Improving fish growth and water quality in aquaculture trials

Eight years of aquaculture trials in Brazil indicate that biological treatments from Bionetix can improve fish growth, water clarity, and survival rates while reducing pond maintenance. The long-term experiment, conducted by Ennesul Tecnologia in Mato Grosso and Santa Catarina, highlights a simple treatment strategy that supports sustainability and productivity at commercial fish farms. 

As David S Llano, product manager at Bionetix, explained, “These results demonstrate that a well-designed biological program can significantly improve fish productivity and water stability, while reducing dependency on water exchange and chemical interventions.”

According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), aquaculture production has recently outpaced the amount of food produced by capture fisheries. Demand for aquatic food has been growing at a faster rate than the population over the last 60 years. 

The Asia-Pacific region dominates the market share among producers, while South American countries Ecuador and Chile also rank among top exporters. In tandem with market growth, the FAO is calling for greater efficiency and sustainability—two key elements that characterize the benefits of Bionetix aquaculture solutions. 

Fish and shrimp farmers across the globe now have the opportunity to learn from the experience of several Brazilian aquaculture operations and implement their own game-changing strategies. 

Results from the first trial, started at Mato Grosso in December 2017, were as follows – Healthy, consistent fish weight gain with increased production; Significant sludge and odor reduction; and Up to six-fold extension of water life (complete water replacement was needed after three years instead of six months). 

Other supporting field observations from similar aquaculture trials throughout Brazil included –  Increased fish density and production without adding new tanks; Dramatic sludge reduction (5 cm remaining instead of expected 70 cm); Earlier harvest’ and Better fish survival rates in low oxygen and power outage events

Three main treatments have been used across these operations – AQUA-FEED probiotic feed additive; BCP54 bioaugmentation blend of specialized microbes that degrade organic matter, support water clarity, and maintain stable pond conditions; and AEROBOOSTER-O2 slow-release oxygen technology designed to stabilize dissolved oxygen levels during critical events such as power outages.

In a global culture exhibiting greater reliance on aquatic food products, solutions like these are increasingly relevant. A complementary biological strategy supports healthier systems and may reduce reliance on antibiotics under proper farm management conditions, bringing more sustainable, efficient, and productive aquaculture within reach for fish farmers around the globe.  

Bionetix International is a Canadian-based company that produces biological products used in thousands of field applications worldwide.