Greening the blue revolution of small‐scale freshwater aquaculture in Mymensingh,Bangladesh

Rapid development of small‐scale freshwater aquaculture in the Mymensingh district of north‐central Bangladesh has been linked to a ‘blue revolution’. Mymensingh is ranked first among districts of pond fish production in Bangladesh. Aquaculture in Mymensingh plays an important role in the local economy, contributing to food production, livelihood opportunities, income generation, poverty alleviation and social transformation. However, a number of challenges, particularly social, economic and environmental issues, will need to be overcome to translate its benefits effectively. We propose a conceptual framework for greening the blue revolution of aquaculture, which links social, economic and ecological aspects for promoting the importance of socio‐ecological, ecological‐economic and socio‐economic interactions. We conclude that active community participation, institutional collaboration and policy support are needed for greening the blue revolution of aquaculture in Mymensingh.     

Current research on the use of plant‐derived products in farmed fish

Over the years, aquaculture has shown increasing development in terms of production. However, due to intensive farming practices, infectious diseases represent the main problem in fish farms, causing heavy economic losses. The use of antibiotics for controlling diseases is widely criticized for its negative impact, including selection of antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains, immunosuppression, environmental pollution and accumulation of chemical residues in fish tissues. On the other hand, though vaccination is the most effective prophylactic method of preventing disease outbreaks, the development of effective formulations is often hindered by high production costs and the antigenic heterogeneity of the microbial strains. Recently, there has been increased interest in the possibility of using medicinal herbs as immunostimulants, capable of enhancing immune responses and disease resistance of cultured fish. Plant‐derived products seem to represent a promising source of bioactive molecules, being at the same time readily available, inexpensive and biocompatible. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of recent research dealing with the use of medicinal plants in aquaculture. Special attention is given to the information about the effects of plant extracts/products on fish growth, haematological profiles, immune responses and resistance to infectious diseases.     

Current status and prospects of farming the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) in Bangladesh

Giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming plays an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. Presently, it is cultured in around 50 000 ha area with total annual production of 23 240 t. Traditional extensive prawn farming has been expanding over the last three decades through the introduction and adoption of improved culture systems, such as culture of prawn‐carps, prawn‐shrimp‐fish and prawn‐fish‐rice as concurrent and rotational systems. Efforts for the development of improved techniques on broodstock management, seed production and rearing and grow‐out of prawn have been made over the last decade. The outcomes are low‐cost feed for broodstock, production of post‐larvae in net cages (hapa), all‐male prawn culture, periphyton based prawn‐tilapia culture, C/N based prawn culture, organic prawn farming, prawn‐mola culture and prawn‐carp‐mola polyculture. Despite the development of culture technologies, a number of challenges for sustainable development of prawn farming need to be overcome to realize the potentials of this promising sector. Good aquaculture practises at all levels and application of measures for quality control and food safety would ensure sustainable development of prawn farming in Bangladesh.     

Vulnerability of aquaculture‐related livelihoods to changing climate at the global scale

There is now a strong consensus that during the 20th century, and especially during recent decades, the earth has experienced a significant warming trend with projections suggesting additional further warming during the 21st century. Associated with this warming trend are changes in climate that are expected to show substantial spatial variability across the earth's surface. Globally, fish production has continued to increase during recent years at a rate exceeding that of human population growth. However, the contribution from capture fisheries has remained largely static since the late 1980s with the increase in production being accounted for by dramatic growth in the aquaculture sector. In this study, the distribution of vulnerability of aquaculture‐related livelihoods to climate change was assessed at the global scale based on the concept of vulnerability as a function of sensitivity to climate change, exposure to climate change and adaptive capacity. Use was made of national‐level statistics along with gridded climate and population data. Climate change scenarios were supplied using the MAGICC/SCENGEN climate modelling tools. Analysis was conducted for aquaculture in freshwater, brackish and marine environments with outputs represented as a series of raster images. A number of Asian countries (Vietnam, Bangladesh, Laos and China) were indicated as most vulnerable to impacts on freshwater production. Vietnam, Thailand, Egypt and Ecuador stood out in terms of brackish water production. Norway and Chile were considered most vulnerable to impacts on marine production while a number of Asian countries (China, Vietnam and the Philippines) also ranked highly.     

