Aquaculture
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/2
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- Farm ponds serve as critical livelihood assets for smallholder farmers in socioeconomically vulnerable regions such as Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh; however, suboptimal water quality management, limited scientific guidance, and low primary productivity continue to constrain aquaculture performance. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) offers a resilience-enhancing model by promoting nutrient recycling, ecosystem balance, and diversification of outputs. However, IMTA adoption at scale requires timely ecological monitoring and informed decision-making, an ongoing challenge for resource-constrained farmers. To address this gap, we developed EcoFarm, a mobile application equipped with advanced computational analytics to support precision management of IMTA systems. The application integrates machine learning algorithms for disease risk prediction and ecological performance scoring using key water quality parameters, plankton indices, stocking ratios and production. A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework is embedded to evaluate resource efficiency, species-wise productivity, and nutrient utilisation performance, enabling the identification of high-performing farmers and context-specific corrective interventions. EcoFarm simultaneously supports bottom-up data acquisition, automated spatiotemporal trend analysis, and expert-informed advisory services and recommendations. Designed with lightweight architecture and multi-lingual accessibility, the tool ensures usability among digitally marginalised communities. Results demonstrate that integrating IMTA knowledge with machine-learning-enabled decision support significantly enhances environmental stability, reduces disease incidences, and improves the economic viability of farm-pond aquaculture. EcoFarm thus represents a scalable digital decision-support ecosystem for strengthening multifunctional landscape strategies and accelerating sustainable aquaculture transitions in rural India.
- This technical report documents the pathogen screening of 29 genetically improved rohu, catla, and silver carp samples collected through the CGIP program and tested at the Khulna University–WorldFish joint laboratory. Using standardized PCR and RT-PCR protocols, the aquatic animal health team assessed the presence of five high-priority pathogens—EUS, SVCV, KHV, TiLV, and CEV—with all pooled samples testing negative. The findings confirm the disease-free status of the broodstock and backup fingerlings at the time of testing, supporting safe dissemination of improved carp seed and strengthening upstream biosecurity within aquaculture production systems.
- WorldFish’s Aquatic Animal Health Team conducted molecular screening (PCR and RT-PCR) of spawn from 25 families of G5 genetically improved rohu to ensure they were free from major aquatic pathogens—EUS, SVCV, KHV, and TiLV. Samples were collected from CGIP Jashore farm and analyzed at the WorldFish–Khulna University molecular lab, where all pooled samples tested negative for the targeted pathogens. This confirms the high health status of the G5 broodstock and supports the safe distribution of improved rohu seed to hatcheries. By preventing the spread of high-impact diseases and reducing the need for antimicrobial interventions, the activity strengthens biosecurity, promotes disease-free aquaculture growth, and contributes to SAAF’s One Health objectives.
- WorldFish and partners are advancing carp genetics in Bangladesh using a family-based selective breeding approach. G3 rohu, which grows 37% faster than local strains, currently benefits more than 200,000 farmers each year. G5 rohu, expected to grow over 50% faster, is now under field trials. Progress is also being made on other species, with G4 silver carp and G3 catla planned for release in the coming years. These achievements were reviewed at a national workshop in Khulna, Bangladesh, under the CGIAR’s Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods and Scaling for Impact programs, where participants emphasized the importance of long-term collaboration with public and private sectors to sustain and scale impacts.
