Productivity of Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in aquaponic systems

Crop production and aquaculture play important roles in food security and water withdrawals and contribute to over 70% of global water consumption. The aquaponic system is a sustainable way of integrating soilless crop farming and freshwater fish farming in a single system to reduce water consumption and pollution, increase food production per unit area, thereby rendering economic benefits to the farmer. In this study, an attempt was made to assess the productivity of aquaponic systems by measuring the biomass output of fish and crop, water requirement, as well as net-financial gain of the production unit. Two aquaponic systems types were designed: integrated aqua-vegeculture (IAVC) system, and deep-water culture (DWC) system (pilot-scale evaluation). Both systems combined growing kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in a greenhouse setting. In each system, tilapia was stocked at 10kg/m3 while kale seedlings were planted at 25 plants/m2 density. In IAVC after 14weeks, total kale yield was 2.1kg/m2 in the first crop harvest, 4.4kg/m2 in the second crop harvest, and the total fish weight gain during the two crop harvests was 9kg. Water consumed in IAVC was 3.4% of the total water volume in the system per day. Most water quality parameters in IAVC were maintained within ranges suitable for the fish and plant. In DWC after 14 weeks, total kale yield was 5.3kg/m2 in one crop harvest and the fish weight gain was 17kg. Water consumed in DWC was 2.6% of the total water volume in the system per day. It can be concluded that aquaponic systems consume 2.6 to 3.4% of total water volume as the daily water requirement. Most water quality parameters in DWC were not suitable either for the fish or plant and there were significant symptoms of nutrient deficiency in kale. This shows that mineral supply was not efficient, thus, there was a need for nutrient supplement. Due to the presence of a mechanical and biological filters in DWC, the water quality was more efficient for fish growth than in IAVC without any filter. In contrast, the water quality parameters in IAVC were more suitable for plants growth compared to DWC. Economic feasibility was projected in the IAVC system for 3m3 fish tank volume and 10.8m2 grow bed area. The cost-benefit analysis applied an inflation rate of 14.10%, and a discount rate of 16% over 15 years. The total annual projected kale yield was 360kg and the total annual projected yield of tilapia was 120kg. Net income at the end of the first year amounted to a loss of US$2,009 with a payback period of 4 years and 5 months. This shows that an aquaponic production can generate positive net cash flow before year 5. The Internal rate of returns (IRR) was 19$4,026. The scale of production in this study is recommended as a small-scale family business

Rice landscape management for raising water productivity, conserving resources, and improving livelihoods, in upper catchments of the Mekong and Red River basins

The project validated and disseminated a large number of improved rice-based cropping systems technologies suited to upland agro-ecologies. These improved technologies have good potentials to raise the productivity of water, land, and labor. The innovative strategies employed by the project including the paradigm of landscape management, multi-institutional partnership, multidisciplinary teamwork, farmer participatory approach to technology validation, and community-based seed production led to successful generation and dissemination of technologies. Initial monitoring to adoption of technologies showed good indications of spread and promising impacts on food security, poverty reduction, and environmental protection

Diversify, produce or buy? An analysis of factors contributing to household dietary diversity among shrimp and non‑shrimp farmers in coastal Bangladesh

Until the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh had reported consistent improvements regarding its food and nutrition security (FNS) status, and yet, the country still features poor FNS outcomes among parts of its population. In rural coastal regions of the Ganges–Brahmaputra-Meghna delta, farming households’ vulnerability is particularly exacerbated by a range of environmental hazards, increasing challenges for agriculture to contribute to higher FNS levels. In the context of existing literature on the trade-offs between subsistence agriculture and cash-earning livelihood activities, vis-à-vis food and nutrition security outcomes, this article assesses the relative contribution of crop diversification vis à vis other factors on the households’ Food Consumption Score (FCS) in specific livelihood contexts. We provide differentiated analyses between primarily exportoriented shrimp farming and non-shrimp farming households, so policy makers can better address FNS targets. Quantitative data from 1,188 sample households across the delta were analysed through descriptive and linear regression analyses. Results show that households cultivating shrimp have a significantly higher dietary diversity than households that do not. Among shrimp farmers, crop diversification has the relatively strongest significant positive effect on dietary diversity, suggesting part of the aquacultural crops are geared towards subsistence. By contrast, crop diversification seems to have a negative effect on dietary diversity among households that do not produce shrimp, especially when different agricultural crops are combined. Importantly, both for shrimp and non-shrimp farmers, crop diversification systems combining agriculture with aquaculture, and agroforestry seem to improve diverse diets among households. While by no means a panacea to solving FNS challenges among rural households, we suggest that promoting specific crop diversification systems could be a beneficial pathway to improved FNS outcomes