What are the prospects for black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) aquaculture in salt‐affected inland Australia?

Black bream are a highly regarded sport and table fish, and there has been considerable interest in their aquaculture potential for the salt‐affected agricultural regions of inland southern Australia. In many ways they are an ideal candidate species for inland saline aquaculture because they appear to be very hardy, hatchery techniques are well established for them, and high survival rates have been maintained under a variety of culture conditions and feeding regimes. However, their slow growth rate needs to be increased by at least 33% for black bream to become an economically viable aquaculture species. Growth is amenable to genetic improvement, and sub‐adult growth rate shows moderate heritability and no adverse genetic correlations with other production traits. Nevertheless fillet yield is comparatively low, and in conjunction with unpredictable and early sexual development in culture, industry‐scale meat production remains problematic. These obstacles, however, do not preclude the use of black bream as a recreational fish species for inland saline waters, where their stocking may provide an additional source of rural income and relieve fishing pressure on depleted estuarine populations.     

Biological and technical evaluation of the potential of marine and anadromous fish species for cold-water mariculture

Concern about the overexploitation of wild aquatic resources, the slow recovery of the groundfish fisheries and the need to encourage the diversification of the mariculture industry of the province of Quebec (Canada) all provided strong incentive to explore the potential of a wide selection of marine and anadromous fish species for cold‐water mariculture. Starting from a list of over 45 indigenous fish species of potential commercial interest, a biotechnical review was initiated. Technical sheets for each species were produced and aquaculture‐based selection criteria covering three aquaculture approaches of development (complete life cycle, on‐growing and stock enhancement) were examined. Species were ranked according to their degree of suitability for the given biological parameters. The final classification analysis within the complete life cycle production strategy positioned the Atlantic wolffish as the top candidate species (91%) followed by the spotted wolffish and Arctic charr (87%). Growth rate, optimal growth temperature, duration of the weaning period, minimal lethal temperature, larval size and feed requirements were the determining criteria. The on‐growing scenario final results ranked Arctic charr first (84%) followed by Atlantic cod (79%) and Atlantic halibut (74%) mostly owing to their growth rate at low temperature and optimal growth temperature criteria. Stock enhancement programmes should concentrate their efforts on the striped bass (56%), the haddock (54%) and the Atlantic sturgeon (34%) based on their growth rate, fishery status, landing price and the availability of impact studies.     

Feasibility of open recirculating system in temperate climate – a case study

The increasing number of depleted, overexploited and recovering world marine stocks, together with increasing demand for fish and need for sustainable management of aquatic resources has led to a gradual shift to inland intensive aquaculture with water reuse. Intensive recirculating systems are becoming a rapidly developing sector of aquaculture, with the objectives to increase production and minimize environmental impact. However, transfer of technologies from original sites to locations of different climate is not always successful. The present study evaluates the use of an open recirculating system in a temperate climate. The 3‐year study showed successful production with better fish growth and feed utilization than in a flow‐through facility at the same site, but presented significant issues necessitating changes in technology as well as physical adaptations. A positive effect of the technology with respect to the environment is possible, but systems must be adapted to temperate climatic conditions.     

