The distribution of the invasive Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis in Shatt Al-Basrah Canal and Shatt Al-Arab River was investigated. The earlier published record of this species was in 2006 where only a single specimen was obtained from Shatt Al-Basrah Canal, but the species has long been observed in the region. The present work monitored the recent occurrence of the species where living and non living specimens were captured in large numbers. Although the species migrate to the sea for reproduction, it was not yet recorded from the North West Arabian Gulf region. Detailed description of the captured crabs is provided. Carapace width ranged from 53.4 to 56.6 mm and carapace length ranged from 56 to 62.4 mm. Recent rise in salinity or the change in water chemistry of south Iraq may play vital role in increasing the population of the mitten crab.

This study includes an experimental hatchery design for the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense from the brackish water of Basrah region (Al-Mashab Marsh). This hatchery consist of five parts: maturation ponds (closed system), hatching of zoug jars, rearing of ponds to larva (nursery and concrete ponds), water tanks and food live of pond (fiberglass). The production capacity was 53,504-190,000 Zoea larvae, 32,355-99,560 Postlarvae. While production of the out ponds (cage two in mud and fiberglass ponds) were estimated between 4,347-24,098 larvae and 2,527-18,828 Postlarvae. Depending on results the total area of the earthen pond and the fiberglass tank, the potential production of Zoea larvae were estimated to be between 36,559-15,300,000 larvae, and between 21,248-11,954,400 Postlarvae. While the total production in all culture systems were 12,600,188-15,760,462 larvae, and between 9,753,349-12,197,630 Postlarvae.