Fish Farming Research Articles

Impacts of flooding on rural communities in Bangladesh

Flooding is a regular phenomenon in many countries, including Bangladesh, causing severe damage to communities. Despite widespread impacts, most studies focus on a single community. This study examines the impacts of flooding on three key rural Bangladeshi communities: agriculture farmers, fish farmers, and fishermen. Data were collected from three flood-prone areas: Roumari Upazila (Kurigram district), Chauhali Upazila (Sirajganj district), and Char Bhadrasan Upazila (Faridpur district). The mean age of respondents varied across groups (LMM: F = 21.2, p < 0.001), but not across study sites. The mean education level was 6.9 ± 4.9 years, with fish farmers having the highest schooling at 7.4 years. Monthly income varied across groups (LMM: F = 174.3, p < 0.05). Most respondents (84.7%) received financial loans from non-government sources. Flooding negatively affected agricultural and fish farmers, who lost their crops. However, fishermen experienced a positive effect, with increased fishing days and duration, leading to higher fish harvests during floods (LMM: all p < 0.05). The study also highlights respondents’ expectations to minimize flood impacts. The findings of this study are crucial for understanding the variation in flood impacts on key communities in rural Bangladesh and can inform effective flood management planning.

Utilization of Aquatic Plants and Microalgae for Sustainable Aquaculture Production and Potential Biotechnological Applications

Locally available feedstuffs, such as grain seed cakes, oilseeds, and vegetable waste, hold immense potential as alternative feed sources in fish farming. However, these plant-based ingredients have low crude protein content and lack essential fatty acids, which lowers palatability and feed conversion efficiencies, leading to suboptimal fish growth. Traditional feedstuffs like fishmeal and soybean meal face sustainability challenges such as local unavailability, the presence of anti-nutritional factors, and energy-intensive processing. The rising costs of commercial aqua-feeds and feed scarcity necessitate exploring alternative fish feed options. Aquatic plants like Ipomoea aquatica, Lemna minor, and Azolla pinnata, along with green and blue-green microalgae such as Chlorella spp. and Arthrospira spp. (Spirulina), are promising alternatives due to their high protein content, availability of essential omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), and beneficial bioactive compounds. These plants and microalgae, with crude protein content ranging from 25% to 65%, can significantly enhance fish growth, health, and product quality by partially or entirely replacing fishmeal. Their nitrogen-fixing abilities contribute to their high protein levels. Additionally, these organisms have various biotechnological applications, including phytoremediation, Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), aquaponics, biofloc technology, and constructed wetlands. Despite their potential, challenges in scaling up and integrating these alternatives into existing systems remain. Collaborative efforts and advocacy among farmer groups are crucial for knowledge sharing and fostering sustainable biotechnological solutions. Long-term strategies should focus on upscaling local feed production and research and development to achieve self-sufficiency and cost-effective natural feed production systems in fish farming.

POLO: Pose estimation with one-stage location-sensitive coding

The precise monitoring of fish keypoints and behavioral patterns is crucial in fish farming, influencing decisions on feeding schedules and assessing fish health. Traditional approaches to multi-object pose estimation often lean towards either Bottom-up or Top-down methods. Our innovative solution introduces a streamlined single-stage multi-object pose estimation framework, utilizing a unique approach to instance assignment based on location. By incorporating position encoding as an index for candidate pose heatmap groups, we achieve end-to-end multi-object pose estimation with reduced redundancy through non-maximum suppression. Our framework, named POLO, has been validated on a meticulously annotated fish keypoint dataset, demonstrating outstanding performance with a remarkable 65.34% OKS AP at 71.4 FPS on Tesla v100. With its real-time capabilities, POLO is highly adaptable, making it suitable for deployment on various edge computing devices and addressing real-world challenges effectively. We believe our framework can serve as a solid baseline for diverse pose estimation tasks across different domains.

