Effects of fish meal replacement on production and economics of tilapia monoculture systems in ponds

Md. Hashem Ali; Md. Akhtar Hossain

doi:10.26832/24566632.2026.1103014

Authors

Md. Hashem Ali
Department of Fisheries, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Md. Akhtar Hossain
Department of Fisheries, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2026.1103014

Keywords:

Feed efficiency, Fish meal replacement, Greenhouse gas emissions, Monosex tilapia, Sustainable aquaculture

Abstract

The effects of partially replacing fish meal with locally available mustard oil cake (MOC) were evaluated on production, feed utilization, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and economic returns of monosex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in nine farmer-managed ponds at Harian of Paba Upazila, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The study addressed rising fish meal cost, import dependency and the need for affordable, locally sourced, climate-smart feed alternatives. Three isonitrogenous diets (28% crude protein) were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replicates: T1 (30% fish meal, 25% MOC; 0% replacement), T2 (25% fish meal, 30% MOC; 16.7% replacement), and T3 (20% fish meal, 35% MOC; 33.3% replacement). Fish were stocked at 50,000 ha-1 across treatments. Fish meal replacement significantly (p<0.05) affected water quality, growth, feed utilization, yield, GHG emissions, and profitability. Methane emissions declined from 0.000027 ± 0.0000003 Gg year⁻¹ in T1 to 0.000024 ± 0.0000005 Gg year⁻¹ in T3, while N₂O-N emissions decreased from 0.0163 ± 0.00015 to 0.0136 ± 0.00012 Gg year⁻¹. The highest final weight (246.18 ± 3.93 g), weight gain (224.90 ± 3.69 g), and survival (89.05 ± 2.89%) attained in T1, followed by T2, whereas T3 exhibited lowest FCR (1.68 ± 0.05). Although T1 produced highest gross return (1,315,452 ± 53,736), T2 generated greatest net profit (BDT 579,678.33/$ 4734.90 ± 100,210 ha⁻¹) and cost–benefit ratio (0.89 ± 0.15). Thus, 16.7% fish meal replacement with MOC elevates production, profitability, and lower GHG emissions for sustainable tilapia farming in Bangladesh.

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References

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