Culture of marine shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in biofloc technology system using artificially salinized freshwater: Zootechnical performance, economics and nutritional quality

Abstract

Marine shrimp farming traditionally occurs in coastal areas. Although inland farming represents only a small fraction of total Brazilian marine shrimp production, the culture in inland areas has some advantages which may contribute with economic, social and even environmental benefits. Combining zero water exchange technologies and ionic adequacy (or salinization) of freshwater, this study proposes a marine shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture model that do not depends on oceanic, estuarine or brackish well water sources. This study evaluated the zootechnical performance, economic viability and nutritional quality of the L. vannamei shrimp cultured in a biofloc technology (BFT) system using artificially salinized freshwater. The experimental design included three test treatments (T1, T2 and T3) and one control treatment (CT). The treatments involved different combinations of commercial (CS) and low-cost-prepared salt mixture (PS) at 20 g L−1: CT = 20:0, T1 = 10:10, T2 = 5:15, T3 = 0:20 (CS g L−1:PS g L−1). Twelve 1000 L circular tanks were used, with 1.1 ± 0.3 g juveniles, at a density of 250 shrimp m−3. Water quality and ionic balance data showed no considerable differences among treatments, and they remained within the limits considered appropriate for the species. Productivity was higher in treatment 1. Treatment 2 was more cost effective. Treatment 3 did not indicate zootechnical viability. The marine shrimp culture in the BFT system using salinized water (treatments 1 and 2) showed zootechnical and financial viability. Centesimal composition analysis showed that the proposed culture model did not reduce the nutritional quality of the shrimp.