- The objectives of this study were to evaluate the fish farmers and feed millers in the study areas to determine their coping strategies, the types of feeds they use, the ingredients in their formulations, the sources of the ingredients, and any other relevant information that could aid in the scaling of sustainable local ingredients and feeds. Questionnaires were administered in Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 22 States and the FCT cutting across the 6 geopolitical zones (North Central (NC), North-East (NE), North-West (NW), South-East (SE), South-South (SS) and South-West (SW)) of Nigeria from June to December 2023 to obtain information on activities of the feed millers and fish farmers in respect of the use of local ingredients from 2018 – 2022 to improve local feed production, reduce cost and support sustainable aquaculture development. A total of 459 structured questionnaires were administered to 130 feed millers and 329 fish farmers. Majority (65%) of the feed millers produced less than 5 tons per day in all the geopolitical zones across all business age categories (<5 years, 5-10 years and >10 years). Feed sizes of 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm and above were produced at different capacity in all geopolitical zones. The lowest selling price of ₦540 per kg of feed was recorded in the south- west zone while the highest value of ₦1,599.36 was recorded in the South-East zone. Fish farmers in the South-West region have the highest fish production capacity, with 21.28% producing over 1000kg/year, while those in the South-South region have the lowest, with only 0.91% producing between 100-1000kg/year. 78% of fish farmers operate full-time, while only 22% do it part time. Most farmers (47%) use earthen ponds, followed by 24% who use concrete ponds. Some utilize both types, and a few make use of all available facilities. Fish farming and feed milling business can thrive well in Nigeria if favourable factors are considered.
- OCFam is an R package implementing optimal contribution selection (OCS) for highly fecund species (e.g., fish), where large family sizes and rounding constraints renders classical individual-level OCS impractical. The package provides two primary functions: 1. OCFamPrep(): Prepares pedigree data and summarizes historical trends in inbreeding and coancestry. 2. OCFam(): Performs optimal contribution selection and generates integer-feasible allocations of parents. OCFam addresses the gap between the continuous mathematical optimum and operational constraints on parental contributions, ensuring that selected contributions are close to optimal and practically implementable. The package supports both nonoverlapping (discrete) and overlapping generation breeding systems.
- Smallholder farmers in Cambodia face growing climate risks, including water scarcity, declining water quality, and reduced productivity in traditional rice and fisheries systems. Monoculture limits diversification and underutilizes land and water resources. In response, integrated farming models, such as rice-field ponds and rice–prawn systems; are emerging as climate-smart solutions that improve resource efficiency, boost household income, enhance nutrition, and strengthen resilience. Under the CGIAR-MFL program, around 30 demonstration households in Kampong Thom and Prey Veng adopted these improved models, which enhance water retention, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and high-value production. To scale successful practices, the program organized three Field Day events with 120 participants (32 women), including PDAFF leaders, FiAC officers, local authorities, agricultural officials, farmers, and fishers. These events served as active learning platforms where demonstration results, integrated system synergies, and innovations such as locally produced Black Soldier Fly (BSF) feed were showcased.
- The primary goal of this research protocol is the collection of a representative and diverse set of aquafeed samples for developing NIRS calibration model for the routine assessment of proximate composition across Bangladesh.
- On August 27, 2025, WorldFish, in collaboration with ILRI, convened a hybrid workshop at the WorldFish headquarters in Bangladesh, bringing together partners and stakeholders from across the aquafeed value chain sectors. Through this workshop, partners will co-develop a practical, representative sampling strategy for aquafeed collection in Bangladesh, supporting the creation of robust, region-specific NIRS calibration models. The outcome will strengthen local analytical capacity, advance digital innovation in feed quality assessment, and contribute to global CGIAR efforts toward equitable, low-emission, and resilient food systems.
- This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the coastal and marine aquaculture market in the key Nigerian states of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo. It is based on a robust mixed-methods approach involving 903 survey respondents (452 fish farmers and 451 fish consumers), 53 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 18 focus group discussions (FGDs). The study identifies a critical misalignment between production and consumption that hinders the sector’s potential. Research reveals that while catfish and tilapia monoculture dominates production, consumer demand is for a greater diversity of species, with a strong preference for the perceived superior quality of wild-caught fish. Key findings indicate that the sector faces significant constraints, primarily high input costs, limited access to finance and inadequate storage infrastructure. These challenges inflate prices and reduce profitability. The market structure is traditional, relying heavily on intermediaries, which limits producers’ market access and margins. Despite these challenges, the study uncovers a remarkable readiness for sustainable innovation and overwhelming stakeholder support for integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA).
- The national-level workshop on Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in Bangladesh was held on 31 July 2025, in Dhaka under the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) project. The workshop brought together 57 participants, including seven women, representing government agencies, research institutions, academia, the private sector, and development partners, along with international delegates from Kenya and Cambodia. The event served as a platform to share research findings, practical experiences, and lessons learned from IMTA trials and practices in Khulna (southwest Bangladesh), Cox’s Bazar (Southeast), and other coastal areas.
