Proposal of Ecotechnologies for Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) Production in Mexico: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications

Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres, María de los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez, Celia Gabriela Sierra-Carmona, Luis Enrique García Santamaria, Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía, José Luis Marín-Muñiz and Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo
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Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres: Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Mexico
María de los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez: Scientific Research Department, El Colegio de Veracruz, Xalapa 91000, Mexico
Celia Gabriela Sierra-Carmona: Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Xalapa, Xalapa 91096, Mexico
Luis Enrique García Santamaria: Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Mexico
Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía: Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Mexico
José Luis Marín-Muñiz: Scientific Research Department, El Colegio de Veracruz, Xalapa 91000, Mexico
Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo: Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Mexico

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: Conventional aquaculture (ACUA-C) in Mexico is an activity that maintains an annual growth rate of 6%. Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) aquaculture is the predominant aquaculture in the country with 4623 farms, most of which operate with semi-intensive (SIS) and extensive (ES) production systems, discharging untreated wastewater that negatively impacts the environment. To address this problem, new ecotechnologies such as biofloc (BFT), recirculation systems for aquaculture (RAS), constructed wetlands (CWs) for water treatment, and aquaponics (AS) have emerged to mitigate the environmental impacts of untreated wastewater. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of tilapia farming with BFT, RAS, CW, and AS ecotechnologies through an economic and financial feasibility analysis, considering their environmental and social implications in a Mexican aquaculture farm located in the state of Veracruz. Open interviews, direct observation, and diagnosis of the semi-intensive tilapia system was carried out between 15 May 2019 and 15 February 2020 in order to calculate, design, and theoretically evaluate the four ecotechnological alternatives (TBF, RAS, CW, and AS). Economic (13), environmental (10), and social (5) variables were applied, making use of the same facilities. The results reveal that the four ecotechnologies implemented in an SIS are economically viable and environmentally acceptable, especially in water management, in addition to being socially feasible. It is concluded that BFT offers an alternative to the producer by having a lower additional cost to improve problems, despite the possible complexity of operation and energy requirements to manage wastewater treatment. The technological transition to BFT is recommended to solve the problem of sustainable water management.

Keywords: sustainable aquaculture; recirculation aquaculture systems; biofloc technology; constructed wetlands; aquaponics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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