Fish Farming Activities in Mbanza-Ngungu: Farmer Socio-Professional Profiles, Production Practices, and Improvement Opportunities for Sustainable Aquaculture

Fish Farming Activities in Mbanza-Ngungu: Farmer Socio-Professional Profiles, Production Practices, and Improvement Opportunities for Sustainable Aquaculture

Integration Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and Hydrogen Technologies in Fish Farms: A Techno-Economical Model Dispatch for an Estonian Fish Farm

A fundamental aspect of fish farms is their energy consumption, which is essential for various activities like water supply, pool aeration, thermal conditioning, lighting, filtration, and recirculation systems. Due to volatile prices and rising energy use, costs have surged, requiring energy-optimization solutions for economic viability and pollution reduction. In this context, this study aims to evaluate renewable energy integration in these installations based on real data, assessing current operations, proposing renewable energy optimization, and exploring hydrogen systems for energy needs, using HOMER PRO® to analyze different scenarios. For this purpose, it targets a rainbow trout farm in Estonia, and by simulating the various hybrid configurations proposed, it aims to optimize its energy production and storage, ensuring feasibility and technical integration. The results of the simulations primarily demonstrate the potential for using the byproduct of electrolysis to cover the oxygen demand in these types of processes, reducing the demand for raw materials. Additionally, it is observed that storage enhances performance in isolated systems; however, the economically viable integration of hydrogen technology requires three assumptions: a regulatory framework allowing surplus energy sales to the grid, an existing infrastructure for hydrogen trading, and high energy purchase prices.

Innovation and management of fish farming enterprises in the western mesoregion of Maranhão, Brazil

In Brazil, fish farming has been growing in recent years, with a highlight in production and innovation in the sector. The objective was to evaluate the innovation and management of rural enterprises in the fish farming sector in the municipalities of Buriticupu and Bom Jesus das Selvas, in order to generate information that can serve as a basis for implementing actions, both in the public and private sectors, for the development of the activity and generation of income and employment. The study was conducted over a period of eight months (September 2022 to March 2023), with six fish farmers from the municipalities of Buriticupu and Bom Jesus das Selvas, located in the western region of the state of Maranhão. Ten face-to-face meetings were held, eight individual and two collective. In terms of management control, it was observed that in the initial evaluation, the enterprises scored 1.67, and in the final evaluation, 2.33. In the final management control assessment, a score of 2.33 was obtained, indicating a 39.5% increase rate after the actions taken. Regarding the improvement of the production process, it was observed that initially the score was 2.26, which implies that the producers did not prioritize the effectiveness of the processes and activities to be developed, leading to inefficiency in working time and waste of raw materials. The fish farming enterprises showed improvements in management control and production processes. The actions and tools used in this study showed good applicability on the properties, promoting such improvements and advancements, albeit small ones.

Identification, genome-wide sequencing and analysis of drug resistance genes in a novel Vibrio harveyi strain isolated from yellowfin seabream

Yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) is a fast-growing, adaptable species crucial for fish farming in southern China. However, as aquaculture of this species expands, diseases caused by bacteria, particularly Vibrio harveyi, are causing substantial economic losses. In this study, we isolated and identified a Vibrio harveyi strain denoted VH-AQ-SCAU-GZ23 from the diseased fish. Clinical signs of VH-AQ-SCAU-GZ23 infection were slow swimming, loss of appetite, loss of scales, severe liver congestion, and swelling of the gill filaments. VH-AQ-SCAU-GZ23 also induced an inflammatory response in yellowfin snapper spleen, liver, and brain tissue. To examine its pathogenicity and antibiotic susceptibility, we analyzed the genome sequence of this strain with third-generation high-throughput technology. The VH-AQ-SCAU-GZ23 genome was found to comprise a circular chromosome and three plasmids. Virulence factor analysis indicated that VH-AQ-SCAU-GZ23 contains a TLH gene encoding a thermolysin that increases virulence. Additionally, several antibiotic resistance genes were identified, including those encoding β-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, quinolones, macrolides, peptides, and other antibiotics. To assess the drug sensitivity of those antibiotic resistance genes, we cloned ten resistance genes and transfected them into Escherichia coli DH5α for drug susceptibility testing. These resistance genes enhanced the resistance of DH5α to streptomycin, ampicillin, and penicillin G, among other antibiotics. Our study provides crucial support and a theoretical basis for advancing understanding of Vibrio harveyi. The insights gained are expected to provide guidance for future endeavors aimed at preventing and managing marine bacterial infections.