Shrimp farming vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in CA MAU, Vietnam

Shrimp farming is the livelihood for thousands of inhabitants in the Ca Mau of Vietnam, but these shrimp farmers are facing significant risks arising from climate change events. The research aimed to discover the adverse effects of climate change to shrimp production, and the vulnerability and adaptation of the shrimp farmers to climate change events. It was based in the main on the perspectives of shrimp farmers themselves from four shrimp farming systems (rice-shrimp rotation farming- RSRF, integrated shrimp-mangrove farming- ISMF, separated shrimp-mangrove farming- SSMF, and intensive shrimp farming- ISF) along with local experts working in the region. Findings from interviews and focus groups with these stakeholders were subsequently benchmarked against original or already published data. Three research questions guided the study: How might climate change events be affecting shrimp farming in Ca Mau Province? How is shrimp farming in different systems vulnerable to climate change events? How can Ca Mau Province shrimp farmers adapt to the climate change events? Climate change events in this research include extreme climate events (e.g. tropical storms), sea level rise and high tide, temperature changes, rainfall changes, and irregular weather. The researcher interviewed eleven local experts, surveyed 100 farmer households, documented the relationship between climate parameters and shrimp productivity, and conducted focus group discussions with representatives of the four shrimp farming systems to access the vulnerability of shrimp production. Key findings regarding the three research questions follow. First, adverse effects of climate change events on shrimp farming have already been occurring according to respondents in the Ca Mau region of Vietnam. The literature likewise provides evidence of this. The five climate change events ranked as most affecting shrimp production during the last decade and similarly identified for the future were seasonal pattern changes, increased intensity or irregular rain, sea level rise and high tides, and extreme climate events. Differences in climate change effects were recorded for different shrimp farming systems. Although ISMF and SSMF farmers (on the coast) were more concerned about extreme climate events, sea level rise and high tides than ISF farmers (further inland), a significantly strong positive relationship between water level and shrimp production suggests there are more benefits for shrimp farming from a higher water level; at least for such rises recorded to date. On the other hand, RSRF farmers were most concerned with seasonal pattern changes and intense rain or irregular rain; here, a significantly negative relationship between rainfall and shrimp production may suggest more severe impacts arising from these climate changes in the future. These findings contrast with existing published accounts regarding aquaculture in the Mekong Delta in that high water temperature was ranked as the greatest risk in shrimp production. Second, several contrasting findings regarding vulnerability and adaptation of shrimp farmers to climate change were evident. While the majority of shrimp farmers hoped that their children would change occupation, many nevertheless wished for them to become shrimp farmers and most of these farmers themselves in the four systems expect to continue with shrimp farming in the future, even though shrimp production would likely be seriously impacted by climate change in the future. Intensive shrimp farming operations with higher cultivation levels and greater diversity of income sources for the families involved were found to be the least vulnerable to the perceived current and future effects of climate change. Integrated shrimp-mangrove farming was found to be less vulnerable than rice-shrimp rotation and the separated shrimp-mangrove approach. Higher income shrimp farmers were found to be more likely to already be undertaking adaptation measures to address the consequences of climate change events and those with greater social involvement were more likely to have better adaption capacity to climate change events. While it was found that shrimp farmers had taken responses to the adverse effects of climate change event in the last decade, there were no clear strategies in place for the future. Taken together, these research findings suggest that intensification, integration, and cooperation would be good adaptation options for shrimp farmers in Ca Mau Province in the face of future climate change events. This research makes an original contribution to knowledge through capturing: (i) the perspectives of shrimp farmers themselves on how climate change affects their operations in the four farming systems; (ii) the climate change events most affecting shrimp production in the last decade and posing the greatest threat in the future; (iii) the significant relationship between shrimp productivity and rainfall and water level; (iv) the variable vulnerability in the four farming approaches; and (v) suggestions for shrimp farming intensification, integration, and increased farmer cooperation as key adaptation options to future climate change. The research findings have important policy implications for decision makers who want to support the shrimp farming system to be less vulnerable to existing and expected climate change impacts. The results of this study also have implications for the provincial governments, residents in the Mekong Delta, and in other brackish aquaculture farming regions to gain a better understanding of climate change risks to shrimp production. One such strategy might be to both enhance shrimp farmer resilience to the adverse effects of climate change events and improve cultivation techniques for farmers in different shrimp farming systems

