Use of GIS and machine learning to predict disease in shrimp farmed on the east coast of the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

Diseases in shrimp farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam cause significant crop losses and are therefore of great concern to producers. Once a pond becomes infected, it is difficult to prevent spread of the disease to nearby shrimp farming areas. Thus, predicting the occurrence of disease is an essential part of reducing the risk for shrimp farmers. In this study, we applied an integrated geographic information system and machine learning system to predict three serious diseases of shrimp, namely, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis, white spot syndrome disease, and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection, based on data collected from shrimp farms in the Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, and Ca Mau provinces of Vietnam. We first constructed a map showing the distribution of these diseases using the locations of affected farms, and then we conducted spatial analysis to acquire the geographical features of the affected locations. This latter information was combined with environmental factors and clinical signs to form the set of independent variables affecting the outbreak of diseases. The neural network model outperformed the logistic regression, random forest, and gradient boosting methods in terms of predicting infection to estimate the probability of disease occurrence in farmed areas. Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease infected farms downstream of the Co Chien and Hau Rivers of Tra Vinh and west of Ca Mau. Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection is distributed in Soc Trang Province, while white spot syndrome virus has spread to the coastal districts of Soc Trang and Bac Lieu Provinces, where it is highly associated to water from a complex canal system.

     

Measuring technical,allocative and cost efficiency of pangas (Pangasius hypophthalmus: Sauvage 1878) fish farmers of Bangladesh

The present study is conducted to measure the technical (TE), allocative (AE) and cost efficiency (CE) of pangas fish‐producing farmers of Bangladesh. Data envelopment analysis is used to measure the efficiency while Tobit regression is applied to identify the factors affecting efficiencies. The estimated mean TE, AE and CEs are 86%, 62% and 54% respectively. Pangas production is characterized by considerable technical inefficiencies and substantial allocative and cost inefficiencies. Pond size, fingerling size, culture length and use of pelleted feed are important determinants of efficiencies. It is nevertheless profitable in terms of benefit–cost ratio, break‐even yield and price criteria. Production of pangas can be made further profitable by eliminating inefficiencies. Proper mixing of inputs given their prices could make pangas producers profit maximizers. Efficiency improvement is expected to help to increase production and provide scopes for exporting the surplus production. More fisheries extension is suggested to expand pangas culture and improve efficiency.     

Effect of carbon/nitrogen ratio manipulation in feed supplements on Artemia production and water quality in solar salt ponds in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

The effect of carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio manipulation in feed supplements on Artemia production and water quality was investigated in solar salt ponds in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. It was assumed that development of bacterial bioflocs through C/N manipulation would improve Artemia production and water quality as demonstrated in freshwater and marine aquaculture. Twelve ponds were used for three treatments and the control, in triplicates. Green water (GW) was supplied to all ponds, with the standard Vietnamese procedure of supplying GW and chicken manure (CM) as the control (C/N 1.8). Treatment ponds were supplemented with tapioca (TAP) as carbon source, combined with either CM, pig manure (PM) or rice bran (RB), with C/N ratios of 7.4, 10.5 or 20.1 respectively. After 6 weeks of culture, no single treatment supported both improved water quality and enhanced Artemia production. Overall, improved water quality was observed at C/N 20.1 and higher Artemia production at C/N 7.4. Although external field factors could have interfered with the set‐up, this is the first study on the effect of C/N manipulation in feed supplements in Artemia pond production systems and provides the basis for development of bacterial bioflocs as a technology to improve water quality and Artemia production.     

The cost efficiency of trout farms in the Black Sea Region,Turkey

This research measured the cost efficiencies of trout farms and explored determinants of cost inefficiencies in the Black Sea Region, Turkey. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to estimate efficiency measures of sample farms. The mean technical, allocative and cost efficiencies for trout farms were measured to be 0.82, 0.83 and 0.68, respectively. Efficiency analysis revealed that inefficient farms would have needed to lower feed and labour costs by 32% to perform as well as other similar, best practice farms in the sample. The decomposition of the technical efficiency measure showed that pure technical inefficiency was the primary cause of technical inefficiency. Research results also suggested that there were positive relationships between cost efficiency and pond tenure, farm ownership, experience of the operators, education level of the operators, contact with extension services, off-farm income and credit availability. Feeding intensity, pond size, and capital intensity had negative effects on cost efficiency. Supplying complete technical packages (feed, credit, etc.) for trout farms may stimulate the adoption of improved technologies. Focusing on trout diseases, water quality, feed production and marketing efficiency in farmers training and extension programs may also help to increase economic efficiency in the research area.     