Novel energy savings method considering extra sensor battery discharge time for fish farming applications

Energy savings in Wireless Sensor Networks for fish farms is necessary and beneficial. We present a novel energy savings method that minimizes the interpolation errors of sensors' measurements. Sensors follow a working cycle in which they are active when measuring data, and inactive or suspended when data is interpolated from the above measurements and consumed energy is reduced. To our knowledge, we are the first to implement interpolation for energy savings. We improved that model to describe the non-linear property of the consumed energy in the batteries, adding a new variable that explains their real behavior. Several experiments with a prototype of a Wireless Sensor Network with pH, water temperature, and ambient temperature sensors are implemented to validate our method. We made a series of measurements to determine the actual energy savings at each sensor and compared these savings with those predicted by each theory model. The results show that the model is more accurate, presenting less than 5 % prediction errors which does not affect fish growth. Furthermore, our paper introduces an energy-saving method for extending WSN lifetime by modeling the non-linear power consumption of sensors' batteries. We propose a new mathematical optimization formulation using an efficient interpolation mechanism that operates in real-time. A real-scale WSN prototype installed over water validates and refines our method. Finally, we showed that the number of interpolated values is of a broader range for aquatic sensors than for outdoor sensors such as ambient temperature. That is, energy savings for fish farming is acceptable.

Identification and application of quality elements, indicators, and criteria for assessment of impact on habitats in marine Natura 2000 areas

The EU Habitat Directive adopted in 1992, requires member states of the European Union to protect species and habitats considered to be of ‘Community Interest’ and listed in annexes to the directive. The appropriate environmental assessment of “plans and projects” is an important part of the conservation process. Despite several amendments and guidelines supporting the implementation of the Habitat Directive, science based operational procedures, indicators, and impact criteria for assessing potential negative impacts on marine Natura 2000 areas are still lacking. The lack of a generic and operational methodology complicates the management of plans and projects with potential impact on marine Natura 2000 areas. In this study, generic methods for the assessment of marine aquaculture in the inner Danish waters in relation to Natura 2000 areas was developed and applied for assessment of nine existing marine fin fish farms, in accordance with the latest methodological guidance on the provisions of Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitat Directive. The applied methodology is based on high resolution 3D hydrodynamic- and ecosystem modelling (MIKE by DHI), that describes the dynamical physical, chemical, and biogeochemical processes and changes of marine ecosystems in time and space. To our knowledge, this is the first study that formulates operational biological quality elements, key indicators, concrete and generic impact criteria, and assessment procedures for operational assessment across several distinct marine habitat types. The method represents a generic, operational, transparent, and science-based assessment tool, that simplifies management, and is widely applicable for quantification of environmental impacts from various marine activities and eutrophication related pressures across geographical zones and different marine habitat types in marine Natura 2000 areas.