Improving the circularity of fishing gears:mapping the amounts and current management of waste fishing gears in Finland

Abstract. The aim of this thesis is to find out the current situation of waste management in the fishing ports that are in the northern periphery of Europe and to provide understanding of the generated fishing gear waste at the fishing ports. This thesis is conducted as a part of the Blue Circular Nets -project funded by Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA). Inspiration for this research comes from the EU’s upcoming separate collection requirement of plastic containing fishing gear which will be launched in the beginning of 2025 in Finland. This thesis introduces relevant legislation and information on the fishing sector and fishing gear waste as a theoretical framework. The experimental part of this thesis was conducted with an online survey to all 45 inland and coastal fishing ports in the NPA-region. Second part was conducted with in-depth interviews for four fishing ports on the Finnish coast of the Bothnian and one by northern freshwater lake. The survey showed that fishing ports in Finland are mostly municipality owned, small sized and have most commonly two to ten professional fishers. Usually fishing ports are part of a marina with mixed waste collection as waste management. None of the fishing ports collects fishing gear waste but estimated the generated amount to be in the range of 0–999 kilograms and even specified to be two to five kilograms per professional fisher. Professional fishers use mostly fyke nets which can last even 15 years and nets that last from one to five years. Legislation regarding plastic containing fishing gear is still quite unknown among the participants and the overall impression of the matter isn’t that enthusiastic. Some participants are waiting for the collection to start due to the number of historical fishing gear waste at the port. The amount of historical fishing gear waste cannot be estimated because it is port specific. As generating fishing gear waste is still unknown in Finland this thesis aims to find base knowledge of the situation in the fishing ports.Kalastusvälineiden kiertokulun parantaminen : määrien ja kalastusvälinejätteen jätehuollon nykytilan kartoittaminen Suomessa. Tiivistelmä. Tämän työn tarkoituksena on selvittää Euroopan pohjoisella periferia alueella olevien kalasatamien jätehuollon tilanne sekä ymmärtää kalasatamissa syntyvän kalastusvälinejätteen määrää. Tämä työ toteutetaan osana Interreg Pohjoinen Periferia ja Arktis -ohjelman (NPA) rahoittamaa Blue Circular Nets -projektia. Inspiraation tähän tutkimukseen tulee EU:n tulevasta muovia sisältävien kalastusvälineiden erilliskeräysvaatimuksista, joka alkaa Suomessa vuoden 2025 alussa. Teoreettisena viitekehyksenä tämä tutkimus esittelee oleellisen lainsäädännön sekä tietoja kalastusalasta ja kalastusvälinejätteestä. Kokeellinen osuus toteutetaan nettikyselynä kaikille NPA-alueen 45:lle sisävesi- ja rannikkoalueen kalasatamille. Toinen osa suoritettiin haastatteluina neljälle Perämeren kalasatamalle sekä yhdelle järven rannalla olevalle pohjoiselle kalasatamalle. Tutkimus osoitti, että kalasatamat Suomessa ovat pääsääntöisesti kunnan omistamia, pienikokoisia, joissa on useimmiten kahdesta kymmeneen ammattikalastajaa. Yleensä kalasatamat ovat osana huvivenesatamaa ja jossa kerätään polttokelpoista jätettä. Yksikään kalasatama ei kerää kalastusvälinejätettä, mutta arvioi sitä syntyvän 0–999 kilon välillä ja määriteltiin olevan kahdesta viiteen kilogrammaan ammattikalastajaa kohden. Ammattikalastajat käyttävät enimmäkseen rysiä, jotka voivat kestää käytössä jopa 15 vuotta ja verkkoja, jotka kestävät noin yhdestä viiteen vuoteen. Muovia sisältävän kalastusvälineeseen liittyvä lainsäädäntö on vielä melko tuntematon osallistujien keskuudessa ja asia ei herättänyt innostusta. Osa taas odottaa keräyksen alkamista, johtuen satamasta löytyvästä historiallisesta kalastusvälinejätteestä. Historiallisen kalastusvälinejätteen määrää ei voida arvioida, sillä se on satamakohtaista. vaihtelee satamittain. Kalastusvälinejätteen määrä Suomessa on vielä melko tuntematon. Tämän työn tavoitteena on saada kalasatamilta tietoa sen tilanteesta

