Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXVII, Issue 2
Written by Mariana Cristina ARCADE, Mioara COSTACHE, Marinela GANCEA, Daniela RADU, Mihail COSTACHE, Carmen Georgeta NICOLAE
Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) presents opportunities for transforming diverse aquaculture-generated waste into revenue streams through the growth of species of economic and biological value. In fresh water, swan mussel Anodonta cygnea (Linnaeus, 1758) exhibit the capacity to purify aquaculture effluent by extracting nutrients contained within it. Also, it represents a value food source for fish, like Black carp, and human consumption. The study aimed to propose an IMTA strategy for freshwater cage fish farming. The feed provided to caged fish is not entirely consumed, serving as the foundation of the food chain for other organisms like swan mussels. To enhance feed efficiency for the fish, which settles at the bottom of the culture ponds where floating fish cages are located, individual net compartments are installed to accommodate the swan mussels. This association yields positive effects across all levels of the food chain by reducing losses and generating a living raw material that falls within the dietary range of other species. Also, through the feeding process, swan mussels filter the water and prevent the undesirable phenomena of decomposition of organic matter and decrease in oxygen concentration, which occur with increasing water temperature. This experiment applies the concept of IMTA by the simultaneous activity of fish and swan mussel farming, which results in minimizing economic losses, maximizing profit and environment protection by cleaning the water.
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