Báo cáo Nghiên cứu khoa học Intensive in-Pond raceway production of marine finfish: final period report

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Completion Report VIE062/04 Intensive In-pond Raceway Production of Marine Finfish MS10: FINAL PERIOD REPORT 2 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 3 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 4 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 4 4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 5 5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 6 5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 6 5.2 Smallholder Benefits______________________________________________________ 7 5.3 Capacity Building ________________________________________________________ 7 5.4 Publicity ________________________________________________________________ 8 5.5 Project Management _____________________________________________________ 8 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues___________________________________________ 9 6.1 Environment ____________________________________________________________ 9 6.2 Gender and Social Issues __________________________________________________ 9 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ____________________________________ 9 7.1 Issues and Constraints ____________________________________________________ 9 7.2 Options________________________________________________________________ 10 7.3 Sustainability___________________________________________________________ 10 8. Next Critical Steps ____________________________________________________ 10 9. Conclusion __________________________________________________________ 10 10. Statutory Declaration___________________________Error! Bookmark not defined. 3 1. Institute Information Project Name Intensive in-pond raceway production of marine finfish Vietnamese Institution Nha Trang University (the former University of Fisheries) Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr. Hoang Tung Australian Organisation Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries Australian Personnel Mr Michael Burke Date commenced 15 April 2005 (01 August 2005 in Vietnam) Completion date (original) 15 April 2007 Completion date (revised) December 2007 Reporting period 01 March 2007 – December 2007 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Mr Michael Burke Telephone: +61 7 34002051 Position: Biologist Fax: +61 7 34083535 Organisation DPI&F Email: Michael.burke@dpi.qld.gov.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Michelle Sinn Telephone: +61 7 3346 2711 Position: Senior Planning Officer, R&D Coordination Fax: +61 7 3346 2727 Organisation DPI&F Email: michelle.sinn@dpi.qld.gov.au In Vietnam Name: Dr. Hoang Tung Telephone: +84.914 166 145 Position: Director, International Centre for Research and Training Fax: +84.58.831145 Organisation Nha Trang University Email: htunguof@gmail.com 4 2. Project Abstract This project aimed to develop the larval rearing and nursery capacity of marine finfish production in Vietnam through the use of accessible, cost effective and environmentally sustainable technologies. Through the development and use of in pond floating raceways (FR) this project has assisted farmers to develop their own intensive but durable and manageable larval rearing capacity. This capacity will be used to improve fingerling supply to the industry which is currently both costly and limited. In addition, advanced nursery capacity was developed using the same principles. Grow-out of finfish in raceways to market size was investigated in the Australian component of the research where researchers from the Queensland DPI&F provided expertise in systems management, water quality management and waste remediation. Species selected for study included cobia, barramundi, mulloway and whiting. All activities were mindful of environmental sustainability issues and strategies were investigated to limit water discharge. Information from these activities was used to train staff from the UoF, its students, industry and other relevant stakeholders. This project encouraged active involvement and contribution of different stakeholders to make this research highly relevant and applicable to the local aquaculture industries. 3. Executive Summary The market appraisal for mulloway (Argyrosomus hololepidotus) produced from earlier trials identified a market for larger fish for the local fillet market, so the final production trial at BIARC (Australian component) was to evaluate the suitability of raceways for extended grow-out of fish to 1.5 kg. During the period 22/02/2007 – 30/07/2007 mulloway grew from 930 g to 1333 g in the smaller (3.6 m3 nursery) raceways at a harvest density of 55 kg/m3. During the same period, mulloway in the larger (20m3) raceways grew from 826 g to 1228 g, and from 1077 g to 1412 g in Raceways 5 and 6, respectively. Food Conversion Ratios during this period were poor (av. 2.89); however, it is a known trait of this species to grow slowly beyond 1kg in culture systems and this slow growth was not necessarily a reflection of