Assessment of Smallholder Fish Farming Enterprise in Argungu Local Government Kebbi State

This study aimed to assess the engagement and interest of rural people in fisheries activities in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. One hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires were randomly distributed in the three villages. The questionnaires consisted of socioeconomic Characteristics as well as the current engagement of the rural people in fisheries activities and their interest in fish farming. The data obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicate that the majority (73.3%) of these fish farmers are male, compared to (26.7%) who are female. A large proportion of fish farmers have attained primary education (30.7%). Regarding marital status and income levels, (66%) of the fish farmers are married and (68%) of the fish farmers earn less than 10,000 Naira monthly. The results on engagement and interest of smallholder farmers in fish farming enterprises show that (52.7%) of the fish farmers are actively engaged in fish farming. Fish farming enterprises reveal that smoking is the most commonly used method, with (53.2%) of the respondents favoring it. The most prevalent constraints in fish farming enterprise indicate that (58%), is the poor marketing system and poor storage facilities, which affects (56.7%) of the smallholder fish farmers. Based on this, it is recommended that there is a need to assist in setting up small-scale fish farming projects in rural areas with proper monitoring and supervision and Small-scale fish farming policies and practices to significantly improve food security, rural incomes and sustainable aquaculture development.

Heterogeneous Weight Development of Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) Used as Cleaner Fish in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Farming

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) are used as cleaner fish in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture as one of multiple control measures against salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). Numerous studies have documented weight as an important factor for characterising the cleaning efficacy of individual lumpfish. Hence, the efficacy of lumpfish in fish farms depends on the size at stocking and the weight development over time. Here, we aimed to quantify how weight developed over time for lumpfish deployed in salmon farming sea cages in Norway through modelling the daily growth rate. We found that the coefficient of variation for lumpfish weight increased over time, implying that the standard deviation increased more than the expected weight. The data thus showed heterogeneous growth for lumpfish in salmon farming cages, where some individuals exhibited no apparent growth, and others significant proliferation. We found that the daily growth rate was best described as bell-shaped functions of weight and temperature, consistent with a sigmoid-shaped growth curve and an optimal temperature around 10 °C. These results allow for more realistic modelling of the efficacy of lumpfish in controlling salmon lice in fish farms, as one can combine estimates of weight-dependent cleaning efficacy with weight development over time.

Economics of Fresh Water Cultured Fish Production in Odisha and Bihar, India: A Comparative Analysis

Fisheries and aquaculture are important sectors that provide nutritional security, contribute to agricultural exports, and provide livelihoods to about 28 million fishermen, fish farmers, and other value-chain actors. The study was conducted in two states of Eastern India, i.e. Odisha and Bihar, to estimate the comparative economics of freshwater fish production and its profitability. The results showed that the cost of fish production was estimated to be Rs. 346943.45/ha of pond, constituting Rs. 208582.74 as a variable cost and Rs.138360.71 as a fixed cost in Odisha. In Bihar, the per hectare fish production for an average pond size was estimated to be Rs. 318445.47, comprising variable cost as Rs 188061.82 and fixed cost as Rs. 130383.64. On average, per hectare, fish production in Odisha from all ponds was estimated to be 45.69 quintals, while in Bihar, it was 35.67 quintals. The profitability analysis revealed that in Odisha, per hectare gross income, on average, for all ponds was Rs. 717763.06. In the case of Bihar, the gross income for all the ponds was calculated to be Rs. 540352.02/ha. It was concluded that returns on investments in all pond categories were comparatively higher in Odisha than in different pond size groups of Bihar.

Evaluation of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Survival and Growth in Aquaculture Systems with Different Feed Types

Proper feeding is crucial for promoting fast and healthy growth in fish, contributing to increased overall production. However, access to high-nutritional feed is not always feasible. Utilizing locally available ingredients presents a potential solution to this challenge. Consequently, this research aims to assess the impact of locally available feed ingredients on the growth and production of tilapia (O. niloticus) in Liberia. Three types of fish feed were prepared, namely Africa Rice fish feed (diet 1), soybeans fish feed (diet 2), and Gbarnga fish feed (control), each with distinct compositions. These feeds were evaluated to determine their effects on the growth and production performance of tilapia fish for the duration of 31 weeks. Fifty fish with an initial body weight of 12 g each were stocked in each hapa net. Data on survival rate (%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and growth (g) were collected and compared. The growth results revealed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) among the three selected fish feed types. Diet 1 exhibited a higher average mean weight of 1521.67 g per 92 fish followed by the control with an average mean weight of 1315.56 g per 88 fish, while diet 2 demonstrated comparatively lower growth, 1164.44 g per 96 fish. Survival rate and FCR, however, exhibited no significant differences. Notably, the cost of food supplies, particularly proteins, may constrain farmers' access to feed processing and formulation technology. Consequently, the findings of this study are expected to address challenges related to feed formulation and processing, providing valuable insights for the enhancement of fish farming practices.

