Island fish: a new marine fish production model in Brazil

• Grant number: 16/07053-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: December 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Vanessa Villanova Kuhnen
• Grantee: Vanessa Villanova Kuhnen
• Company: ESB Consultoria em Serviços Biológicos Ltda
• City: Santana de Parnaíba
• Pesquisadores principais: Eduardo Gomes Sanches
• Associated researchers: Aline Binato Neufeld ; Fosca Pedini Pereira Leite ; Jonas Rodrigues Leite
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/00422-3 - Island fish: a new sea fish production model in Brazil, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The increase in the consumption of marine fish in the past few years has not been taken full advantage of by the productive segment of marine fish farming. Therefore, it has become an excellent opportunity for investment. Nevertheless, the still empirical profile of the activity in the country has not allowed for further advances. The current Brazilian marine fish production systems occur in nylon multifilament tank nets. Multifilament is an ideal substrate for the development of biological incrustations (biofouling), causing many economical and environmental issues related to the production. The main marine fish producers have been seeking alternatives to the nylon tank nets. Chile, for instance, has successfully used copper nets instead of multifilament nets. Copper nets are efficient in reducing biofouling as well as escapes on occasion of replacement of the nets. Besides the lack of appropriate equipment, the lack of technical knowledge is responsible for the cobia monoculture predominance and for the unexplored potential of other native Brazilian species. One of these is the yellowtail kingfish, a fish with high market value in Brazil, which has already been produced in Chile. Taking these into consideration, this project proposes a change in the marine fish farming in Brazil, through the inclusion of a new species and a new production system. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the productive performance of the yellowtail kingfish, compared to the cobia, in both the nylon multifilament nets and copper nets. At the same time, it is intended to assess the initial production of these species in recirculation salt water systems, aiming the use of farming nets for heavier and more resistant animals. The research will be done in two stages: the first stage consists of three experiments in salt water recirculation systems in the Laboratório de Psicultura Marinha do Instituto de Pesca, whose objective is to evaluate the ideal density for the farming of young forms, ideal feeding frequency, and verify the existence of profit; the second stage will assess the productive performance of the cobia as well as the yellowtail kingfish in farming nets in the marine fish, in both technologies: nylon multifilament nets and copper nets. At the same time, several water quality and sediment indicators will be analyzed, allowing the investigation of the possible impacts of such activity. This aspect deserves serious consideration, since most of fishing farming in the state of São Paulo is done within environmental protected areas. The experiments of this phase will be developed in the aquaculture area of the proponent company, nearby Rapada Island, in the city of Ubatuba/SP. Based on the development of such research; we expect to obtain the innovation this productive chain need, also offering technical subsidies for the sustainability management of fish farming in coastal environment. As a final product, we expect to offer the market and innovative production process of two native species of high economical value, based on scientifically tested management methods as well as an environmentally friendly productive process. (AU)