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Conventional aquaculture (ACUA-C) in Mexico is an activity that maintains an annual growth rate of 6%. Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture is the predominant aquaculture in the country with 4623 farms, most of which operate with semi-intensive (SIS) and extensive (ES) production systems, discharging untreated wastewater that negatively impacts the environment. To address this problem, new ecotechnologies such as biofloc (BFT), recirculation systems for aquaculture (RAS), constructed wetlands (CWs) for water treatment, and aquaponics (AS) have emerged to mitigate the environmental impacts of untreated wastewater. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of tilapia farming with BFT, RAS, CW, and AS ecotechnologies through an economic and financial feasibility analysis, considering their environmental and social implications in a Mexican aquaculture farm located in the state of Veracruz. Open interviews, direct observation, and diagnosis of the semi-intensive tilapia system was carried out between 15 May 2019 and 15 February 2020 in order to calculate, design, and theoretically evaluate the four ecotechnological alternatives (TBF, RAS, CW, and AS). Economic (13), environmental (10), and social (5) variables were applied, making use of the same facilities. The results reveal that the four ecotechnologies implemented in an SIS are economically viable and environmentally acceptable, especially in water management, in addition to being socially feasible. It is concluded that BFT offers an alternative to the producer by having a lower additional cost to improve problems, despite the possible complexity of operation and energy requirements to manage wastewater treatment. The technological transition to BFT is recommended to solve the problem of sustainable water management.
Erick Betanzo-Torres; María Piñar-Álvarez; Celia Sierra-Carmona; Luis Santamaria; Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía; José Marín-Muñiz; Luis Sandoval Herazo. Proposal of Ecotechnologies for Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Production in Mexico: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6853 .
AMA StyleErick Betanzo-Torres, María Piñar-Álvarez, Celia Sierra-Carmona, Luis Santamaria, Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía, José Marín-Muñiz, Luis Sandoval Herazo. Proposal of Ecotechnologies for Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Production in Mexico: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (12):6853.
Chicago/Turabian StyleErick Betanzo-Torres; María Piñar-Álvarez; Celia Sierra-Carmona; Luis Santamaria; Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía; José Marín-Muñiz; Luis Sandoval Herazo. 2021. "Proposal of Ecotechnologies for Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Production in Mexico: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications." Sustainability 13, no. 12: 6853.
Sustainable development implies the proper use of natural resources, such as water resources, but the environmental, economic, and social benefits should also be considered. In the water sector, for example, sanitation is one of the challenges that arise in rural localities. However, issues related to it may be solved with the use of constructed wetlands (CWs), which may allow the cultivation of ornamental plants with phytoremediation properties. Through a content analysis, the environmental, economic, and social potential of ornamental species used in Mexico for phytoremediation in CWs is documented in this study. The environmental potential of the plants was considered based on their phytoremediation properties. The economic potential was determined from research articles and from the National Agri-Food Information System. The social potential was analyzed considering the ornamental and artisanal use of the plants. In total, 21 species of phytoremediation plants were identified. Anthurium andreanum and Zantedeschia aethiopica stand out for their commercial value, reported in 2018 to be 272,875 and 30,318 USD, respectively, at the national level. The social potential was identified by the ornamental or artisanal use for flower arrangements and weaving. This study reveals that the use of CWs with ornamental vegetation is a sustainable option to clean wastewater, reuse water, and generate economic incentives. Thus, it is essential to provide the community with adequate training for the management of CWs in those sites that lack treatment systems.
Irma Zitácuaro-Contreras; Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez; María Hernández Y Orduña; Sergio Zamora-Castro; Erick Betanzo-Torres; José Marín-Muñíz; Luis Sandoval-Herazo. Environmental, Economic, and Social Potentialities of Ornamental Vegetation Cultivated in Constructed Wetlands of Mexico. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6267 .
AMA StyleIrma Zitácuaro-Contreras, Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez, María Hernández Y Orduña, Sergio Zamora-Castro, Erick Betanzo-Torres, José Marín-Muñíz, Luis Sandoval-Herazo. Environmental, Economic, and Social Potentialities of Ornamental Vegetation Cultivated in Constructed Wetlands of Mexico. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6267.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrma Zitácuaro-Contreras; Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez; María Hernández Y Orduña; Sergio Zamora-Castro; Erick Betanzo-Torres; José Marín-Muñíz; Luis Sandoval-Herazo. 2021. "Environmental, Economic, and Social Potentialities of Ornamental Vegetation Cultivated in Constructed Wetlands of Mexico." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6267.