Utilisation of the site assessment energy indices for aquaculture in exposed waters: biology, technology, operations and maintenance

When moving from a very sheltered aquaculture site to a very exposed oceanic aquaculture site, the energy increases proportionally in a continuum. Lojek et al. (in review) considered the primary influential parameters (water current, wave height, wave period, wavelength and water depth) which influence the species, structure, technology, methods, and operational aspects of any aquaculture endeavour and investigated six possible indices which cover these variables. Added to advanced computer modelling, assisted by detailed and constant environmental monitoring, it may be possible to refine site selection, structure selection and design, species selection, equipment and logistic requirements and health and safety requirements. This manuscript has selected two indicative indices: Specific Exposure Energy (SEE) index and Exposure Velocity (EV) index from the potential equations provided by Lojek et al. (in review) and compared them with known operational aquaculture sites highlighting present structural capability and limitations. The two indices are also utilized to reflect on their suitability for assessing sample sites with respect to biological, technological, operational or maintenance aspects of aquaculture activities. The indices have shown themselves to be useful tools in the general assessment of the energy that will influence the species and structure selection at potential aquaculture sites. This information can help prospective fish farmers characterize their sites concisely and accurately to consultants, regulators, equipment vendors, and insurance brokers.

Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in BMP-2 gene and their associations with productive traits in Rainbow Trout

Relevance. Aquaculture is occupying an increasingly important place in fish farming, as it allows obtaining more products per unit area. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the development of new breeds of Rainbow Trout in order to obtain fish forms adapted to aquaculture conditions. One of the significant breeding achievements is the Ropshinsky golden trout, characterized by attractive scale coloration. Taking into account the emergence of such forms of fish, research to identify genetic characteristics is of particular relevance. The BMP-2 gene is an important determinant of fish growth and development, so a comprehensive study of its structure will allow us to identify the most favorable genotypes in producers for their use in further selection and breeding.Results. The aim of the work is to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the studied gene and link their presence in parental forms with their productive traits. In particular, after sequencing, several SNPs were identified in different positions both in the intron and exon regions of the gene. The frequencies of occurrence of genotypes in parents were calculated and a number of quantitative traits were measured in the offspring numbered of 50 individuals from each crossing pair. In some cases, it was possible to establish statistically significant associations between the identified SNPs and productive traits in females and males — the parents of the resulting offspring. In females, an association was established between head length and SNP in one gene region, and in males, an association of another polymorphism with ejaculate volume has been demonstrated.

The Application of Integrated Neutrosophic CRITIC and Preference Selection Index Methods for Multi Criteria Decision Making Over the Implementation of An Integrated Fish Farming System

This paper presents the application of integrated Neutrosophic CRITIC (The Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation) and PSI (Preference Selection Index) methods using by the linguistic variables are converted to Neutrosophic set, which is an effective decision making model in a real life environment. This integrated methods is used to rank the 5 alternatives (Labeo rohita , Cirrhina mrigala , Catfishes, Catla catla, Murrels or Snakeheads) and 6 main criteria( Azolla with Duck Cum-Fish Culture, Paddy -Cum -Fish Culture, Duck- Cum -Fish farming, Fish - Cum -Poultry farming, Fish- cum Pig Culture, Cattle -Fish integrated farming system) for the growth of different varieties of fish by using Neutrosophic Environment.

