Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Aquaculture & Fisheries

Cage-pond integration system is a new model for enhancing productivity of pond aquaculture system. A field trial was conducted using African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in cages and carps in earthen ponds. There were four treatments replicated five times: (1) carps in ponds without cage, (2) tilapia at 30 fish m⁻³ in cage and carps in open pond, (3) catfish at 100 fish m⁻³ in cage and carps in open pond, (4) tilapia and catfish at 30 and 100 fish m⁻³, respectively, in separate cages and carps in open pond. The carps were stocked at 1 fish m⁻². The cage occupied about 3% of the pond area. The caged tilapia and catfish were fed and the control ponds were fertilized. Results showed that the combined extrapolated net yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the catfish, tilapia and carps integration system (9.4 ± 1.6 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than in the carp polyculture (3.3 ± 0.7 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The net return from the tilapia and carps (6860 US$ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and catfish, tilapia and carps integration systems (6668 US$ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) was significantly higher than in the carp polyculture (1709 US$ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that the cage-pond integration of African catfish and Nile tilapia with carps is the best technology to increase production; whereas integration of tilapia and carp for profitability.

NOP 14-A07 (English)