Marine Ecosystem Challenges & Opportunities (MECOS 3)

The Marine Biological Association of India (MBAI), established in 1958, is proud to gear up for MECOS3, the third symposium on Marine Ecosystems- Challenges and Opportunities during 7-10 January, 2020. The MBAI besides organising MECOS1 (2009) and MECOS2 (2014) has inculcated active interest and participation among its members by handling several national and international symposia/seminars, since its formation. The MBAI has 794 life members and 20 institutional members. The mandate of the MBAI is promotion of scientific research in the field of marine biology and allied sciences

Differential livelihood adaptation to socio-ecological change in coastal Bangladesh

Socio-ecological changes, brought about by the rapid growth of the aquaculture industry and the increased occurrence of climatic shocks and stresses, have significantly affected the livelihood dynamics of coastal communities in Asia. Empirical studies, to date, have largely provided a snapshot of the impacts and responses to a particular disturbance at a single spatial scale at a given time, often assessing the characteristics that make certain populations more vulnerable than others. To ensure equitable and environmentally sustainable livelihoods in the future, it is essential to unpack the complex social and ecological dynamics that drive long-term changes in a system’s configurations and shape the adaptive capacities of actors within the system. This study, therefore, explores the drivers, differential livelihood adaptations and well-being outcomes of socio-ecological change in coastal Bangladesh, using poverty as central lens for differentiation. The study takes a socio-ecological systems approach, whereby insights from vulnerability, resilience, political ecology, livelihoods, adaptation, poverty and human well-being are integrated into an interdisciplinary conceptual framework. A mixed methods approach was used to collect empirical evidence from two communities, both of which underwent transformations in farming systems when maintenance of the status quo through incremental adaptation was no longer feasible. Findings show that in the absence of good governance, social power resulting from high wealth status and associated political ties can steer the direction of socio-ecological change to one that is desirable for a small group of powerful stakeholders and completely undesirable for others. Differences in wealth status lead to differences in adaptive capacity; however, changes in vulnerability contexts brought about by power dynamics further exacerbate these inequalities. While resource constraints can restrict a household’s livelihood adaptation options, its adaptation space can also become narrower through negative externalities arising from the activities of other households. This can push some households towards downward trajectories, locking them in a poverty trap. In contrast, good governance and wider participation in decision making, can shift the farming system to one that is desirable for the majority of stakeholders. The study emphasises that resilience building through transformational adaptation should account for the heterogeneous values, interests and needs of different households. This can translate into more equitable adaptive capacities and prevent the system from embarking on a maladaptive trajectory in the future