Adaptation of the U.S. Economic Valuation Methodology for Environmental Services to Neotropical Brazilian Aquaculture

• Grant number: 25/03813-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Wolff Bueno
• Grantee: Moranne Toniato da Silva
• Supervisor: Fernando Henrique Goncalves
• Host Institution: Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research And Extension Center, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/03203-4 - Prediction of environmental externality and monetization of environmental services for fish production in neotropical reservoirs, BP.MS

Abstract

This research integrates economic and environmental data to assess the contributions of aquaculture practiced in lakes and neotropical reservoirs. The primary objective is to estimate economic impacts and identify key linkages that support sustainable development in these regions. The study applies an Economic Valuation Methodology, enhanced by researchers from the United States, to analyze production output, labor income, and tax revenue as indicators of the environmental services provided by Brazilian aquaculture in intensive systems.The research will begin by organizing data collected from a fish farm in Brazil that operates with cage culture systems. Researchers from Virginia Tech University will analyze this information using a specific methodology developed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial data. Based on this analysis, a scientific protocol will be structured, serving as the primary analytical tool and providing a robust and replicable model. This project represents a pioneering initiative in South America, focusing on tropical fish farm systems, and is expected to serve as a reference for similar regions and aquaculture production chains worldwide.Beyond expanding academic knowledge, this initiative will foster international scientific exchange and train students and researchers in applying innovative analytical tools and approaches. It will significantly contribute to the educational and professional aquaculture communities, strengthening global expertise in sustainable fish farming practices.