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Story: Geothermal energy

Geothermal prawn farming

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Geothermal prawn farming

Geothermal waste heat is used at Taupō to cultivate giant river prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), which require warm temperatures (24–28ºC). The prawns live for four months in indoor nursery tanks, and are moved into outdoor tanks for another five months. They are then harvested and sold exclusively to local restaurants.

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The Prawn Farm

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How to cite this page

Carol Stewart, Geothermal energy – Other uses of geothermal energy, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5433/geothermal-prawn-farming (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Carol Stewart, published 2 March 2009.