| dc.description.abstract | As capture fishery sector continues to decline, aquaculture industry must be accelerated to
bridge the fish supply gap especially in the developing countries. However, in most devel-
oping countries, aquaculture sector is characterized by low productivity due to inefficient
technologies, hence the need for innovative aqua-technologies that can stimulate back yard
fish production, for enhanced livelihood security among smallholder farmers. In aquacul-
ture, biofloc technology (BFT) is considered as an innovative culture system with great po-
tential for fish production. The BFT uses the principle of nutrient cycling through complex
bio-pathways to produce natural food for fish. The working machines are the bacterial flocs
that convert pond bio-wastes into edible nutrients for the cultured animals. This reduces
feed cost by about 30% and ensures higher profitability. BFT is useful for mass production
of live food resources, which are indispensable for successful larviculture in hatcheries.
Bioflocs enhance gonad formation and ovary development in fish broodstock, thus improv-
ing reproduction of fish. Bioflocs are also natural biosecurity agents that reduce the use of
antibiotics, which have various ecological consequences in aquaculture environment. Some
species of bacteria are useful in the process of atmospheric CO2 sequestration thus miti-
gating the effects of green-house-gasses (GHG). This article has articulated step-wise pro-
cesses of establishing BFT and demonstrated its potential to achieving ‘triple win’ objec-
tives of; a) increasing fish production, b) enhancing resilience of fish production systems,
and c) efficient use of energy, water, land, and reduction of GHG emissions | en_US |
