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Polyculture of Seabass with Tilapia for the Utilization of Brown Fields in the Coastal Areas of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Md. Mostafa Monwar
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

A. K. M. Ruhul Amin Sarker
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

Nani Gopal Das
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Disease outbreak in shrimp culture sector has abandoned the vast coastal areas of Bangladesh. These abandoned areas treated as ‘brown fields’ could be utilized for finfish culture using low cost inputs. This type of culture practice has the potential to be successful in the coastal waters due to having seasonally fluctuating salinity of 0 to 15 ppt. The present study was conducted to determine the growth and survival of seabass (Lates calcarifer) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using different stocking ratios without giving any supplementary feed to seabass. Tilapia was stocked at 1 individual/m². Tilapia fry was expected to provide food for seabass in the selected culture ponds. The stocking ratio of tilapia and seabass were 4:1, 5:1 and 6:1 in ponds with three replicates for each treatment. During 3 months culture period, the highest harvest weight of seabass and tilapia was recorded as 74.3 and 49.1 g/m², respectively and the highest survival rate of seabass and tilapia was recorded as 78.3 and 61.9%, respectively. The highest growth rate of seabass was recorded as 14.67 g/day and the highest biomass of seabass and tilapia (collectively) was found as 116.9 g/m². The present study reveals that seabass tilapia polyculture may be a good solution to utilize the coastal brown fields of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Keywords: Polyculture, Seabass (Lates calcarifer), Tilapia, Brown fields.

Location: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2012

End Date: 00-00-2012

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Tilapia

Objectives:

1. To determine the growth and survival of seabass (Lates calcarifer) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using different stocking ratios without giving any supplementary feed to seabass.

Methodology:

Nine ponds of different sizes (169 to 805 m²) owned by the marginal farmers were selected in the coastal area of Chakaria, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Ponds were dried and renovated with respect to dykes, depth, slope, bottom elevation, supply and drainage facilities. Soil pH was assessed prior to application of treatments. These ponds were limed at a rate of 1000 to 2000 kg/ha. Then inorganic fertilizer was applied (100 to 200 kg/ha; Urea: TSP, 2:1) followed by organic fertilizer at a rate of 4 to 5 ton/ha (cow dung: chicken manure, 3:1). Ponds were filled with water up to 1.2 m. After 3 to 5 days when the colour of the water turned into green, ponds were stocked with adult tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus; female: male = 3:1) of size 50 to 70 g. Tilapia was stocked at 1 indivisual/m². They were acclimatized by gradually increasing salinity to the pond conditions before stocking to their respective culture ponds. Recruitment of tilapia fry was observed 3 weeks after stocking of adult tilapia. In the meantime, the fingerlings of seabass (12 to 18 cm with 30 to 70 g) were stocked into the culture ponds such that tilapia: seabass was 4:1, 5:1 and 6:1 in three replicates. The fingerlings were collected from the local fry collectors of the coastal area during the months of June to July and acclimatized by gradually decreasing salinity before stocking. Water parameters were taken twice a month from the experimental ponds. Both soil and water pH was recorded by soil pH meter and pen pH meter, respectively; salinity and secchi depth by refractometer and secchi disc, respectively; dissolved oxygen (DO), free CO₂, alkalinity and hardness measured by titration methods. Fish samples were taken monthly by seine net for determination of weight and survival rate during the culture period. A randomized block design (RBD) for three treatments (Seabass: Tilapia ratio) with three replicates was applied. Three stocking ratios were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the differences were compared at 5% level of significance.

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture Vol. 5(6), pp. 104-109 June, 2013

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The newly developed concept of an alternative ecofriendly technology on ‘integrated tilapia-seabass polyculture’ is treated as a milestone in the brackish water aquaculture in Bangladesh. The implications of this research are to bring back the fertility of the coastal land, utilization of vast unutilized or underutilized derelict coastal areas, low cost but profitable and quick return on the investment, easy tech and risk-covered in comparison to shrimp culture, eco-friendly affordable environmentally sustainable technology and employment opportunity for the marginal farmers. To meet the increasing demand of animal protein as well as to raise the economic progress of the country, the policy makers among government, non-government and other related organizations should take immediate steps to extend the eco-friendly technology of tilapia-seabass polyculture for the increase of fish production especially in the coastal areas which were abandoned by shrimp farming.

Knowledge Management: Journal