 213,473,289.8 m3/day, while the availability of dissolved oxygen to dilute organic waste reaches 327,140.89 kg O2/day. Then the daily capacity of organic waste reaches 1,635,704.43 kg. Based on the carrying capacity of the Wewiku waters to contain organic waste, intensive developments of shrimp farming are possible for an area of 177 ha, with 3,240.03 tons/MT of production. If the land is developed up to 685.12 ha, shrimp production can be increased up to 4,028.52 tons/MT. For semi-intensive and traditional plus shrimp farming options, the area developed can be expanded up to 1,415.84 ha and 3,352.54 ha with shrimp production capacity of 4,516.54 tons/MT and 2,581.46 tons/MT respectively for each area.

Keywords

• Carrying capacity
• shrimp culture
• opportunity
• environmentally friendly production