Osmoregulatory and immunological status of the pond-raised striped catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pangasianodon hypophthalmus</Emphasis> S.) as affected by seasonal runoff and salinity changes in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

In Vietnam, the production of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus S. reached more than 1.2 millions of tons in 2014 and is mainly gathered in the Mekong Delta (South Vietnam). A survey was carried out during the dry season 2013 (March–April) and rainy season 2014 (July–August) in 12 fish farms of the lower (Tra Vinh Province) and higher (Can Tho Province) Mekong River Delta. This study allowed drawing up current key osmoregulatory and innate immune parameters of striped catfish in aquaculture depending on the geographical location, particularly the proximity to the River Mekong Estuary and the seasonal surface runoff. In the dry season, plasma osmolality was positively correlated with salinity. Gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase dropped in the rainy season, while kidney Na⁺K⁺ ATPase remained stable. Abundance of immune blood cells, especially thrombocytes and monocytes, tended to increase in farms located in tidal area. Production of reactive oxygen species in the spleen, kidney lysozyme activity and plasma complement activity did not vary whatever the season or the proximity to the estuary. Plasma lysozyme activity was 50-fold higher than in kidney and increased in the rainy season as well as in tidal sites. Kidney complement activity decreased in the dry season, especially in tidal sites. In conclusion, regarding key osmoregulatory and immune factors, striped catfish farms located in the Mekong Delta may be affected by seasonal and regional salinity and runoff fluctuations.     

Technical efficiency of carp production in India: a stochastic frontier production function analysis

This paper aims to examine the levels and determinants of technical efficiency in carp pond culture in India. The stochastic production frontier technique involving the model for technical inefficiency effects is applied separately to samples of semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive carp producers interviewed during 1994–95. The results showed significant technical inefficiencies in carp production in India, especially among extensive farms. The mean technical efficiencies for semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive sample farms were estimated to be 0.805 and 0.658 respectively. By operating at full technical efficiency levels, the semi‐intensive/intensive farms could, on average, increase their production from about 3.4 Mt ha^?1 to 4.1 Mt ha^?1. Likewise, the extensive farms could increase their production from 1.3 Mt ha^?1 to 1.9 Mt ha^?1. Much of these efficiency gains would come from improvement in the adoption of recommended fish, water and feed management and monitoring practices. Besides expanding production area, the results indicated several other possibilities for increasing carp production in India by increasing yields per hectare, such as: (1) increased intensification of carp culture (i.e. moving from extensive to semi‐intensive or intensive systems); (2) improvement in technical efficiency at the farm level; and (3) technological progress. However, the realization of these potentials will depend on continuous efforts by the government in ensuring an adequate supply of inputs, technology transfer and development and adequate provision of research, extension and credit services in aquaculture.     

Mass selection for small‐sized cysts in Artemia franciscana produced in Vinh Chau salt ponds,Vietnam

Unidirectional mass truncation selection for small‐sized cysts was carried out on brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana Kellogg 1906), Vinh Chau strain, Vietnam, through cyst sieving and then culturing the selected individuals (<5% of the population) under field and laboratory conditions over two successive generations (F₁ and F₂). The results showed that at both culture scales, the cyst size of the selected line was smaller (P < 0.05) compared with the control (non‐selected) line, illustrating that there was a response to selection. The cyst size decreased about 3% per generation and the accumulated gain on the target trait was in the range 5.82–6.07% at the end of the selection process compared with the base population. The realized heritability estimation (h²) for cyst size was 0.23 ± 0.06 and 0.74 ± 0.19 in the field trials and 0.34 and 0.51 in the laboratory test for the F₁ and F₂ generation respectively. The variations found between the respective trials may be explained as the result of environmental interaction with the selection process, but the results show that a selection program for small‐sized cysts in Artemia by mass selection is possible.     

Economic efficiency of small-scale tilapia farms in Guangxi,China

ABSTRACT

The economic efficiency of small-scale tilapia farms in Guangxi, China were analyzed by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The mean technical (under CRS and VRS), allocative, and economic efficiencies of small-scale tilapia farms were 0.89, 0.97, 0.71 and 0.68, respectively. Efficiency analysis revealed that inefficient farms would have needed to increase production output levels by 32% to perform as well as the best practice farms. The decomposition of the economic efficiency showed that allocative inefficiency was the primary cause of economic inefficiency. There were positive relationships between economic efficiency and age, culture mode and period through Tobit regression, while experience, family members, and technology support had negative effects on economic efficiency. Lower input levels of feed quantity may help to increase the tilapia farming economic efficiency.     

