Marine yeasts (33 strains) were isolated from the
coastal and offshore waters off Cochin. The isolates
were identified and then characterized for the utilization
of starch, gelatin, lipid, cellulose, urea, pectin,
lignin, chitin and prawn-shell waste. Most of the
isolates were Candida species. Based on the
biochemical characterization, four potential strains
were selected and their optimum pH and NaCI
concentration for growth were determined. These
strains were then inoculated into prawn-shell waste
and SCP (single cell protein) generation was noted in
terms of the increase in protein content of the final
product.