Environmental Impacts Assessment of Tilapia in two Production Systems: Intensive and Semi-intensive using the Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract:

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was applied to evaluate the potential environmental impacts, specifically land footprint and water footprint of GIFT and Non-GIFT strains of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in two production systems i.e. intensive and semi-intensive in the research pond of Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to measure the production differences between the two feeding regimes and monitor the required water and land to produce fish on both diets. GIFT and Non-GIFT Tilapia strain were cultured four months into two culture systems with supply of formulated feed and rice bran to analyze overall production and growth performance and environmental impacts. Four culture systems are including – GI (GIFT intensive) and NI (Non-GIFT intensive) using formulated feed, GS (GIFT semi-intensive) and NS (Non-GIFT semi intensive). The final mean weights gained by Tilapia fed with formulated feed for both GIFT and Non-GIFT strain (91.05 ± 11.2 g) was significantly higher than those fed on rice bran (55.7 ± 3.53 g). The most land was used by GIFT semi intensive is 4.69 m2/kg; on the contrary the least is 2.73 m2/kg used by Non GIFT intensive. It indicates that the direct land used was least both GIFT and Non GIFT in intensive system which were commercial feed depended systems on the other hand both GIFT and Non GIFT in semi intensive system land was used maximum which were rice bran depended systems. Non GIFT intensive system used 3700.46±2.26 litres of water to produce one kg of fish which is the least amount of water usage; therefore it was the most efficient in terms of water footprint. On the other hand, GIFT semi intensive used 6981.81±1.69 litres of water per kg fish, which is the most water used of any strain and system and indicated that GS (GIFT semi- intensive) was the least efficient in terms of water footprint. As seen from results, feeding regimes alter the efficiency of land and water use. It is recommended to use rice bran which is environmental friendly and readily available for free or at low cost in the localities and fertilize ponds with cattle manure.