Technical and economic feasibility of integrating seahorse culture in shrimp/oyster farms

Abstract

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems (IMTA) are building ecosystems designed to produce aquatic organisms with less environmental impact. We have developed a simple system and a management strategy for introducing seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) culture in shrimp/oyster farms to increase economic sustainability. The system includes broodstock, nursery and grow-out phases of Hippocampus reidi G. culture. We performed a test in a 42.4-ha marine shrimp/oyster farm, which showed that this system is technically feasible. Then, we performed a partial budget analysis including cost-return, cash flow and financial feasibility analysis. More than 12 000 marketable size seahorses may be produced in 402 m 2 annually. Initial investment was only US$ 21 103.00. The benefit-cost ratio was~US$ 20.00 for each US$ 1.00 spent, internal rate of return was 131% and payback period <2 years. In conclusion, the introduction of seahorse in shrimp/oyster IMTA system is technically feasible, profitable, resilient and shows high liquidity. This system may be easily established in developing countries and has potential to provide seahorses to supply different markets (live specimens for the marine aquarium trade and dried specimens for traditional Chinese medicine and the curio trade). In addition, it can indirectly contribute to preserve natural populations.

The Feasibility of Integrating the Noble Scallop Mimachlamys nobilis with Existing Fish Monoculture Farms in the South China Sea: A Bioeconomic Assessment from Hong Kong

“…The 10-y NPV was most sensitive to changes in sales price and mortality, probably because these parameters directly impacted the bottom line of the enterprise. This is a common finding in aquaculture businesses that are dependent on producing a critical biomass to insure farm profitability (Stirling & Okumus 1995, Taylor et al 2006, Fonseca et al 2017. A 30% increase in mortality over the 10-y simulation of the small farm was the only variation that resulted in a negative NPV.…”

Diversity of Seahorse Species (Hippocampus spp.) in the International Aquarium Trade

“…Firstly, the economic viability of seahorse aquaculture poses a concern. As rearing brood to market size can take months, it is still unclear whether the aquaculture industry can provide sufficient volumes of Hippocampus specimens in a cost-effective way to supply the demand [213]. Low survivorship of juveniles is a major problem in seahorse aquaculture [63,189,214,215].…”

“…One example is an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system (IMTA) that uses the cage-culture approach. Fonseca et al [213] developed a system in which H. reidi individuals were cultured in free-moving cages inside a shrimp and oyster farm, proving to be technically feasible, profitable, and resilient.…”

Economic Viability of Cassava Residues in the Nile Tilapia Diet

“…Nile tilapia (Orechromis niloticus) was the most widely cultivated aquaculture species in Brazil in 2018, corresponding to 55.4% (400.3 thousand tons) of the total national fish production. From a social perspective, if practiced in a sustainable way, it can promote socioeconomic development by reducing inequalities and distributing in an equitable manner, income and assets (Costa-Pierce et al, 2010), and also in areas with natural resources abundant, can be a strategy for low-income communities to reconcile socioeconomic improvement and environmental conservation (Fonseca et al, 2017).…”