The future of genetic engineering to provide essential dietary nutrients and improve growth performance in aquaculture: Advantages and challenges

Advancements in gene technology in recent years have been driving the aquaculture industry forward. Improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, and omega‐3 content are goals of the industry that could capitalize on applications of genetic engineering. One of the major challenges in the industry is to reduce the use of fish meal and oil, to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of aquaculture. The recent development of genetically engineered feed ingredients is one potential solution to the looming problem of fish meal and oil dependency. Furthermore, the development of transgenic fish has potential to improve production efficiency and other future desirable characteristics that relate to feed utilization and product quality. New gene technologies are beginning to revolutionize how we produce our food, and in aquaculture, will ultimately reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, help to preserve natural aquatic ecosystems, and improve nutritional profiles of farmed fish for human consumption. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current applications of genetic engineering technology to improve aquaculture through nutrition, including the development and use of transgenic feed ingredients, transgenic fish, and ultimately their impacts on nutrition, product quality, and consumers.     

Profitability and technical efficiency of aquaculture systems in pampaanga,philippines

Abstract

We evaluate the profitability and technical efficiency of aquaculture in the Philippines. Farm‐level data are used to compare two production systems corresponding to the intensive monoculture of tilapia in freshwater ponds and the extensive polyculture of shrimps and fish in brackish water ponds. Both activities are very lucrative, with brackish water aquaculture achieving the higher level of profit per farm. Stochastic frontier production functions reveal that technical efficiency is low in brackish water aquaculture, with a mean of 53%, explained primarily by the operator's experience and by the frequency of his visits to the farm. In freshwater aquaculture, the farms achieve a mean efficiency level of 83%. The results suggest that the provision of extension services to brackish water fish farms might be a cost‐effective way of increasing production and productivity in that sector. By contrast, technological change will have to be the driving force of future productivity growth in freshwater aquaculture.     

Genetic improvement of cold-water fish species

Carnivorous fish are two to three times as efficient as pigs and broilers in converting energy and protein to edible food for humans. As the domestication of fish continues, they will become more and more efficient and competitive with these industries. In the future, this will be very important, as more efficient utilization of available food resources is required to supply the growing human population with enough food. Today, about 1% of aquaculture production is based on genetically improved fish and shellfish. For salmonid fishes, we have the necessary knowledge to establish efficient breeding programmes. Large genetic variation has been associated with important economic traits. For growth rate, heritability ranges from 0.2 to 0.3, with a coefficient of variation of 20–30%. This implies that it is possible to obtain large responses from selection for growth rate. In several large‐scale experiments and in breeding programmes, 10–15% genetic change has been obtained per generation, which is much higher than that reported for other farm animals. In Norway, extensive breeding experiments with Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout were started in 1971. For the first two generations of selection, the breeding goal was growth rate. Age at sexual maturation (measured as frequency of grilse) was then included. From the fifth generation, disease resistance (measured by challenge test for furunculosis and the virus ISA) and meat quality (measured as fat percentage, fat distribution and flesh colour) were included. Today, Norsk Lakseavl AS (Norwegian Salmon Breeding Company Ltd) or NLA runs the National Breeding Programme and has two breeding stations where 400 full‐sib and half‐sib families of Atlantic salmon are tested in each of four year classes. For rainbow trout, the number of families totals 120 in each of three year classes. In 1997, the Norwegian production was 310 000 tons of Atlantic salmon and 33 000 tons of rainbow trout. At present, about 65% of the salmon and trout produced in Norway use genetically improved fish from NLA and multipliers. The cost–benefit ratio for the National Breeding Programme in Norway is estimated to be 1:15.     

Review of Aquaculture Research and Development of the Australian Freshwater Fish Silver Perch,Bidyanus bidyanus

Silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell), is a freshwater fish that is endemic to the Murray‐Darling River System, Australia. Over recent decades, its distribution and abundance in the wild have declined, and it is now a threatened species with the conservation status of “vulnerable.” Silver perch is a schooling, omnivorous fish, with white flesh, few bones, and high levels of omega fatty acids, and its aquaculture potential has long been recognized. Hatchery techniques, based on hormone‐induced spawning of captive broodfish in tanks and rearing of larvae in fertilized earthen ponds, were developed in the early 1980s. Fingerlings are currently used for stock enhancement and conservation or sold for commercial grow‐out or stocking farm dams. Research into the grow‐out of silver perch commenced in 1990 and demonstrated that it is an excellent fish for culture in static aerated earthen ponds with high survival rates (>90%), fast growth rates (2–5 g/fish/d) at high stocking densities (20,000/ha) leading to high production rates (10 tonnes/ha/yr). Since 1996, there has been research into nutrition, diet development, feeding strategies, broodfish domestication and management, culture in tanks and tank‐based recirculating aquaculture systems, diseases, health management, genetic improvement, and cage culture. Silver perch is a hardy species that performs well under different culture conditions and on diets with no or low levels of fish meal. Technology has been transferred to industry through major conferences in 1994 and 2003 as well as workshops, field days, extension, seminars, and numerous scientific and technical publications. The high quality of silver perch and its excellent culture attributes suggest that the species has the potential to form a large industry based on high‐volume, low‐cost production. However, despite these features and a strong technical base provided by research and development, industry growth has been limited and a relatively small industry currently produces only around 500 tonnes annually. Development has been restricted by a number of factors: poor site selection and design of some farms; use of inappropriate husbandry and/or production strategies; difficulties with pond production, including significant losses to bird predation and diseases; high costs of feeds; limited marketing and promotion; no processing component; no large‐scale investment; and the failure of many farms that were too small to be economically viable. Recent research has found that silver perch performs well in cages (high survival [>90%], good growth [1.7–3.5 g/fish/d], and high production rates [50–90 kg/m³]), and cage culture has advantages such as ease of management and prevention of bird predation that may help overcome some of the problems associated with pond production. Improved health management, new production strategies, cage culture, use of interstrain hybrids and other genetically improved fish, and integration with cotton and other irrigation industries offer opportunities for increased production and efficiencies, and further development of the silver perch industry. The potential of silver perch for commercial aquaculture remains very high.     

Aquaculture's potential impacts on conservation of wild stocks and biodiversity

Abstract

Anderson theorizes that development of the aquaculture of a fish species (also captured in an open‐access fishery) favours the conservation of its wild stocks, if competitive market conditions prevail. However, his theory is subject to significant limitations. While this is less so within his model, it is particularly so in an extended one outlined here. These other models allow for the possibility that aquaculture development can impact negatively on wild stocks thereby shifting the supply curve of the capture fishery, or raise the demand for the fish species subject both to aquaculture and capture. Such development can threaten wild fish stocks and their biodiversity. While aquaculture development could in principle have no impact on the biodiversity of wild stocks or even raise aquatic biodiversity overall, its impact in the long‐term probably will be one of reducing aquatic diversity both in the wild and overall. The development of aquaculture does not automatically ensure long‐term sustainability of fish and other aquatic supplies.     

Global reduction fisheries and their products in the context of sustainable limits

Globally, one‐sixth of landings from marine capture fisheries are destined for the production of fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO), which are currently overwhelming utilized by fed aquaculture. Many different species are used globally for the production of FMFO, but little concern has been given to the divergent environmental and ecological impacts of FMFO products based on species, ecosystem and fishing gear used in their capture. We evaluated the variable environmental performance of FMFO products from a wide range of fisheries whose products are either primarily intended for reduction or whose by‐products are redirected to reduction. Assessed fisheries accounted for 44% of global reduction fishery landings in 2014. Analysis was conducted on the basis of two measures: the carbon footprint (i.e., greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions) and the marine footprint (i.e., primary production required [PPR]). We found large differences between the impacts of FMFO products across the 18 reduction fisheries examined. Cumulatively, we estimate that reduction fisheries emitted 4.6 million tonnes of CO₂‐e GHGs in 2014, and appropriated over 4% of primary production in some ecosystems, demonstrating a non‐trivial impact. As demand for aquafeeds grow, the sustainable sourcing of raw material inputs will be of great importance. Results here suggest that the source of FMFO inputs can have dramatic effects on the environmental performance of fish feeds and fed aquaculture. We recommend further research on the environmental and ecological impacts of food production systems, and specifically to understand these results in relation to global production and sustainable boundaries.     

