Economic viability of the piaucu Leporinus macrocephalus (Garavello & Britski, 1988) production

Brazilian fish farms presented an accelerated development during the early 90's, mainly because of the increase in fee-fishing operations. To meet the demand of this market, fish production and supply became excessive and, as a consequence, the number of fee-fishing operations, farmers and the final selling price, decreased. This study analyzes the technical aspects, production cost, profitability and economic viability of the production of piaucu (L. macrocephalus) in ponds, based on information from a rural property. Feeding and fingerling costs amount to approximately 47.1 % of the total production cost, representing together with the final selling price the most important factor affecting profitability. The payback period was 8.3 years, the liquid present value US$ 291.07, the internal return margin 9%, and the income-outcome ratio was 1.01, which represents an unattractive investment as a projection based on current conditions. The improvement in productive efficiency enhances the economic valuation index, and that the relative magnitude of cost and income are the most important points for the economic viability of the studied farm

The dynamics of fish farming development in two Brazilian valleys: A comparative approach

Based on a historical approach, fish farming development was compared in two differentiated Brazilian areas. This study mobilizes the concept of Innovative Local System (ILS) together with the theoretical framework of the Sociology of Innovation and of the Economies of Size. We found that all the relationships within Ribeira Valley are mainly commercial based. There is neither coordination nor linking actions among the components of ILS. Hence, the "network" was unable to create technological or organizational innovations capable of facing any economic crisis. Conversely, in the Itajai High Valley, the socio-technological fish farming network has been developed on social, commercial, and trustful relationships. All interactions among the components of the ILS were coordinated to each other which allowed this network to react when economic or climatic threats threatened the sustainability of fish farming