- This report presents the findings of a comprehensive market assessment conducted by Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) in Bangladesh, focusing on the coastal and marine aquaculture sector. The study examined both supply-side factors (producers of shrimp, finfish, shellfish, bivalves, and seaweed) and demand-side factors (consumers) across five key regions: Cox’s Bazar, Khulna, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Satkhira. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including 1,200 semi-structured surveys (600 consumers and 600 producers), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), alongside field observations. The study also explored the adoption of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) as a sustainable farming practice.
- Training materials like posters on ricefield systems are important because they provide farmers with clear, visual, and practical guidance that is easy to understand and remember. Posters can simplify complex concepts, demonstrate improved practices step-by-step, and serve as a quick reference tool in the field. They also help standardize key messages, ensuring consistent knowledge transfer across communities, and can be shared widely during training, meetings, or displayed in villages. By making information more accessible, posters strengthen farmer learning, encourage adoption of improved practices, and support scaling of climate-smart ricefield innovations.
- This training poster highlights ways to enhance rice field pond systems by improving their ecological functions. It provides practical guidance on managing water, soil, and biodiversity to boost fish and rice productivity, strengthen resilience to climate variability, and support sustainable rural livelihoods. Farmers and stakeholders can use the poster as a visual reference to adopt climate-smart, ecologically balanced practices that integrate aquaculture and rice production, creating a more productive and environmentally sustainable farming system.
- Recognising the potential of small indigenous fish species (SIS) in alleviating malnutrition and enhancing rural livelihoods, WorldFish and partners pioneered hatchery-based mass seed production of SIS, achieving a breakthrough in nutrition-sensitive aquaculture. Through innovative breeding protocols, mobile small-scale hatchery systems, and farmer-centred business models, the initiative has scaled SIS aquaculture across India and Bangladesh, generating over 52 million SIS seeds. With formal policy adoption in Odisha and Assam, SIS aquaculture is emerging as a vital instrument for nutrition security, women’s empowerment, smallholder income generation, and biodiversity conservation in freshwater systems under climate change pressures.
- Understanding the interlinkages between ecological conditions and mariculture practices are vital for enhancing growth performance and nutritional profiling of marine bivalves. However, highly productive mariculture practices under different local ecological conditions have not been comprehensively documented to achieve sustainable outcomes. This study investigates how depth (0.5 m, 1 m, and 1.5 m) and site-specific ecological factors of three farming sites (Moheshkhali, Khurushkul, and Choufaldandi) influence the growth performance and nutritional profile of green mussels (Perna viridis) in floating raft mariculture systems in the southeast coast of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. For this purpose, 20 uniform green mussel spats (2.9 ± 0.08 g) were inoculated across three cultivation depths in ten replicated mussel net socks, which were suspended vertically in the water column from horizontal floating rafts and cultured for six months (October-March) at the above-mentioned three farming sites. Among environmental factors, the two-way ANOVA model displayed both depth- and site-specific significant variation of ecological parameters (DO, salinity, turbidity, NO3-N, PO4-P, Chlorophyll-a) and food availability (Coscinodiscophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, and Dinophyceae) in the studied areas. Our findings based on the two-way ANOVA model also revealed that both the depth and site-specific ecological settings significantly impact (p < 0.05) growth performance, shell morphometry and nutritional profiles of green mussels. Various univariate and multivariate analyses further revealed that the above ecological factors are closely interlinked with the observed differences in growth performance and nutritional profiles of mussels. By integrating these ecological and environmental variables, our study provides actionable insights for optimizing green mussel farming practices, potentially leading to improved yield and nutritional quality in floating raft systems.