Estimation of Nutrient Discharge from Fish Farming in the São Camilo River Micro-Watershed, Brazil

Estimation of Nutrient Discharge from Fish Farming in the São Camilo River Micro-Watershed, Brazil

Fermented sunflower meal in diets for Atlantic salmon under commercial-like farming conditions promotes gut lactic acid bacteria and controls inflammation in the distal intestine

The global increase of aquaculture production has caused an escalating demand for alternative protein feed ingredients. Agro-industrial by-products such as sunflower meal are relatively abundant and cheap, but the content of antinutritional factors and fiber in the raw products reduce nutritional value and limit the inclusion levels in the feed for nutritionally demanding species, including salmonids. Solid-state fermentation is a microbial processing method with the potential to reduce the content of fiber and antinutritional factors and improve nutritional value in plant protein raw materials. In this study, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at two commercial-like fish farms were fed experimental diets containing either 5 % non-fermented sunflower meal (as a control diet), 5 % fermented sunflower meal or 10 % fermented sunflower meal. The aim was to compare the effects of fermented sunflower meal on growth performance, gut microbiota, distal intestine histology and gene expression of Atlantic salmon under different environmental conditions. The field trial lasted for 8 and 11 months in a coastal and fjord location, respectively. The findings revealed that diets with fermented sunflower meal sustained growth performance, improved intestinal health by reducing the prevalence of prominent inflammation and ectopic goblet cells, as well as down-regulated the expression of physiological pathways related to tissue damage and cell division. Additionally, 10 % fermented sunflower meal promoted the relative abundance of gut lactic acid bacteria Lactiplantibacillus and Lactobacillaceae after long-term feeding. Our results suggest that fermented sunflower meal is a suitable protein source for Atlantic salmon when included at a level of up to 10 % in the diet.

Enhancing Technical Efficiency in Aquaculture: A Bibliometric Analysis and Literature Review

Early 2024, fueled by rising demand, growing awareness of healthier animal protein, and technological advancements. With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, aquaculture, particularly freshwater fish farming, is pivotal in satisfying the increasing need for animal protein. As the third-largest aquaculture producer, Indonesia faces significant challenges in optimizing production, requiring advanced technology, farmer education, and environmentally sustainable practices. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the literature on technical efficiency in aquaculture, mapping out research trends, collaborations, and existing gaps. The findings highlight the critical role of technical efficiency in enhancing economic performance and promoting environmental sustainability. Factors such as farmer demographics, training, infrastructure, gender inclusion, and environmental adaptation are identified as key influencers of efficiency. The study emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of technical efficiency across various regions and species, underscoring Indonesia's potential as a focal point for further research in this area. This knowledge is essential for improving practices and policies to meet future food security needs effectively.

Designing and Developing novel methods for Enhancing the Accuracy of Water Quality Prediction for Aquaponic Farming

The Internet of Things (IoT)-based automated water surveillance system is crucial for fish farming, as it helps control risks and improve output and productivity. However, the industry faces challenges such as a lack of understanding of organism selection based on water purity indicators, a shortage of premium seeds and species, and imbalanced datasets. Existing systems also lack optimal feature selection methods, as well as modern machine learning and deep learning approaches. To address these issues, a novel system is proposed that integrates an aquaponic ecosystem containing fish, plants, and bacteria to balance water quality parameters and boost productivity. The system collects data from IoT devices, performs a data cleaning process using missing values, and outliers handling. Then, it performs a feature extraction process to select the optimum features. Next, it employs the novel H-SMOTE approach to tackle the issue of imbalanced datasets. The system uses multi-model categorization to cultivate fish in cold waters, warm-water aquatic plants, and bacteria in an aquaponic environment. The system uses a voting principle to identify the most effective prediction model. The proposed system achieves 99.50% accuracy for water quality prediction for aquaponic farming, addressing the limitations of existing systems and improving prediction accuracy and overall aquaponic farming productivity.