INTEGRATED FARMING OF FRESHWATER PRAWNS: A POSSIBLE STRATEGY FOR INCREASING SUSTAINABILITY IN BRAZILIAN AQUACULTURE

Helcio Luis de Almeida Marques Helenice Pereira Barros Marcello Villar Boock Margarete Mallasen

INTRODUCTION
Integrated aquaculture IS NOT Sustainable aquaculture Organic aquaculture or Responsible aquaculture INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE: Aquaculture systems involving different species, either aquatic or terrestrial, that share the same available resources in a complementary way, thus optimizing their use

INTRODUCTION
SHARING resources is a way to increase their efficiency of usage INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE SHOULD ACT: 1st: Promoting more economic profitability At the same time: Contributing to the conservation of finite natural resources

FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

Freshwater prawns are easy to integrate a) Omnivores b) Well-defined spatial distribution Integrated systems: Fish-prawn; rice-prawn; aquaponics, terrestrial animals

1. Fish-prawn culture
a) Fish and prawns free

Drawing: H. P. Barros

Premises: Tropical fish; not carnivorous; preferentially living in the water column; culture cycle similar to prawns Species more adequate in Brazil: Tilapia

1. Fish-prawn culture
a) Fish and prawns free Prawns are stocked at lower density than in monoculture Prawn productivity smaller than in monoculture Tilapia: normal density Tilapia productivity similar than in the monoculture
Photo: M.V. Boock

1. Fish-prawn culture
b) Caged fish and free prawns

Fish receive artificial feed

Drawing: H. P. Barros

Prawns can be fed or not, depending on stocking density At low densities, prawn feed on wastes of pellets, benthic organisms, periphyton of cages In high densities, prawns need to be fed

1. Fish-prawn culture
b) Caged fish and free prawns Harvest of fish does not depend on prawns harvest But harvest of prawns depends on harvest of cages Carnivorous fish and short-cycle fish can be used Fish with cycle longer than the prawns are not recommendable

2. Rice-prawn culture
Common in Asian countries Two forms of culture (Phuong et al, 2006): a) Simultaneous: Juveniles of M. rosenbergii with 2-3 cm Low density (1.5 5 / m2) Variable productivity (40-500 kg/ha) b) Rotational
Photo: M.V. Boock

Adaptations in the rice-field for simultaneous system (Hung, 2001)

Trench Water inlet Water outlet Dike

a) Trench or harvest channel 50-80 cm deep along the dike at the water outlet point b) Increase the height of dikes c) Individual systems of water inlet and outlet with screens

Drawing: M V Boock and H P Barros

3. Aquaponics
Integrated systems that link recirculated aquaculture with hydroponic vegetable, flower or herb production (Diver, 2006) Plants must have low or medium nutritional requirements (lettuce, herbs and greens) Water effluent must have high nutrient level, as in the intensive recirculating systems of aquaculture
landscapeideasandpicture.com

In consequence, the use of prawns in aquaponic is very restricted, with little registers: Martan (2008): Intensive polyculture tilapia-prawn (M. rosenbergii)

3. Aquaponics

www.theaquaponicsource.com

Ramos (2007): Red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus: Mexico Friendly Aquaponics (2013) recommend rear M. rosenbergii at low density within hydroponic tanks

www.cropking.com

4. Livestock
Integration of fish and terrestrial animals occur mainly in India and some regions of Vietnam. Tripathi and Sharma (2001) describes integration with ducks, pigs and chicken. Apparently the integration with prawns can be also be performed.
www.wikipedia.org www.nationalgepgraphic.com

whitestonefarm.com.au

SHARING RESOURCES IN FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

PRAWN

Each system has typical ways of sharing resources

feed, shelter, weed control space, nutrients

FISH

RICE

shelter, flooded space, shade feed, shelter, weed control space, nutrients

Fertilization, pest control

FISH

RICE

shelter, flooded space, shade feed, weed control

Fertilization, pest control fertilization

FISH

space, nutrients

Cleaning water AQUAPONICS

RICE

shelter, flooded space, shade feed, weed control

Fertilization, pest control fertilization

FISH

space, nutrients

Cleaning water AQUAPONICS space fertilization, aeration, weed control, bottom loosing DUCKS

