Wood as Alternative Tank Construction Material in Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture

The production of Pacific white shrimp (PWS; Penaeus vannamei) in closed aquaculture systems (CASs) has become an important sector of marine aquaculture. However, there are several issues related to the environmental sustainability of shrimp CAS, including the widespread use of unsustainable construction materials such as plastic, concrete, and steel. One potential alternative material could be wood, which has been used in the food and construction industries for centuries. However, wood might contain high levels of extractives such as ketones, terpenes, and terpenoids. While some of these extractives may have beneficial properties for aquaculture, adverse effects have also been reported. Given this controversy, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two wood species (i.e., Douglas fir and oak) on survival, growth, and feed conversion characteristics of juvenile PWS compared to a control group (i.e., fiberglass-reinforced plastic [FRP]) in a 42-day controlled randomized trial. Our results show that Douglas fir wood does not significantly alter shrimp performance compared to the FRP control. Conversely, the oak treatment resulted in partly significant inferior outcomes, which we attribute to the substantial leaching of detrimental wood extractives. These findings show that Douglas fir is a viable, eco-friendly alternative for shrimp aquaculture tank construction. Future studies should prioritize assessing the mechanical durability of wood-based systems over extended periods, perfecting pretreatment protocols to manage extractives, and investigating the capacity of shrimp populations to acclimate to natural wood environments. Applying these insights will facilitate the transition toward sustainable aquaculture by decreasing the industry’s reliance on synthetic materials.