Low numbers of repeat units in variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) regions of white spot syndrome virus are correlated with disease outbreaks

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the most important pathogen in shrimp farming systems worldwide including the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The genome of WSSV is characterized by the presence of two major ‘indel regions’ found at ORF14/15 and ORF23/24 (WSSV‐Thailand) and three regions with variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) located in ORF75, ORF94 and ORF125. In the current study, we investigated whether or not the number of repeat units in the VNTRs correlates with virus outbreak status and/or shrimp farming practice. We analysed 662 WSSV samples from individual WSSV‐infected Penaeus monodon shrimp from 104 ponds collected from two important shrimp farming regions of the Mekong Delta: Ca Mau and Bac Lieu. Using this large data set and statistical analysis, we found that for ORF94 and ORF125, the mean number of repeat units (RUs) in VNTRs was significantly lower in disease outbreak ponds than in non‐outbreak ponds. Although a higher mean RU number was observed in the improved‐extensive system than in the rice‐shrimp or semi‐intensive systems, these differences were not significant. VNTR sequences are thus not only useful markers for studying WSSV genotypes and populations, but specific VNTR variants also correlate with disease outbreaks in shrimp farming systems.     

Biological Observations on the Mudskipper Pseudapocryptes elongatus in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

Aspects of the population biology of the mudskipper, Pseudapocryptes elongatus, (Cuvier, 1816) were studied in Bac Lieu Province in the Lower Mekong Delta, Vietnam, including sex ratio, length–frequency distribution, sexual dimorphism, hepatosomatic index (HSI), female gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad histology, fecundity and some observations on post‐larvae and juveniles. In the population studied the sex ratio was skewed toward males. Females had a shorter mean length and a lower mean growth rate than males. No mature males or females were observed among mudskippers sampled in estuarine canals from February to May 2004 during the dry season. It is suggested that P. elongatus migrates to the sea to spawn later in the year after onset of the wet season. Salinity tolerance was evaluated in a 96‐h experiment. This showed that P. elongatus is remarkably euryhaline and able to survive in salinities ranging from freshwater to 50 ppt. Gut content analysis revealed that P. elongatus is a herbivore, feeding mainly on pennate diatoms (93% of the diet).     

Growth of Chaetoceros calcitrans in Sediment Extracts from Artemia franciscana Culture Ponds Points to Phosphorus Limitation

Chaetoceros calcitrans is one of the most suitable algal strains to feed Artemia because of its appropriate size, digestibility, absence of toxins, and nutritional value. Apart from light and temperature, the growth of C. calcitrans in Artemia ponds in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam depends on the supply of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) released from the pond bottom sediments. This study was carried out to investigate the growth of C. calcitrans in relation to the availability and proportions of N and P present in the extracts of Artemia pond bottom sediments. The results show that the sediments are depleted in dissolved reactive P (DRP) and highly unbalanced in terms of the ratio of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) to DRP. Algal density and biomass were significantly higher in the extracts with DRP concentrations above 0.1 mg P/L and DIN/DRP ratios below 100.     

Potential use of Artemia biomass by‐products from Artemia cyst production for the nursing of goby Pseudapocryptes elongatus in Vietnam: effects on growth and feed utilization

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of using Artemia biomass, by‐product from Artemia cyst production on growth and feed utilization of goby Pseudapocryptes elongatus fingerlings. A control diet containing fishmeal as main protein source was compared with four experimental diets in which fishmeal protein was replaced by increasing dietary levels of Artemia protein, namely 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The five test diets were compared with a commercial diet and dried Artemia. All diets were formulated to be equivalent in crude protein (360–370 g kg^?1) and lipid (58–65 g kg^?1). The experiment was conducted in 80 L plastic tanks filled with water at a salinity of 15 g L^?1. Goby fingerlings with 0.21 g initial weight were fed the test diets for 30 days. The results showed that weight gain and specific growth rate of goby were positively correlated with total feed intake. Moreover, growth performances and feed utilization in the fry receiving the commercial feed and fishmeal control diet were similar, both were inferior to the groups fed dried Artemia and the based formulated diets. These results illustrate that both dried Artemia and Artemia‐based feeds can be used for feeding goby fingerlings, indicating the high potential of using locally produced Artemia biomass, which could contribute to reduce the reliance on fishmeal and improve profits for Artemia producers.     