RICE

shelter, flooded space, shade feed, weed control

Fertilization, pest control fertilization

FISH

space, nutrients fertilization space

Cleaning water AQUAPONICS space fertilization, aeration, weed control, bottom loosing DUCKS

CHICKEN, PIG

SHARING RESOURCES IN FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

Keep in mind: Integration of cultures should primarily seek increase their economic efficiency Integrated aquaculture can be very visually nice and environmentally sound, but only the increase in profit may make it achieve its goals and to last in time

STATUS OF COMMERCIAL FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED FARMING IN BRAZIL

Brazilian production of M. rosenbergii: 100 ton in 2010 (FAO, 2012) Problems with major larvicultures in 2009-2010 Recovered in production should occur from the crop of 20112012
Photo: M. V. Boock Photo: E. Ballester

Roraima Cear Rio Grande do Norte Amazonas Pernambuco Sergipe Rondnia Minas Gerais Bahia Mato Grosso do Sul Paran Esprito Santo Rio de Janeiro So Paulo

There are 15 states producing M. rosenbergii, according to unofficial data (2009) obtained from hatchery owners.

Rio Grande do Sul

Esprito Santo Paran So Paulo Santa Catarina

States with known integrated production (2011-2012)

TABLE 1 Estimated commercial production of M. rosenbergii in integrated systems in Brazil, 2011-12.

STATE PARANA E. SANTO SAO PAULO S. CATARINA TOTAL PRODUCERS (n) 4 4 4 1 13 AREA (ha) 1.4 0.8 0.8 0.2 3.2
ANNUAL PRODUCTION (ton)

0.85 0.80 0.40 0.10 2.15

SOURCES: Eduardo Ballester, Bruno Lima Preto, Silvio Ticianelli, Renato de Almeida (personal communications) and Alto Vale Notcias (http://www.altovalenoticias.com.br/noticias/leitura.php?id=UxmUG1UV1YTUYNWP)

STATUS OF COMMERCIAL FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED FARMING IN BRAZIL

Generally: tilapia and prawns free. Tilapia are the main species. No significant changes in management (feed, densities) Ponds are prepared as in the tilapia monoculture (liming and fertilization)
Photo: E. Ballester Photo: M. V. Boock

STATUS OF COMMERCIAL FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED FARMING IN BRAZIL

Juvenile prawns are stocked firstly , at densities of 4-10 / m2. Higher the density, lower the final mean weight Tilapia enter after 7-10 days with 5-10 g at 2-3 fish / m2 Only tilapia are fed Harvest after 4-6 months, depending on the region and desirable size of tilapia

STATUS OF COMMERCIAL FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED FARMING IN BRAZIL

Tilapia survival is about 90% Prawn survival (70%) generally smaller than in the monoculture Best yields in Parana state: 15 ton of tilapia with 500 g and 750 kg of prawns with 25 g per ha per cycle (Ballester, pers. com.) In general: 10-12 ton of tilapia and 500 kg of prawns / ha.cycle
Photo: H. P. Barros

STATUS OF COMMERCIAL FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED FARMING IN BRAZIL

In some states (SC and ES), producers use grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and bighead carp (Arystichthys nobilis) (2 / 10 m2). Only prawns are fed. Some producers use tilapia in prawn monoculture at 1 / 10 m2
dicasdepescaamadora.blogspot.com

www. aquabeles.webnode.com.br

RESEARCHES ON FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS IN BRAZIL

1. Aquaponics Castellani et al (2009) evaluated the use of effluent of M. amazonicum nursery (80 PL / m2) for production of hydroponic lettuce and watercress. The aquaponic met the demand for nutrients only of watercress when supplemented with nutritive solution

2. Rice-prawn culture (M. rosenbergii)

Boock (2012): Effect of the densities 2 and 5 prawns / m2 with and without artificial feed on production of M. rosenbergii Simultaneous culture Juveniles 45 days old and 0,1 g mean weight Prawns reared for 122 days
Photo: M. V. Boock

TABLE 2 Production of M. rosenbergii in rice-prawn system, SP, Brazil. Source: Boock (2012). Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05)

DENSITY / FEED MANAGEMEN

SURVIVAL (%) 33.7 a 19.0 b 30.2 31.2

MEAN WEIGHT (g) 21.7 20.7 20.6 21.7

PRODUCTIVITY (kg / ha)

