Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Experiences and strategies in tilapia biofloc cultivation

International Conference on Aquaculture & Fisheries

July 20-22, 2015 Brisbane, Australia

Martha P Hernández-Vergara

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Aquac Res Development

Abstract:

According to the results of the investigation conducted by our research group, it is possible to ensure that the biofloc cultivation is an efficient technology that significantly increases production and promotes sustainable aquaculture practices in different phases of tilapia´s life. Our first evaluation consisted of determining the carbon: nitrogen ratio more efficiently during intensive cultivation of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (75fish/m3). Survival was >95%, growth rate 20% higher than the other treatments, there was a 15% reduction in TCA and a 12.9% decrease in production costs when using a 10:1 ratio of C:N. From the results of the C: N treatment, we determined the percent of reduction in artificial food (to 90, 80, 70 or 60% less) to support high productivity with or without biofloc. The result indicated that tilapia (100±14 g) cultivated in biofloc required 20% less feed ratio with the same growth gain that fishes feed full ratio. On the other way, we determined the efficiency in masculinization and feminization subjecting tilapia fingerlings in a system with biofloc to 17-? methyl-testosterone or 17?-estradiol. The resulting males (92.55%) and females (99.6%) were similar to other studies involving open systems and RAS but with the advantage that when using biofloc the volume of water was reduced by 90% during the 35 days of this phase. These results support the conclusion that biofloc cultivation is environmentally advantageous as well as sustainable and economically profitable.