Electricity and propane consumption of a shrimp hatchery in the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico

The consumption of electricity and propane for producing larvae and postlarvae of the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was examined in a commercial shrimp hatchery on the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico. Between January and August 2005, 6 × 10⁶ postlarvae (average age PL16) were produced from 1.43 × 10⁹ nauplii. During that production period, the hatchery used 2.48 × 10⁹ kcal of fossil fuel energy (30% for electricity, 70% for liquid propane), which was equivalent to 16% of the operating costs. Electricity was used mainly for larval and postlarval rearing (36% and 10%) and microalgae culture (27%). During this production period, 1.47 × 10⁹ kcal of propane were consumed for heating daily more than 600 m³ seawater daily. Of that total, 33% was used for broodstock maintenance, 65% for larvae culturing, and 2% for postlarvae rearing. With increasing costs for shipping postlarvae to the mainland Mexican coastal areas (15% of operating costs) and the need to remain competitive with hatcheries in the coastal areas of Sonora and Sinaloa, alternative energy sources to reduce overall operational costs in hatcheries of Baja California Sur are discussed.