2 / m2 5 / m2 Without feed With feed

155.0 205.9 175.8 185.1

TABLE 2 Production of M. rosenbergii in rice-prawn system, SP, Brazil. Source: Boock (2012). Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05)

DENSITY / FEED MANAGEMEN

SURVIVAL (%) 33.7 a 19.0 b 30.2 31.2

MEAN WEIGHT (g) 21.7 20.7 20.6 21.7

PRODUCTIVITY (kg / ha)

2 / m2 5 / m2 Without feed With feed

155.0 205.9 175.8 185.1

TABLE 2 Production of M. rosenbergii in rice-prawn system, SP, Brazil. Source: Boock (2012). Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05)

DENSITY / FEED MANAGEMEN

SURVIVAL (%) 33.7 a 19.0 b 30.2 31.2

MEAN WEIGHT (g) 21.7 20.7 20.6 21.7

PRODUCTIVITY (kg / ha)

2 / m2 5 / m2 Without feed With feed

155.0 205.9 175.8 185.1

TABLE 3 Economic analysis of production of M. rosenbergii in 1 ha of riceprawn system, SP, Brazil and of rice-prawn production in comparison with rice monoculture. Source: Boock (2012). Value in US$. ECONOMIC INDICATORS RICE MONOCULTURE RICEPRAWN CULTURE

2 / m2 1,858 2,109 251 13.7 6.7

5 / m2 3,454 2,801 -653 -

Total production cost Gross revenue Net profit (US$) Internal Return Rate (%) Payback Period (years)

1,813 1,602 -211 -

3,671 3,711 40,1 6.4 15.1

TABLE 3 Economic analysis of production of M. rosenbergii in 1 ha of riceprawn system, SP, Brazil and of rice-prawn production in comparison with rice monoculture. Source: Boock (2012). Value in US$. ECONOMIC INDICATORS RICE MONOCULTURE RICEPRAWN CULTURE

2 / m2 1,858 2,109 251 13.7 6.7

5 / m2 3,454 2,801 -653 -

Total production cost Gross revenue Net profit (US$) Internal Return Rate (%) Payback Period (years)

1,813 1,602 -211 -

3,671 3,711 40,1 6.4 15.1

TABLE 3 Economic analysis of production of M. rosenbergii in 1 ha of riceprawn system, SP, Brazil and of rice-prawn production in comparison with rice monoculture. Source: Boock (2012). Value in US$. ECONOMIC INDICATORS RICE MONOCULTURE RICEPRAWN CULTURE

2 / m2 1,858 2,109 251 13.7 6.7

5 / m2 3,454 2,801 -653 -

Total production cost Gross revenue Net profit (US$) Internal Return Rate (%) Payback Period (years)

1,813 1,602 -211 -

3,671 3,711 40,1 6.4 15.1

3. Rice-prawn culture (M. amazonicum)

(Boock, 2012) Effect of the densities 5, 10, 20 and 25 prawns / m2 with and without artificial feed on production of M. amazonicum Prawns directed to the live bait market Prawns reared for 150 days
Photo: M. V. Boock

Photo: M. V. Boock

3. Rice-prawn culture (M. amazonicum)

Best results: 5 prawns / without artificial feed Survival: 37.7% Mean weight: 2.9 g Productivity: 18,835 prawns / ha in a 150 days cycle. Net profit: US$ 584.37 / ha Internal Return Rate: 28% Payback period: 3.4 years
Photo: M. V. Boock

m2

Photo: M. V. Boock

4. Tilapia and prawns M. rosenbergii free

(Valenti and Santos, 2002) Density of prawns: 2,4 and 6 prawns / m2 Density of tilapia: 1 / m2 Cycle: 175 days Best density: 4 prawns / m2 Productivity: 909 kg / ha Mean weight: 23.0 g Survival: 92%
Photo: M. V. Boock

4. Tilapia and prawns M. rosenbergii free

Economics of polyculture of tilapia and prawns free (Santos, 2000; Valenti , 2002) Tilapia monoculture: no viability In polyculture: Internal Return Rate : 15-45% Payback Period: 2.5 6 years

5. Tilapia and prawns M. amazonicum free

(Boock et al, 2008) Density of prawns: 14 / m2 Density of tilapia: 33 / m2 Each 45 days: Selective harvest of juvenile tilapia with 45 g and new stocking with fingerlings Cycle of culture: 180 days
Photo: M. V. Boock

