To meet the growing demand for sustainable aquaculture, the biofloc technology (BFT) system has emerged as a promising solution, offering high productivity, improved water use efficiency, and enhanced environmental and biosecurity performance. Economic and risk analyses are essential tools for identifying the key technical and economic factors that determine the profitability and long-term sustainability of aquaculture systems. This study aimed to evaluate the economic feasibility and the risk associated with Nile tilapia juvenile production in a BFT system. Economic viability indicators were calculated using real data on capital investment, operational costs, and zootechnical performance from a production cycle. Scenario analyses were conducted to assess the effects of fluctuations in input prices and survival rates on overall economic outcomes. Stochastic simulations were also conducted to determine the probabilities of economic results. The items with the greatest impact on costs were the acquisition of the greenhouse and fingerlings, representing 27.64% of the initial investment and 33.24% of the operating cost, respectively. The BFT system showed a positive net margin and profitability per production cycle, with the exception of the pessimistic scenario. The risk analysis demonstrated that in 87.29% of the simulations resulted in a positive profit. Thus, the production of tilapia juveniles in a BFT system is an economically viable investment. However, its success is contingent upon specific technical and market conditions, underscoring the need for careful management and context-specific planning.

This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility and the risk associated with the Nile tilapia juveniles cultured in a biofloc technology system. The indicators used in this study followed the operating cost criterion. Scenarios were analyzed in terms of variations in input prices and survival. Stochastic simulation were also carried out in order to determine the probabilities of economic results. The items with the greatest impact on costs were the acquisition of the greenhouse and fingerlings, which represented 27.64% (initial investment) and 33.24% (operating cost) respectively. The analysis showed that the biofloc technology system is viable in a short and long term, since it covered all the operational costs and showed a positive gross margin per production cycle, except in the pessimistic scenario. The risk analysis demonstrated that in 87.29% of the simulations obtained a positive profit. Thus, the tilapia juveniles production in biofloc technology system is a low-risk and economically viable investment.

Live bait production is a relevant socioeconomic activity for fishermen and fosters the touristic infrastructure of Mato Grosso do Sul state, especially in the Pantanal biome. This study aims to analyze economic and financial viability associated with live bait production of curimba (Prochilodus lineatus) used by the market of Mato Grosso do Sul’s Pantanal. The present work collected zootechnical data and evaluated costs of production. A SWOT analysis was performed to identify strong and opportunities, as well as the weaknesses and threats of the property in question. Economic feasibility was analyzed through key indicators, such as Effective Operational Cost (EOC), Total Operational Cost (TOC), Total Cost (TC), Gross Margin (GM), Net Margin (NM), Profit (P) and Gross Revenue (GR). Financial feasibility evaluation was based on these indicators: Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Payback and Profitability Index (PI). We considered three productivity scenarios for the indicators: realistic, pessimistic and optimistic, during the period of commercialization of live baits. Curimba’s live bait production is a profitable activity. The estimated values were R$ 208,209.60 for GR, R$ 102,870.14 for GM, R$ 62,092.62 for NM and R$ 60,370.55 of P, whereas financial return after the first investment was 3.3 years. These results indicate that this activity has a potential for an increase of production in the future, offering direct financial advantages to the suppliers, enhancing fishery’s sustainable actions at Pantanal. Considering the variable market’s dynamic, this present work provides valuable insights that can guide future developing decisions and strategies for the suppliers of live baits in this specific location.