Macro policies to promote sustainable commercial aquaculture

Aquaculture has been the world's fastestgrowing source of food, with fin fish andshellfish production expanding by an averagecompound rate of growth of 10.9%. This is arate of growth faster than that of terrestrialmeat production. The paper describes policiesthat can promote aquaculture. The focus is oncommercial (for profit) aquaculture, butsubsistence aquaculture is indirectly includedon the assumption that the two systems arecomplementary, rather than mutuallyexclusive.     

History,current status and prospects of sturgeon aquaculture in Russia

Since natural sturgeon populations have drastically declined, aquaculture of these valuable fish is important to meet the ever‐increasing demand for meat and caviar, thereby reducing the pressure on natural sturgeon resources. There are two directions in sturgeon aquaculture: controlled propagation for release and commercial farming. The controlled propagation supports the conservation of natural fish populations, while the commercial cultivation of sturgeons supplies the needs of the consumer market with the delicacy production of caviar (mainly). This review deals with the current status of the controlled propagation and stocking in the Volga‐Caspian basin and the commercial farming of sturgeons in Russia. The article also investigates the management of farmed broodstocks of sturgeons, which are used for obtaining seedlings and caviar. It is for sure that the active and continuous development of the two directions of sturgeon aquaculture will allow preserving these unique ancient fish on our planet until natural populations can be re‐established by self‐sustaining populations.     

An evaluation of the role and impacts of alien finfish in Asian inland aquaculture

Asia dominates global aquaculture production accounting for over 80% of the total and the mainstay in Asian aquaculture is finfish. Over the years, Asia has experienced a number of inter‐continental and intra‐continental transfers/introductions/translocation of finfish species, between nations and watersheds, beyond their natural range of distribution, primarily for aquaculture development. In this article all such species are referred to as alien species. An attempt is made to evaluate the importance of the production of alien species in selected Asian nations, using statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Also, negative effects, if any, based on literature surveys, of alien species in relation to displacement of indigenous species, and on biodiversity and/or genetic diversity together with associated pathogen transfers are evaluated. The major alien species, based on their significance to Asian inland aquaculture considered, are the tilapias, catfish, Chinese and Indian major carps and common carp. It is estimated that currently alien species account for nearly 12% of the cultured finfish production (2.6 million tonnes) in Asia, valued at US$ 2.59 billion, and the contribution exceeds 40% when Asian countries excluding China are taken into consideration. Inland finfish aquaculture in some Asian nations, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, is predominated by alien species, and in some others, e.g. Bangladesh and India, the contribution from alien species has been increasing steadily. It is suggested that overall alien finfish species have done little ecological harm to native flora and fauna. However, in the wake of increasing anthropogenic development taking place in watersheds the resulting environments are often made unconducive to indigenous species but not to some alien species, thereby potentially and indirectly making the latter invasive.     

Restructuring European freshwater aquaculture from family‐owned to large‐scale firms – lessons from Danish aquaculture

Aquaculture is the world's fastest growing animal food producing sector. Although its overall performance is very good, it is unevenly spread geographically. In particular, the growth in most EU countries has been stagnating over the past 20 years despite repeated policy initiatives to launch new growth in the industry. The lack of production growth in EU aquaculture is often explained by strict environmental regulation and bureaucracy. In this article, we argue that an additional important element is an industry structure that limits the innovation and use of new technologies. Historically, farms have been small and often co‐managed with larger agriculture production. However, to succeed in a market with global competition, technological innovation and sector‐wide specialization, it is necessary to continuously increase productivity and induce investments in larger production facilities to take advantage of economies of scale. In Denmark, a structural change was ‘kicked off’ in 2005. In just 6 years, 30% of Danish production in freshwater has been reallocated to larger and more technologically advanced recirculation farms. Labour productivity has increased and the environmental impact per kilo of fish produced has been reduced, improving future prospects for aquaculture in Denmark and Europe.     

