Tilapia production systems with certification potential

Abstract

Several concerns regarding the future of growing Aquaculture production are emerging, especially due to negative environmental impacts of the activity. Many systems, models and production techniques, such as bioflocs, aquaponics, integrated multitrophic, policultures and recirculation, have been developed due to the concerns with the environmental degradation of Aquaculture production. Currently these are being used to manage the use of natural resources and to reduce negative impacts of the activity, making it more sustainable. In this sense, the search for sustainable products has been increasing in the past years. This is because, for some consumers, besides the animals' welfare and the quality of products, valorizing natural, social, economic and institutional resources are important factors that must be taken into account by farmers. Despite the growth potential of a "sustainable market", few Aquaculture products with this designation are found. Thus, the aim of this proposal is to diagnose sustainable systems and management techniques in tilapia production and develop a certification protocol. To this end, two experiments will be conducted, one in cages and other in ponds, in order to evaluate the use of periphyton as complementary feed. Additionally, data will be collected in commercial fish farms that uses bioflocs and aquaponics. From these data and the obtained experimental results, the sustainability of different systems will be measured by the emergy synthesis, so the certification protocol can be created. In this sense, the study aims to plan and institute a more resilient model of production to guarantee the long-term success of the activity and a potential certification. (AU)