Specialists from INTA and Conicet validated an intensive fish production system with high efficiency and profitability that makes it possible to breed species in climates with moderate winters, with very good results from a productive and environmental point of view. In the 2024/2025 campaign, this system will be validated with native species such as boga.
As specified by Ariel Belavi – INTA’s national aquaculture reference -, “circular greenhouse systems are intensive fish farming mechanisms that are based on the efficient use of water through the reuse and recirculation of water through biological and sedimentation filters. “. Thus, as he noted, “it is possible to optimize the use of water and reduce the carbon footprint.”
In this sense, Pablo Collins – a researcher at Conicet – explained: “Fish generate waste with high nitrogen content that can cause toxicity in farming systems if they are not eliminated or transformed.” Hence the importance of recirculation that transforms these wastes into molecules that are harmless to fish through biofilters. “This allows the water to be used again in the cultivation of fish and/or vegetables, thus closing the water circuit in productive systems,” Collins explained.
In addition, Belavi detailed other benefits of this production system: “Because they are greenhouse systems, they allow us to cope with the intense winters of the Pampas region.” The thing is that, according to specialists, “these circular systems are framed in the objectives of the blue economy that, in addition, allow high commercial yields in tons per hectare in regions of the country with thermal restrictions for the breeding of fish, even species native to climates temperate-warm”.
At the same time, these systems can be implemented in intensive productions in peri-urban and nearby areas, using any available space.
“After a year of study we were able to evaluate the efficiency of the system we used, from a productive and environmental point of view,” confirmed the coordinator who announced that they obtained “very good results.” At this point he noted: “Yields much higher than traditional semi-intensive farming systems were obtained.”
The study consisted of evaluating the system in rectangular plastic pools of 2.5 x 4 m of 10 thousand liters and a biofilter of 3 thousand liters under a greenhouse (without water heating). The stocking density used was 15 fish per m3 – 150 individuals per pool – cultivating only male blue tilapia because this species is the most used internationally to validate aquaculture farming systems.
The crop under these conditions achieved a total production of 92 kg/pool after 12 months of breeding, reaching an average weight of 684 g (maximum of 962 g). The size of 100% of the individuals exceeded the commercially and gastronomically standardized size as a plate (greater than 25 cm).