Geographic Information System as an instrument to determine suitable areas and identify suitable zones to the development of emerging marine finfish farming in Brazil

Worldwide, the availability of suitable areas for aquaculture has become a significant concern. In Brazil, the former Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) has begun to promote discussions and plan meetings on Local Mariculture Development Plans (PLDMs): a planning tool for the establishment of parks and aquatic areas. However, hundreds of groups and individuals still practice aquaculture awaiting a definitive license. This study aimed to serve as a tool to identify suitable sites for the installation of cobia cage farming and also to contribute to the PLDM zoning process. We created 27 criterion maps for marine fish farming. Their individual weights were assigned based on the best judgment of technicians, researchers and other stakeholders using the pair‐wise comparison method. The criteria and their weights were combined using multi‐criteria decision rules, and a final map according to suitability was derived by reclassification. Of the total area, 54,663 ha (14%) were composed of restrictions, and 341,083 ha (86%) were found useful; of which <1% is considered top score. Even so, these are more than enough to ensure the growth of activity. In Rio de Janeiro state, two bays have suitable areas to marine fish culture development. To ensure the sustainability of marine fish farming, we suggested the adoption of limited production areas based on assimilation and production capacity. Through this methodological approach, it was possible to identify suitable areas for cobia farming development. Additionally, the results may serve as a useful tool on which the PLDM can be based on.     

RELEVANCE OF A RAPID APPRAISAL APPROACH TO IDENTIFY LOCALLY AVAILABLE FEED INGREDIENTS TO SMALL-SCALE NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus L.) AQUACULTURE

Applications of a rapid appraisal approach to identify locally available feed ingredients in feed formulation, production, and socio-economics of Nile tilapia aquaculture in Bangladesh are discussed. Three diets of 35%, 30%, and 25% crude protein were formulated using locally available ingredients, and their essential amino acid profiles were assessed for Nile tilapia. Six production scenarios were constructed using these diets and two culture periods of 100 and 150 days were considered. The production scenarios with 35% protein yielded the highest productivity and profitability over the 150-day culture period followed by the 30% protein scenario. Identification of locally available ingredients and their application in small-scale Nile tilapia aquaculture may lead to: (1) increased availability of inexpensive sources of fish production for poor people; (2) increased fish consumption; (3) increased self employment and involvement of women in productive activities; and (4) increased household income to reduce poverty.     

The impacts of integrated homestead pond‐dike systems in relation to production,consumption and seasonality in central north Bangladesh

The roles of homestead ponds and surrounding dike production of vegetables on farms in peri‐urban and rural communities in central north Bangladesh were assessed. A baseline survey sought to characterize actively managed (“active”) pond‐dike systems, producing fish and vegetables, in terms of productivity and impact compared to less intensively integrated (“passive”) and control, no‐pond households. A longitudinal survey was carried out over 12 months to explore the relationship between seasonality and livelihood outcomes in relation to location and well‐being status. Active homestead pond operators tended to have greater access to information and credit compared to passive and non‐pond households; this was likely linked to their greater literacy and greater social connectedness. They enjoyed higher incomes through fish sales and consumed more fish than passive households, which was related to their higher production, in turn explained mainly by the use of more inputs. All active, 50% passive and 38% non‐pond households were involved in vegetable cultivation; however, significantly more vegetables were produced by active households than others. The impacts of pond‐dike production were more critical for food‐vulnerable, rural households than peri‐urban households prior to monsoon rice harvest; worse‐off households suffered more prior to the “irrigated rice” harvest. Fish and vegetables raised on farm were most important during lower income months. The study supports the view that small homestead ponds can contribute to the wider food supply, and that such “quasi‐peasant” forms of aquaculture contribute to reduced poverty and enhanced dietary diversity and food security in the broader population.