Application of the IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture) System in Freshwater, Brackish and Marine Aquaculture

Abstract

Aquaculture activities that have been carried out intensively for several decades have made this sector grow rapidly compared to other food sectors. However, intensive activities have negative impacts, one of which is on the environment. To respond to these problems, aquaculture activities have now focused on environmentally friendly aquaculture by implementing various ecosystem-based cultivation systems and improving aquaculture management based on the principle of sustainable aquaculture. The IMTA (Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture) system is a cultivation system that uses species with different trophic levels to reuse wasted nutrients to be used as biomass. Currently, the IMTA system has begun to be developed in various countries in fresh, brackish, and marine water cultivation with multiple approaches according to environmental, social, and economic conditions. This review study discusses different IMTA systems and their applications.

Optimizing nutrient utilization, hydraulic loading rate, and feed conversion ratios through freshwater IMTA-aquaponic and hydroponic systems as an environmentally sustainable aquaculture concept

“…To better optimize nutrient flow and uptake, this study used an integrated multi-nutrient aquaculture (IMTA) system for land-based culture of Nile tilapia, Nile catfish, gray thin mullet, freshwater prawns, and freshwater oysters in a modular system. Aquaponics is a form of freshwater IMTA production 30 because it involves at least two species, such as plants and fish. The two species utilize nutrient sources and play distinct functions in aquatic ecosystems 31 .…”

Growth and survival of milkfish (Chanos chanos), tiger prawns (Panaeus monodon), and oysters (Crassostrea sp.) in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system with varying stocking densities

“…Through this understanding, environmental problems caused by aquaculture activities can be minimized, including change and land use pollution, either externally or within the culture operation (Hossain et al, 2022). IMTA can be used in almost all marine and terrestrial aquaculture ponds due to the implementation of ecosystem balance (Azhar & Memiş, 2023). The potential of IMTA development in Indonesia can be implemented through floating net cages or fishing net cages, which have been widely applied in Indonesia.…”