5. Tilapia and prawns M. amazonicum free

Production of tilapia: 63.000 juveniles with 45 g in 1,500 m2 Productivity of prawns: 282 kg / ha. Mean weight: 2.8 g Survival: 80.4% Gross revenue of prawns: US$ 1,400 / ha The only cost: purchase of prawn PL
Photo: M. V. Boock Photo: M. V. Boock

6. Caged tilapia and free M. rosenbergii prawn

(Mainardes Pinto et al, 2012) Earthen pond of 1,500 m2 12 cages of 1 m3 each, at the densities of 200, 300 and 400 tilapia / m3 Tilapia cycle: 148 days Density of prawns: 33 / 10 m2 Prawn cycle: 179 days Only tilapia are fed

6. Caged tilapia and free M. rosenbergii prawn

Tilapia best density: 400 / m3 Tilapia productivity: 162 kg / m3 Tilapia survival: 93% Prawn productivity: 604 kg/ha Mean weight: 22 g Survival: 85% The introduction of prawns added a net income of US$ 1,444 / ha per cycle to the monoculture of tilapia in cages

7. Caged lambari and free M. amazonicum prawn

Sussel et al (2009) Lambari : a small Brazilian Characidae (Astianax altiparanae). Good for live bait Earthen pond of 180 m2 12 cages of 1 m3 each, at the densities of 80, 160 and 320 lambari / m3 Density of prawns: 14 / m2 Only lambari are fed Cycle of culture: 90 days

www.jpesca.blogspot.com.br

7. Caged lambari and free M. amazonicum prawn

Lambari best density: 320 / Lambari productivity: 278 units / m3 , mean weight of 6 g Lambari survival: 87% Prawn productivity: 98,000 units/ha, mean weight: 1.3 g Survival: 70%. Sold as live bait The introduction of prawns added a net income of US$ 600 / ha per cycle to the monoculture of caged lambari m3
Photo: H. P. Barros

Photo: M. V. Boock

PROSPECTS
Monoculture of tropical fish in earthen ponds has been not economically viable Integration with prawn can be profitable when efficient Positive moment for expansion of consumption in Brazil New market niches Compensating prices Starting of production of M. amazonicum PLs
Photo: CEAQ

PROSPECTS
New researches are arising: a) Integration of M. amazonicum with native fish Lambari in progress Mapara (Hypophthalmus spp), an amazonicum siluriform beginning Native ornamental fish (??) b) Use of substrates in polyculture
MAPARA carlosbaia.blogspot.com Photo: M. V. Boock

PROSPECTS

Drawing: H. P. Barros

c) Polyculture of free fish and caged prawn Nursery phase of M. rosenbergii producing juveniles II Grow-out phase of M. amazonicum producing live bait Prawn culture in cages take advantage of already existing fish ponds in the farm

PROSPECTS
d) Introduction of fish in prawn monoculture Polyculture where prawn is the main species There are no changes in prawn management nor in density. Prawns are fed normally Prawns do not have success in compete with fish by pellets, thus the density of free fish must be low. Alternative: caged fish Carrying capacity of pond must be studied

THE BRAZILIAN NETWORK ON FRESHWATER PRAWN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

Objective: Gather and disseminate available information and results obtained by producers and researchers on integrated systems with freshwater prawn A web page under construction will contains addresses and information on researchers, institutions and producers acting in the integrated farming of prawns, as well as bibliography and data of researches Contact: hlamarques@gmail.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Bruno de Lima Preto, Eduardo Ballester, Silvio Ticianelli (PL Brasil) and Wagner Cotroni Valenti for the information supplied

REFERENCES
Boock, M.V. 2012. Produo, anlise econmica e sustentabilidade da rizicarcinicultura no estado de So Paulo. PhD Thesis, Centro de Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 151 p. Book, M.V.; Barros, H.P.; Mallasen, M.; Marques, H.L.A. 2008. Policultivo do camaro-da-amaznia Macrobrachium amazonicum com alevinos de tilpia em So Jos do Rio Pardo (SP). In: Anais do Aquaciencia 2008, cd n. pag. Castellani, D.; Camargo, A.F.M.; Abimorad, E.G., 2009. Bioikos, 23(2): 67-75 Diver, S. 2006. Aquaponics integration of hydroponics and aquaculture, 28p. Disponible in: http://www.attra.ncat.org (access: Feb 2013) FAO (2012) Fishstat Plus version 2.3. Dataset Aquaculture Production 19502009. Food and Agriculture Organization, software, FAO, Rome. Hung, L. T. 2001. Rice-prawn and rice-shrimp culture in coastal areas of Viet Nam. In: FAO Fisheries Technical Paper no 407, Integrated AgricultureAquaculture A Primer. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations), Roma. In: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y1187E/y1187e23.htm#aa (access: Feb 2013).