the performance of the raceways. In fact, our trials confirmed fish husbandry (feeding, monitoring, harvesting) is easily managed in raceways either as a nursery system, as an intermediate grow-out system, or as an on-growing system. During the current reporting period, research into water remediation strategies were completed. In Australia, remediation strategies investigated were (a) evaluation of waste sumps within raceways to collect uneaten feed and faeces; (b) the culture of harpoon weed (Asparagopsis armata) as a nutrient sink; and (c) the promotion of bacterial bio- flocs for managing pH and waste nutrients. Bio-floc technology was found to be the most promising technology to progress towards zero water discharge under Australian conditions (see Milestone Report No. 5). All fish produced by the Australian component of this project have now been sent to market and on-ground operations at BIARC have now been completed. Extension of the technology has continued with project staff delivering presentations at the AAQ (Aquaculture Association of Queensland) Conference in July 2007 and during several site visits to BIARC. Michael Burke (Australian Project Leader) also attended and presented project data at the World Aquaculture Society Conference in Hanoi in August 2007. 5 For the Vietnamese component the trial on zero-discharge system and trials on cobia and groupers were all conducted successfully. Growth performance and survival of the Malaba grouper in the floating raceways were outperformed that in any other nursing system. Mortality was, however, still high with cobia due to parasite infection in previous nursing stage. The second student has conducted his research project in Nha Trang, Vietnam and currently implementing data analysis and writing up thesis. The final extension workshop in Vietnam was organized in the form of an exhibition booth at the Asian Pacific 2007 Aquaculture Conference in Hanoi in August 2007 in parallel with one presentation in the marine finfish session. The exhibition booth was a great success, attracting many visitors to come and discuss about possibility of adopting floating raceway technology. Brochure was prepared in two languagues (Vietnamese and English) and given to all the visitors. In addition, a paper about floating raceways has been presented at the international IMOLA workshop held at Hue University Agriculture and Forestry in late April 2007. These activities altogether effectively promoted the findings of this current project. 4. Introduction & Background Aquaculture plays an important role in the development of Vietnam’s economy and has been widely considered as an effective means for poverty alleviation by the FAO. The country aims to produce 2 million tons of aquaculture products, mainly with marine species, by 2010. This ambitious target is unlikely to be achievable unless cost-effective methods of nursing are developed to produce large number of large fingerlings for stocking in sea cages and coastal ponds. As tank production of large fingerlings is highly costly, other option such as nursing in earthern ponds, hapas and floating raceways should be considered. In this regard, the floating raceway technology has a number of unique advantages over all the other systems, including effective management, high productivity and high level of biosecurity. In Queensland marine fish farming in sea cages is considered as damaging to coral reefs and other sensitive aquatic habitats. New sustainable yet profitable land based production methods are thus in need for development. Tank based marine recirculation facilities are cost prohibitive and would fail to take advantage of Queensland’s favourable climate and existing pond aquaculture infrastructure. The combination of floating raceways and bioremediation would eventually result in “low-discharge” or even “zero- discharge” system for coastal aquaculture. This CARD project combines the innovative design of floating raceways (FRs) with the concept of bioremediation. FRs, either made of plastic or cheap materials, have been trialled successfully in Japan, Australia and US. Through this project, different local materials have been used to design and built raceways, at both commercial and experimental scales for trials. Target species include high-value indigenous fish such as barramundi, whiting, snapper, cobia, Murray cod, etc. The project also emphasizes on improving capacity of the Vietnamese institutions through study tours, training courses and research internships. Information from the project once available is immediately disseminated to local farmers and the industry through extension workshop. The system is designed in a format that allows it to be used by farmers with no major change of their existing ponds. This project is expected to help boost production of marine fish fingerlings and better use the existing shrimp ponds, many of which are abandoned in coastal areas. These fit nicely into the CARD’s framework and aims, i.e. promoting 6 productive technology addressing social, environmental and human resource development issues. 