Technical efficiency of carp production in Pakistan

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to examine technical efficiency and its determinants in carp pond culture in Pakistan. A stochastic production frontier involving the model for technical inefficiency effects is applied separately to the samples of semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive carp producers. The mean technical efficiencies for semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive farms were 0.673 and 0.561, respectively. By operating at full technical efficiency the semi‐intensive/intensive farms could, on average, increase their production from 3.0 to 4.5 Mt/ha and the extensive farms from 2.6 to 4.6 Mt/ha. Much of these efficiency gains would come from the improvement in fish, water and feed monitoring and management. Besides improving technical efficiency, potential also exists for raising carp productivity through increased intensification and technological progress. However, the realization of these potentials will depend on continuous government support for adequate provision of inputs, market and infrastructure, technology transfer and development and extension and credit services to carp farmers.     

Water pollution by Pangasius production in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam: causes and options for control

In this paper, we analyse water pollution caused by farming and processing Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The results show that 1 tonne of frozen fillets releases 740 kg BOD, 1020 kg COD, 2050 kg TSS, 106 kg nitrogen and 27 kg phosphorus, of which wastewater from fish ponds contributes 60–90% and sludge from fish ponds and wastewater from processing facilities contributes 3–27% of the total emissions. Overall, the combined waste emissions from Pangasius production and processing account for <1% of the total TSS, nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the Mekong Delta. Despite the relatively low contribution to water pollution, further reductions are possible through more efficient use of inputs and low-cost treatment and re-use of effluent streams. The use of cleaner production technologies and the development of wastewater treatment plants could be applied to large farms and processing facilities to reduce water pollution in Pangasius processing. Low-cost options for small-scale farms include the optimization of the discharge design for the re-use of wastewater.     

A factorial approach to defining the energy and protein requirements of Tra Catfish,Pangasianodon hypothalamus

This study assessed the protein and energy requirements of Tra catfish (Pangasianodon hypothalamus) using a bio‐energetic factorial approach. To examine these parameters, a series of inter‐related studies were undertaken to define the various factorial parameters. Studies included controlled laboratory experiments and field‐data collection from commercial farms in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Key components of the model include parameters for maintenance energy (39.7 kJ kg^?0.844 day^?1 at 32 °C) and protein (0.467 g kg^?0.833 day^?1 at 32 °C) demands, the effect of animal live‐weight and temperature on growth and maintenance energy demands, the efficiencies of energy and protein utilization at various energy and protein intake levels and the variability in whole body composition with varying live‐weight. Interestingly, both the energy [0.510· (Energy intake) ? 11.143] and protein [0.322·(Protein intake) + 0.665] utilization efficiencies at near satiety feed intake levels were substantially lower than that observed from other fish species. Modelling using these equations was used to iteratively derive optimal diet designs and feeding rations for growing Pangasius catfish.     

Production and application of on‐grown Artemia in freshwater ornamental fish farm

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot culture system for the production of on‐grown Artemia in freshwater ornamental fish farms. The system had 21 culture units, each consisting essentially of three components: an oval‐shaped raceway, an air‐water lift system and two waste collectors. Using artificial seawater at 20 ppt for culture and at a mean production rate of 3 kg/m³ of water in a 12‐day cycle, the system had a production capacity of 8 metric tons of on‐grown Artemia a year. Biochemical analyses were preformed to evaluate the nutritional value of the on‐grown Artemia against three conventional live feeds, viz. live Artemia nauplii, live Moina and frozen bloodworms. Cost‐benefit analysis showed that with a capital investment of US$ 82,000 and an annual cost of production of US$ 81,000, the system achieved a high internal rate of return of 88% over a 10‐year period and a short payback period of 1.23 years. The availability of on‐grown Artemia would not only offer farmers and exporters a better alternative live food organism for feeding to their fish, but more importantly the possibility of enhancing the fish performance and quality through bioencapsulation.     