Mainardes-Pinto, C.S.R. et al. 2012. produo de tilpias em tanques-rede em policultivo com camares da Malsia livres em viveiro escavado. Pesquisa & Tecnologia 9 (80): 7 p. Martan, E. 2008. Polyculture of fishes in aquaponics and recirculating aquaculture. Aquaponics Journal, 48: 28-33 Phuong, N. T., Hai, T.N., Hien, T. T. T., Bui, T. V., Huong, D. T. T.; Son, V. N., Morooka, Y., Fukuda, Y. and Wilder, M. 2006. Current status of freshwater prawn culture in Vietnam and the development and transfer of seed production technology. Fisheries Science, 72: 112. Ramos, C.L. 2007. Aquaponics Farm Update: BoFish, Guadalajara, Mexico. Aquaponics Journal 46: 14-17 Santos, M.J.M. 2000. Policultivo de tilpia niltica Oerochromis niloticus e camaro de gua doce (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) em sistema semi-intensivo de produo. M.Sc. Thesis, Centro de Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 38 p.

REFERENCES

REFERENCES
Sussel, F.R.; Cestarolli, M.A.; Boock, M.V.; Barros, H.P.; Mallasen, M.; Salles, F.A.; Marques, H.L.A. 2009. Influncia da densidade de estocagem na produo de lambari Astyanax altiparanae em tanques-rede instalados em viveiro povoado com camaro-da-amaznia Macrobrachium amazonicum. In: Anais da 10 Reunio Cientfica do Instituto de Pesca, S. Paulo, n. pg. Tripathi, S.D.; Sharma, B.K. 2001. Animal-fish systems. In: FAO Fisheries Technical Paper no 407, Integrated Agriculture-Aquaculture A Primer. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations), Roma. Disponible in: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y1187E/y1187e23.htm#aa (access: Feb 2013). Valenti, W.C. 2002. Situao atual, perspectivas e novas tecnologias para produo de camares de gua doce. In: Simpsio Brasileiro de Aqicultura, 12o, Goinia, 2002. Anais...p. 99-106. Valenti, W.C.; Santos, M.J.M. 2002. Production of Nile tilapia Oerochromis niloticus and freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii stocked at different densities in polyculture systems in Brazil. J. World Aquac. Soc., 33(3): 369-376

THANK YOU!
hlamarques@gmail.com
Foto: Marcello V. Boock

Par

Pernambuco

Rondnia

Esprito Santo

States with hatcheries M. rosenbergii M. amazonicum

Rio de Janeiro So Paulo

States with M. rosenbergii production

Espirito Santo accounts with 70% of the production Climate is suitable for culturing prawns all year round with two harvests a year. In South region, only one harvest a year (October April cycle) M. rosenbergii is the only species cultured but M. amazonicum has great potential

South region

Espirito Santo

2. Rice-prawn culture
b) Rotational culture: Prawns cultured before the rice crop or between two rice crops Density: 3-12 / m2 Harvest after 6-8 months Productivity about 900 kg/ha Not used in Brazil due to climatic limitations
Photo: H. P. Barros

8. Caged lambari and free M. rosenbergii prawn

Sussel et al (2011) Earthen pond of 180 m2 12 cages of 1 m3 each, at the densities of 300, 450 and 600 lambari / m3 Density of prawns: 5 / m2 Only lambari are fed Cycle of culture: 60 days Lambari sold as live bait

www.jpesca.blogspot.com.br Photo: H. P. Barros

8. Caged lambari and free M. rosenbergii prawn

Lambari best density: 600 / m3 Lambari productivity: 481 units / m3 , mean weight of 6 g Lambari survival: 80% Prawn productivity: 45,700 units/ha, mean weight: 3.8 g Survival: 91%. Sold as juvenile II Another possibility would be the accomplishment of a second crop cycle of lambari in the same pond
Photo: M. V. Boock