- This study assessed the role of IMTA in promoting employment in coastal Kenya, focusing on five counties: Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kwale. Data collection was done using Kobotoolbox and structured questionnaires, 600 respondents were surveyed, alongside interviews and site visits. The study explored job creation opportunities, especially for youth and women across IMTA value chain. Findings highlight IMTA as a climate-smart solution to the economic vulnerabilities faced by coastal communities, such as overfishing, climate change, and limited livelihood options. Employment opportunities exist across the IMTA value chain—from hatchery operations to farming, post-harvest processing, distribution, and marketing. To fully harness IMTA’s potential, strategic investments in training, policy support, market infrastructure, and ecosystem restoration are essential. This report provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and private sector stakeholders to scale IMTA and drive inclusive, sustainable growth in the blue economy.
- Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), which integrates multiple species from different trophic levels (fed and extractive species) in a single farming system to enhance resource efficiency and environmental sustainability, is gradually gaining recognition in Bangladesh. Cox’s Bazar, with its extensive coastal resources and long-standing aquaculture tradition, presents a promising region for IMTA expansion, especially in marine water production. Producers in the area have been farming various species with IMTA potential, including finfish, shrimp, seaweed and bivalves. This report provides information collected from stakeholders within the IMTA production landscape in Cox’s Bazar, drawing insights from key informant interviews with local producers and researchers on the current status of their production and the various health challenges and other risks involved with the farming of IMTA species.
- The rapid growth of aquaculture in Bangladesh over the past 30 years has been accompanied by a proliferation of wholesalers. Wholesalers are often assumed in academic and public discourse to be exploitative and inefficient: extracting rents rather than driving technological change. This view gives rise to development programs that seek to bypass marketing intermediaries or upgrade their practices. However, there has been little rigorous research on the behavior of wholesalers and its implications for outcomes of value chain performance, including food security. To address this gap, we implemented a statistically representative survey of 229 aquatic food wholesalers in 31 markets in one of Bangladesh’s most important aquaculture zones. We found the following. (1) The wholesale segment of the aquaculture value chain has grown rapidly. (2) Markets are increasingly competitive, with open auctions leading to disintermediation and transparent pricing. (3) Wholesale businesses operate on thin margins. (4) Very little food loss or waste occurs in the farm, wholesale, or retail value chain segments in the study zone. (5) Trading aquaculture products generates substantial employment for men but little for women. Contrary to popular belief, the midstream of the aquaculture value chain in southern Bangladesh is dynamic and efficient. The paper contributes to a growing literature highlighting the contributions that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the “hidden middle” segments of agri-food value chains make to food security.
- Rohu (Labeo rohita) is a major aquaculture species in Bangladesh, but poor broodstock management has compromised seed quality and growth performance. To address this, WorldFish launched a genetic improvement program in 2012, yet the on-farm performance of the widely available third generation (G3) rohu remains poorly studied. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the growth and profitability of G3 rohu and commercial local rohu under typical smallholder pond polyculture systems in Bangladesh. A total of 120 ponds across two locations were randomly assigned to Selected (30 per location, G3 rohu) or Control (30 per location, local rohu), with rohu stocked at an average of 2470 ha−1 in typical smallholder polyculture systems alongside 5287 ha−1 of other cocultured species. The study was conducted over a full production cycle from July 2023 to March 2024, and differences in performance were assessed using multivariate regression and ANOVA models. Water quality remained within acceptable ranges for aquaculture, despite fluctuations. The Selected rohu demonstrated significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) harvest weight, weight gain, survival rate, and specific growth rate (SGR), growing 32.6% faster than Control rohu. Productivity of cocultured species did not differ significantly (p ≥ 0.05) between ponds with Selected or Control rohu. Furthermore, G3 rohu yielded significantly higher returns per ha than local rohu, with total productivity, gross revenue, gross margin, net margin, and benefit–cost ratios (BCRs) all significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in ponds with Selected rohu. Regression analysis identified pond size, commercial feed use, inorganic fertilization, and stocking density as positive drivers of rohu productivity, whereas pond age had negative effects. Findings are based on data from two districts in southern Bangladesh and may vary elsewhere depending on local farming intensity and management practices. These results suggest that wider dissemination of genetically improved fingerlings, coupled with improved pond management, could enhance smallholder productivity and profitability in Bangladesh.