Wetland soils are important stores of soil carbon (C) in the biosphere, and play an important role in global carbon cycles in the response strategy to climate change. However, there areknowledge gaps in our understanding of the quantity and distribution in tropical regions. Specifically, Mexican wetlands have not been considered in global carbon budgets or carbon balances for a number of reasons, such as: (1) the lack of data, (2) Spanish publications have not been selected, or (3) because such balances are mainly made in the English language. This study analyzes the literature regarding carbon stocks, sequestration and fluxes in Mexican forested wetlands (Forest-W). Soil carbon stocks of 8, 24.5 and 40.1 kg cm−2 were detected for flooded palms, mangroves, and freshwater or swamps (FW) wetland soils, respectively, indicating that FW soils are the Forest-W with more potential for carbon sinks (p = 0.023), compared to mangroves and flooded palm soils. While these assessments of carbon sequestration were ranged from 36 to 920 g-C m−2 year−1, C emitted as methane was also tabulated (0.6–196 g-C m−2 year−1). Subtracting the C emitted of the C sequestered, 318.2 g-C m−2 year−1 were obtained. Such data revealed that Forest-W function is mainly as carbon sink, and not C source. This review can help to inform practitioners in future decisions regarding sustainable projects, restoration, conservation or creation of wetlands. Finally, it is concluded that Forest-W could be key ecosystems in strategies addressing the mitigation of climate change through carbon storage. However, new studies in this research line and public policies that protect these essential carbon sinks are necessary in order to, hopefully, elaborate global models to make more accurate predictions about future climate.
Sergio Zamora; Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo; Gastón Ballut-Dajud; Oscar Andrés Del Ángel-Coronel; Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres; José Luis Marín-Muñiz. Carbon Fluxes and Stocks by Mexican Tropical Forested Wetland Soils: A Critical Review of Its Role for Climate Change Mitigation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 7372 .
AMA StyleSergio Zamora, Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo, Gastón Ballut-Dajud, Oscar Andrés Del Ángel-Coronel, Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres, José Luis Marín-Muñiz. Carbon Fluxes and Stocks by Mexican Tropical Forested Wetland Soils: A Critical Review of Its Role for Climate Change Mitigation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (20):7372.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSergio Zamora; Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo; Gastón Ballut-Dajud; Oscar Andrés Del Ángel-Coronel; Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres; José Luis Marín-Muñiz. 2020. "Carbon Fluxes and Stocks by Mexican Tropical Forested Wetland Soils: A Critical Review of Its Role for Climate Change Mitigation." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 20: 7372.
Aquaculture uses large volumes of water, which is generally discharged without treatment, possibly causing scarcity and contamination. A sustainable aquaculture option is biofloc technology (BFT), which recycles food residues and toxic organic and inorganic compounds from the system through microorganisms, avoiding excessive use of water and serving as natural food for cultured aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to identify the main factors that limit a Mexican aquaculture producer from adopting biofloc technology in their aquaculture production units (APUs). Strengths and weaknesses were methodologically analyzed through 248 questionnaires, applied to fish farmers in 16 states of the country with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). Findings reveal that the main obstacles in the use of BFT are due to the following: low academic level, limited administrative capacity, scarce technological equipment in facilities, diversified productive activity, and obsolete regulations. Other factors that promote the adoption of BTFs for aquaculturists are production experience, favorable weather conditions, and abundant availability of water and energy. In conclusion, the use of BTF is a sustainable option for APUs despite the limiting factors identified in this research which slow down the growth of the sector. It is advisable to study Mexican producers with BFT, in order to spread their benefits to other APUs, and further evaluate the productivity of the aquaculture sector. This study considers production aspects, and also sustainable use of its resources, specifically, surface, energy, water, and food.
Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres; María De Los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez; Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo; Antonio Molina-Navarro; Isidro Rodríguez-Montoro; Raymundo Humberto González-Moreno. Factors That Limit the Adoption of Biofloc Technology in Aquaculture Production in Mexico. Water 2020, 12, 2775 .
AMA StyleErick Arturo Betanzo-Torres, María De Los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez, Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo, Antonio Molina-Navarro, Isidro Rodríguez-Montoro, Raymundo Humberto González-Moreno. Factors That Limit the Adoption of Biofloc Technology in Aquaculture Production in Mexico. Water. 2020; 12 (10):2775.
Chicago/Turabian StyleErick Arturo Betanzo-Torres; María De Los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez; Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo; Antonio Molina-Navarro; Isidro Rodríguez-Montoro; Raymundo Humberto González-Moreno. 2020. "Factors That Limit the Adoption of Biofloc Technology in Aquaculture Production in Mexico." Water 12, no. 10: 2775.