Development of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) for tropical brackishwater species in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, west coast of India

Abstract

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), farming of species from different trophic levels and with complimentary ecosystem function, is regarded as a suitable approach to develop a sustainable aquaculture system. In order to establish an IMTA system, a study was carried out in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India for selected tropical brackish-water species. Two equal sized pens (250 m2) were constructed for IMTA and control respectively in each land based system and open water cages were set in the estuary. Different combinations of fed species (Chanos chanos, Etroplus suratensis, Mugil cephalus, Penaeus indicus) and an extractive crop (Crassostrea madrasensis) were stocked in IMTA experimental system whereas monoculture of P. indicus served as control. Water quality characteristics were found to be within the admissible limits. Soil organic carbon was found to be lesser in the IMTA system compared to control. The productivity of IMTA system was higher than control: 3250 kg h-1 vs 2000 kg ha-1. Further, income and benefit-cost ratio was found to be higher in IMTA pens. The present study concludes that IMTA is a possible option for system diversification as well as species diversification without compromising economic profitability of culture.

The Selenium Supplementation Dietary Effect on the Nutritional Value and Immune Response of the Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

“…The rising demand for shrimp products and the associated increase in production has increased the demand for appropriate nutrient supply (Qiuran, et al, 2021) that meet the demands of different breeding environments such as variable temperatures, pH, high ammonia, water pollution, etc. Even though the wonderful growth and resistance that distinguish vannamei from the other shrimps, poor and stunted growth has been recorded in some shrimp farming rotcess (Balasubramanian et al, 2018) While most of the research to date has focussed on the use of dietary trace elements to improve the productivity of crustaceans, limited information is available on the use of an organic and inorganic form of selenium. Se is a component of selenoproteins, which are important for Se-dependent enzymes with Se-cysteine at their active sites (Stadtman, 1996).…”