Biofloc technology expanding at white shrimp farms

Nyan Taw, Ph.D.

Biofloc systems deliver high productivity with sustainability

Biofloc technology
Large-scale shrimp operations in China with fully-lined, plastic-covered ponds are ideal for biofloc technology.

Biofloc technology has become a popular technology in the farming of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The basic technology was developed by Dr. Yoram Avnimelech in Israel and initially implemented commercially in Belize by Belize Aquaculture. It also has been applied with success in shrimp farming in Indonesia and Australia. The combination of two technologies, partial harvesting and biofloc, has been studied in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Biofloc technology

Biofloc is defined as macroaggregates composed of diatoms, macroalgae, fecal pellets, exoskeleton, remains of dead organisms, bacteria and invertebrates. It is possible this microbial protein has a higher availability than feed protein.

The basic requirements for biofloc system operation include high stocking density with 130-150 PL10/m2 and high aeration of 28 to 32 hp/ha with correct paddlewheel position in ponds. Ponds must be lined with concrete or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and pelleted grain and molasses are added to the culture water. Shrimp production of 20-25 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) per crop is normal for biofloc systems. A maximum production of nearly 50 MT/ha was achieved in small ponds in Indonesia.

A crucial factor in the system is the control of bioflocs in ponds during operation. In raceways, settable solids wastes are removed outside the raceway. However, in large ponds, paddlewheel aerators need to be positioned to concentrate solid waste at the pond center for draining or other area for siphoning out. The suspended bioflocs are maintained at less than 15 mL/L during operation. The carbon:nitrogen ratio is controlled and kept over 15:1 by adjusting molasses, grain and feed inputs.

Biofloc technology
Smaller, concrete-lined ponds apply biofloc technology in Bali, Indonesia.

Commercial interest

Commercial interest in biofloc technology is threefold, for bioflocs provide high productivity, low feed-conversion ratios (FCRs) and a stable culture environment. Also, with emerging viral problems and rising costs for energy, biofloc technology appears to be an answer for sustainable production at lower cost.

The technology has not only been applied at commercial shrimp growout farms, but also in super-intensive raceways to produce more than 9 kg shrimp/m3. The raceway applications have supported nursery and grow-out to shrimp broodstock rearing and selection of family lines. Presently, a number of studies by major universities and private companies are using biofloc as a protein source in shrimp and fish feeds.

Applications

The number of shrimp farms currently using biofloc technology is not known, but some prominent examples are Belize Aquaculture, Ltd., in Belize and P.T. Central Pertiwi Bahari in Indonesia. The success or failure of the technology is mainly due to the degree of understanding of basic concepts of the technology in commercial application.

Belize Aquaculture was the first commercial farm to use biofloc technology successfully. Its production of 13.5 MT shrimp/ha was quite an achievement at the time. The Belize technology was applied initially in Indonesia at C.P. Indonesia (now P.T. Central Pertiwi Bahari, C.P. Indonesia), which achieved average production over 20 MT/ha in commercial 0.5-ha lined ponds. Research trials reached 50 mt/ha.

The technology combined with partial harvest was repeated in Medan, Indonesia, with better results. During 2008 and 2009, biofloc technology was used in Java and Bali successfully. In Indonesia, biosecurity protocols were incorporated within the technology.

Most Indonesian shrimp farmers are interested in biofloc technology, but with some reservations, as a number of projects have failed due to incomplete understanding of the technology. For example, the correct number and position of paddlewheel aerators used in ponds are essential.

The main objectives for paddlewheel aerators are to keep bioflocs in suspension. This can be achieved with informal aeration, but with no mechanism to concentrate solid waste for removal, high levels of suspended biofloc biomass can lead to deterioration of pond water quality. Eventually, this results in premature harvests, if not total crop failure.

Biofloc technology
Figure 1. Shrimp production levels at various farms implementing biofloc technology.

Advantages, disadvantages

The advantages of biofloc technology include very high biosecurity. To date, white spot syndrome virus has not been a factor in the systems. Production and carrying capacity are typically 5 to 10 percent higher than in typical culture systems, with zero water exchange. Shrimp grow larger and reflect feed-conversion rations between 1.0 to 1.3. Production costs can be 15 to 20 percent lower.

The disadvantages include high energy inputs for aerators. Power failures over an hour in duration can be critical. Biofloc ponds must be lined. The more advanced technology also demands a greater need to properly train technicians.

Taw, Performance of shrimp farms, Table 1

PondKarang Asem
A2
Karang Asem
A3
Karang Asem
B1
Karang Asem
B2
Karang Asem
B3
Karang Asem
C1
Karang Asem
C2
Karang Asem
C3
Singaraja
B3
Singaraja
B4
Pond size2,600 m22,500 m22,000 m22,000 m22,000 m2600 m2600 m2600 m22,500 m22,500 m2
Stocking density129/m2134/m2167/m2167/m2167/m2152/m2152/m2152/m2152/m2152/m2
Days of culture12512512691*125147135147147147
Survival (%)91849362859289918581
Average body weight20.5720.1218.1812.1918.5524.1521.1424.2724.3924.39
Feed-conversion ratio1.31.421.361.451.441.611.521.581.631.59
Harvest/pond6.23 mt5.69 mt5.64 mt2.49 mt5.25 mt2.02 mt1.72 mt1.94 mt6.30 mt6.00 mt
Harvest/ha23.97 mt22.78 mt28.22 mt12.46 mt26.23 mt33.64 mt28.75 mt32.36 mt25.21 mt24.02 mt
Table 1. Performance of shrimp farms in Bali, Indonesia, using biofloc technology.

Growing interest

Due to success stories in Indonesia and the United States, many shrimp farmers are interested in biofloc technology. The Indonesia Department of Fisheries and shrimp associations are arranging a three-day training workshop on biofloc in Indonesia. Dr. Yoram Avnimelech was invited to lead the workshop in April.

In China, a number of shrimp farmers are also interested. Their fully HDPE-lined, plastic-covered shrimp growout ponds with high-density culture are ideal for the technology. The author is currently advising shrimp farms with HDPE-lined intensive culture ponds in Central America on biofloc systems. A group from Brazil is running commercial biofloc trials.

Malaysia is currently initiating a 1,000-ha integrated intensive shrimp-farming project at Setiu, Terengganu by Blue Archipelago. The company also plans to use the technology.

(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the May/June 2010 print edition of the Global Aquaculture Advocate.)

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