Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of integrated multi-trophic culture of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Amazon River prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum) in brackish water by evaluating its limnological characteristics and economic performance. The experiment was completely randomized with four treatments and four repetitions: control treatment with Nile tilapia only, stocked with 2 tilapias/m² (P2C0) and three integrated multi-trophic culture treatments stocked with 2 tilapias/m² and prawns at densities of 4, 8 and 16 prawns/m² (P2C04, P2C08 and P2C16, respectively). The limnological variables of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, ammonia, orthophosphate and chlorophyll "a" were evaluated and throughout the experiment remained within the limits recommended for culture. The experiment lasted 150 days with monthly animal sampling. No significant differences were observed for total fish biomass or for fish and prawn total survival rates. However, prawn individual weight decreased as stocking density increased. Gross revenue was not significantly different between treatments, as well as profitability. The profitability was 40.1% (P2C0), 36.7% (P2C04), 41.2% (P2C08) and 50.1% (P2C16). It is concluded that although feasible from the view point of husbandry, the integrated multi-tropic culture of M. amazonicum and O. niloticus did not influence significantly profitability compared to the monoculture system.
Highlights
The commitment to pursue aquaculture practices that live up to the sustainability concept is of utmost importance today
The aquaculture business people should develop their activities guided by the sustainability concept, since a production system that takes into account only the financial opportunities and the market is not sustainable over time (Boyd, 2003)
The temperature of the water in the ponds varied between 27.4 and 29.2 C (Fig. 1a), within the range recommended for Nile tilapia and prawn cultures (New et al, 2010)
Summary
The commitment to pursue aquaculture practices that live up to the sustainability concept is of utmost importance today This concept, among many other things, encourages the implementation of multi-trophic culture systems using the native species. The integrated multi-trophic aquaculture is characterized by cultivating two or more species of aquatic organisms of different trophic levels in a single productive unit, this system could, be a viable alternative to make aquaculture more profitable and sustainable (Zimmermann and New, 2000; Chopin et al, 2001; Muangkeow et al, 2007) This system aims at optimizing the use of existing food in the pond, without increasing feed competition between species. The multi-trophic system uses species with different feeding and habitat requirements, in order to maximize production through efficient occupation of physical space and different ecological niches (Cohen and Ra’anan, 1983; Wohlfarth et al, 1985; Lutz, 2003; Milstein et al, 2006)
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