A produção de iscas vivas é uma atividade socioeconômica de grande relevância para pescadores e fomenta a infraestrutura turística no Mato Grosso do Sul, especialmente no bioma Pantanal. Este estudo objetiva analisar a viabilidade econômica e financeira associada à produção de iscas vivas de curimba (Prochilodus lineatus) destinadas ao mercado do Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense. O trabalho envolveu a coleta de dados zootécnicos e a avaliação dos custos de produção. Foi elaborada uma matriz SWOT identificando pontos fortes e oportunidades, bem como os pontos fracos e ameaças da propriedade em questão. A viabilidade econômica foi conduzida por meio de indicadores-chave, como Custo Operacional Efetivo (COE), Custo Operacional Total (COT), Custo Total (CT), Margem Bruta (MB), Margem Líquida (ML), Lucro (L) e Receita Bruta (RB). A avaliação da viabilidade financeira baseou-se nos indicadores: Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR), Payback e Índice de Lucratividade (IL). Para os indicadores foram considerados três cenários de produtividade: real, pessimista e otimista, durante o período de comercialização de iscas vivas. A produção de iscas vivas de curimba apresenta-se como uma atividade rentável econômica e financeiramente. Foram estimados R$ 208.209,60 para RB, R$ 102.870,14 para MB, R$ 62.092,62 para ML e R$ 60.370,55 de L, onde o tempo de retorno financeiro após o investimento inicial foi de 3,3 anos. Esses resultados indicam que a atividade apresenta potencial de perspectivas para um aumento futuro da produção, oferecendo benefícios econômicos diretos aos produtores e contribuindo para a sustentabilidade das práticas pesqueiras na região pantaneira. Considerando a dinâmica variável do mercado, este estudo fornece insights valiosos que podem orientar decisões futuras e estratégias de desenvolvimento para os envolvidos na produção de iscas vivas nesta localidade específica.

Since temperature plays an important role in feed consumption, chemical reactions and metabolism, it was hypothesized that it is below ideal it could interfere in the masculinization of tilapia in biofloc system (BFT) and the ideal methyltestosterone (MT) concentration in the feed. The masculinization rates of Nile tilapia in a zero-water exchange BFT (and without clarification) at 25°C and 28 °C combined with concentrations of MT in the feed (0 (control), 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg ∙ Kg-1 of feed) were evaluated using 3 replicates per treatment (30 tanks of 50 liters, 2 larvae ∙ L-1). Larvae were fed five times a day for 28 days. The water quality and growth performance did not diverge between MT concentrations (p > 0.05). Larvae grew 2.7 times higher in 28°C than 25°C. The control treatments did not differ from each other for male proportion (mean = 66,75%) but differed from all hormonal treatments. These treatments presented masculinization rates above 98.7% and 96.9%, at temperatures of 25°C and 28°C, respectively, and did not differ from each other at the same MT concentrations. Therefore, it is feasible to use an even lower concentration (10 mg of MT ⋅ Kg-1 of feed) in a zero-water exchange BFT, regardless of these temperatures. At the lower temperature, the input of MT in the system was smaller due to smaller feed intake, however the fingerlings would take longer to reach commercial body weight. Furthermore, after 2 hours of the last hormone feeding, MT residues were not detected in any biofloc/water mixture samples.

How intensive the masculinization period of Nile tilapia can be in biofloc technology (BFT) based on higher stocking densities and a zero-water exchange protocol to mitigate the environmental impact has not been studied yet and needs investigation. Thus, our objective was to determine the optimal stocking density for reduction of hormonal effluent in BFT, better growth and masculinization rate of Nile tilapia larvae, and lower total variable cost. Five stocking densities (1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, and 7.5 larvae ∙ L-1) with four replicates were tested. Tilapias were fed with 60 mg of 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) ∙ Kg-1 of feed for 28 days, and with hormone-free feed until the common selling body weight of 1g. Water quality variables showed no significant differences between treatments, except for total settleable solids, pH, and final total organic carbon, that had a negative, positive and quadratic linear pattern with the increasing of stocking density, respectively. Growth performance variables such as final body weight, specific growth rate, survival and individual feed intake (and consequently hormone input) were superior at the lower stocking density. Masculinization rate (98.87%) did not differ among treatments, but total variable cost increased to produce 1g fingerlings in higher stocking densities. Hormone residue was not detected in BFT water of any treatment 12 hours after the last feeding so, in conclusion, even being the highest hormone input in the system, 1.5 larvae ∙ L-1 is the best level of stocking density studied for tilapia masculinization in a zero-water exchange BFT.