Preliminary experiments on the cryopreservation of penaeid shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) embryos, nauplii and zoea.

To improve availability of penaeid seedstock during periods of high demand, experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility of stockpiling embryos by freezing them. Embryos were screened for developmental stage; cryoprotectants, chilling effects, and freezing regimens were likewise evaluated. Juvenile forms (embryos, nauplii and zoea) of Penaeus japonicus were exposed to various cryoprotectants, including dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, methanol, ethylene glycerol and polyethylene glycol 300 under ambient temperature (25 degrees C). Following this bioassay, maximum safe concentrations of each cryoprotectant were tested on the juveniles under chilling to 0 degree C and with 42 freezing regimens. Methanol was found to be relatively nontoxic. Early developmental stages were the most sensitive to chilling. Initial attempts to freeze P. japonicus juveniles were reported. The survival rate of nauplii and zoea treated with 10% methanol in natural sea water (35 ppt salinity) and frozen to -15 degrees C was 85%, and some nauplii and zoea survived freezing to -25 and -196 degrees C. However, no treatment yielded normal nauplii or zoea after freezing.