Warmwater Fish Production as a Niche Production and Market Diversification Strategy for Organic Arable Farmers with Implications for Sustainability and Public Health
This project has now finished. However, there are exciting opportunities for potential adopters under our new collaboration with Scottish Enterprise - Tilapia Scotland
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Institute of Aquaculture I Department of Marketing I Public Health Research Group |
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Background Research Outputs
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Trials A series of technical trials have been undertaken in Stirlingshire Scotland, Thailand and with a commercial partner on-farm in Devon. These have assessed the suitability for small scale tilapia production in the UK using two types of system: a clear-water recirculation system with filtration (RAS: recirculating aquaculture system) compared with an activated suspension technology (AST) approach in which water is treated in situ through aeration of nutritionally rich bacterial floc. Costs, income, tilapia growth rates, water quality and fish welfare were analysed and compared under different stocking densities and feeding regimes.
Current Status The results so far indicate that conventional recirculation systems are a more financially viable option than the AST system. This is due to significantly higher growth rates (500g market size fish in 8 months), and the capacity to operate at higher stocking densities without negative impacts on growth or welfare of the fish. Our research is currently further investigating the factors that retard feed intake and growth in AST systems and developing feeding strategies that can utilise feed ingredients that can be produced on-farm by UK farmers. We are also evaluating the potential for periphyton (attached micro-algae and associated biota) within biological filtration and as a feed additive to improve the efficiency of RAS tilapia production systems.
Clear water recirculation system (RAS) Bacterial Floc system (AST)
Previous Trials The initial exploratory trials in Thailand began in July 2005 and measured tilapia performance and water quality with various stocking densities and feeds in the sustainable, static AST system. The trial provided basic insights in to the most effective way to set-up the system in order to optimise fish and system performance and mature AST systems were an important outcome of the research. Second and third stage trials explored floc composition and density in the static AST systems while comparing growth rates in AST and RAS tilapia under various feeding regimes. Trials at the Institute of Aquaculture in Stirling investigated the quality and quantity of microbial floc as fish food and how they affect the water quality and fish welfare. Trials with our commercial partner in Devon compared the two systems fish welfare, fish growth and economic performances; allowing an assessment of whether an AST system can be commercially viable in the UK. |
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