Environmental Accounting of the Yellow-Tail Lambari Aquaculture: Sustainability of Rural Freshwater Pond Systems

Tamara Fonseca, Wagner C. Valenti, Biagio F. Giannetti, Fernando H. Gonçalves and Feni Agostinho
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Tamara Fonseca: Aquaculture Center, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
Wagner C. Valenti: Aquaculture Center, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
Biagio F. Giannetti: Post-Graduation Program on Production Engineering, Paulista University (UNIP), São Paulo 04043-200, Brazil
Fernando H. Gonçalves: Virginia Seafood Agricultural and Extension Center (VSAREC), Virginia Tech-Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Hampton, VA 23669, USA
Feni Agostinho: Post-Graduation Program on Production Engineering, Paulista University (UNIP), São Paulo 04043-200, Brazil

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Freshwater pond aquaculture is the prevailing fish culture system worldwide, especially in developing countries. The sustainability of such systems has not been assessed and it can be improved based on suitable scientific analyses. In the present study, we apply the emergy synthesis to assess the sustainability of lambari aquaculture, used as a model of freshwater pond monoculture in Brazil, to identify the key practices, and to propose changes to improve them towards sustainability. As a study model, nine semi-intensive lambari farms operating at three levels of management were evaluated: low (LC), moderate (MC) and high (HC) control. Results showed that the main inputs for LC were services (27–46%), feed (7–39%) and water (15–21%), while for the MC and HC farms, they were feed (35–49% and 17–48%, respectively) and services (33–39% and 26–36%, respectively). All farms required more than 60% of their emergy from purchased inputs, resulting in low emergy sustainability index (ESI = 0.1–0.5). Increasing juvenile productivity, using superficial water instead of springwater, controlling pond fertilization and replacing animal protein in diet composition by vegetable sources can lead systems to higher efficiency and resilience, increasing sustainability.

Keywords: rural aquaculture; water use; emergy; fish production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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