Current status of farming practices of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Aquaculture of catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage), locally known as “ca tra”, and commonly referred to as striped catfish, river catfish and sutchi catfish, in Vietnam, having recorded a production of 683,000 tonnes in 2007, valued at about 645 million US$ is one of the largest single species based farming system, restricted to a small geographical area, in the world. The product is almost totally exported to over 100 countries as frozen fillets, as an acceptable alternative to white fish. Catfish is farmed mostly in earthen ponds, up to 4 m deep, in nine provinces in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. The results of the grow-out system of catfish farming in the Mekong Delta from a survey of 89 farms are presented. The farm size ranged from 0.2 to 30 ha with a mean of 4.09 ha. The frequency distribution of the yield in tonne/ha/crop and tonne/ML/crop corresponded to a normal distribution curve, where 75% of the farms yielded 300 tonnes/ha/crop or more. It was found that the yield per crop was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) to stocking density, pond depth and volume but not to pond surface area. Yields per crop was significantly different (p < 0.05) between upper and lower provinces of the Mekong Delta and water source (river versus channels), amongst others. It was evident that diseases and/or symptoms were observed to occur mostly in accordance with the onset of rains. In this paper the history of the catfish farming in the Mekong Delta is briefly traced, and current harvesting and marketing procedures as well as pertinent social elements of the farming community are dealt with.     

Technical efficiency of carp pond culture in South Asia: An application of a stochastic meta‐production frontier model

Abstract

A stochastic meta‐production frontier model is estimated to examine the inter‐country differences in levels of technical efficiency of semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive carp pond culture systems among the major carp producing countries in South Asia, namely India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. The mean technical efficiencies for semi‐intensive/intensive farms vary from 0.68 for Nepal to 0.79 for India, with an overall average of 0.75 and those for extensive farms vary from 0.48 for Bangladesh to 0.62 for Pakistan, with an overall mean of 0.57. Differences in efficiency levels are explained in terms of various farm‐specific and country‐specific factors by estimating a model for technical inefficiency effects. The adoption of recommended fish, water, and feed management practices is found to be critical for improved performance of carp producers. For each country, the study also compares the efficiency scores based on its own production frontier with those obtained from the meta‐production frontier.     

Effects of co‐supply ratios of swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus zoeae and Artemia on survival and growth of East Asian common octopus Octopus sinensis paralarvae under an upwelling culture system

Despite recent advances in culture technology for East Asian common octopus Octopus sinensis paralarvae using upwelling systems, securing suitable feed for the paralarvae is an unresolved issue. The zoea of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus is a good candidate for paralarval feed because of the high fecundity of the adult females. To investigate the effects of supplying P. trituberculatus zoeae and their feeding method on paralarvae, we cultured paralarvae with supplying different combination ratios of zoeae and Artemia (10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7 and 0:10), and with or without supplementing rotifers using small‐scale (3‐L) upwelling systems. Paralarval survival rate and growth were improved when zoeae were supplied as the main feed, but reduced when the proportion of Artemia exceeded half the whole preys. Supplementing rotifers did not affect the paralarval survival and growth. Subsequently, paralarvae were cultured by supplying zoeae (partially augmented by Artemia) using three large (1‐kl) upwelling systems to assess their feeding effectiveness in juvenile octopus production. Paralarvae could be cultured at high survival rates of 77.1 ± 5.1% to reach benthic juveniles at 23 days after hatching. In conclusion, supplying P. trituberculatus zoeae augmented with Artemia under an upwelling culture system has great potential for juvenile octopus production.     

Hydration/dehydration cycles imposed on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemia</Emphasis> cysts influence the tolerance limit of nauplii against abiotic and biotic stressors

The brine shrimp Artemia franciscana is an important live feed for fish and shellfish larviculture. Cysts of Artemia are naturally found in a wide variety of harsh environments worldwide where they are exposed to different changing environmental conditions. Artemia cysts are also exposed to different hydration/dehydration (H/D) conditions during the post-harvest processing period in the Artemia processing industry. In this study, cysts of two strains of A. franciscana originating from two different geographical locations—one a natural population from Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, USA, and the other cultured in the Vinh Chau (VC) salt ponds, Vietnam—where they experience different environmental factors, were exposed to successive hydration/dehydration (H/D) cycles with the aim of determining the effects of these conditions on the stress (i.e., induction of Hsp70) and functional (i.e., resistance toward abiotic and pathogenic biotic factors) responses of the emerged nauplii. Our results showed that a short period of H/D of the cysts did not appear to have a deleterious effect on the emerged nauplii of both strains, as was evidenced by the absence of significant difference in the survival of nauplii emerged from the control and treated cysts, upon challenge with a thermal stressor or with pathogenic Vibrio campbellii. A limited exposure to H/D treatment even leads to the induction of enhanced thermotolerance in GSL nauplii. In essence, these observations add some insights to our current understanding of stress responses in Artemia under the described experimental conditions. In addition, the impact of H/D cycles associated with stress response should be taken into consideration when Artemia is considered as a model organism for future research and applications.