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights In Australia • Final evaluation of raceways for extended grow out of mulloway was conducted, demonstrating that raceways systems are suitable facilities for on- growing fish to a larger market size (~1.5 kg). • Trials were completed in Australia to progress towards zero discharge from floating raceway production ponds. Remediation strategies investigated were: (a) evaluation of waste sumps within raceways to collect uneaten feed and faeces; (b) the culture of harpoon weed (Asparagopsis armata) as a nutrient sink; and (c) the promotion of bacterial bio-flocs for managing pH and waste nutrients. Bio-floc technology was found to be the most promising technology to progress towards zero water discharge under Australian conditions. In Vietnam • A trial on zero-discharge system was conducted in combination with different trials on cobia and Malaba grouper. The results are promissing although the escape of carnivorous fish from the raceways appeared detrimental to the prawns stocked in the reservoir pond. No water exchange was needed during the whole experimental period. • The second MSc student, Mr Ngo Van Manh – a junior lecturer of Nha Trang University has been assisted by Dr. Hoang Tung to develop a research proposal that evaluates the effects of initial stocking biomass, initial stocking size of fish and feeding ration on performance of barramundi fingerlings in the floating raceways; and successfully implemented this research for the completion of his MSc study. • An exhibition booth (No. 62) was organized at the Asian Pacific 2007 Aquaculture Conference in Hanoi in August 2007 to disseminate project outcomes to local and international farmers, scientists, aquaculture development officers. Not only brochures, but also models of different raceway designs were made and shown at the booth, attracting a large audience during the conference. • One paper was presented at the international IMOLA workshop in late April 2007 at Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry; and published in the workshop proceeding. One paper was published in the Fisheries Science and Technology Journal in Vietnam, prior to the Asian Pacific 2007 Aquaculture Conference in Hanoi. One presentation on the results of the zero-discharge trial was presented at this conference. • Final Report is prepared for CARD evaluation • Activities to promote floating raceway technology are continued, mostly in the form of free consultancy to interested parties and individuals. A workshop was organized in collaboration with the Khanh Hoa Fisheries Extension Center for 50 farmers in Cam Ranh Province in early August 2007. 7 5.2 Smallholder Benefits In Australia: • Integrated Recycle International Ltd (IRI) has adopted a modified raceway design for a new Queensland enterprise that aims to produce fish in wastewater for fishmeal production. The raceway design is based on the low-cost HDPE configuration developed in this CARD project. The IRI venture will be established at Hervey Bay on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, and will utilise water stored in municipal tertiary treated effluent ponds managed by the local government authority. Preliminary trials have identified a suitable native fish candidate, and work has commenced in building floating pontoon infrastructure. Floating raceways were selected as the preferred production system due to cost effectiveness and the improved management they offer in terms of stock inventory, growth and disease monitoring, predator control and harvesting (see MS Report No. 8). • Several prawn farmers in Queensland have requested specific information on raceway specifications for future diversification opportunities. Their interest lays particularly in the growout of reef fish species within existing prawn ponds and in the establishment of aquaculture operations for indigenous communities. • The use of floating raceways for growing marine fish in ponds containing saline groundwater extracted from coal seam gas mining was investigated, with much of the production modelling based on data generated in this CARD project. Ultimately the project did not proceed because of difficulties with regulating the ionic profile of the saline groundwater. In Vietnam • Small-scale fish farmers in Khanh Hoa Province continued to access to large- size fingerlings produced by floating raceways by the Khanh Hoa Fisheries Extension Center who first received free technology transfer by the CARD VIE062/04 Project. • Project outcomes were disseminated to local farmers (50 persons) through the extension workshop in Cam Ranh in early August 2007; and to 1,200 attendants of the Asian Pacific 2007 Aquaculture Conference in Hanoi. 5.3 Capacity Building In Australia • As a result of the opportunity identified by this CARD project, cobia broodstock have now been collected and domesticated at BIARC. These fish will be used for future reproduction and growout trials beyond the current project; however, raceways will be investigated as nursery facilities for weaned fingerlings. • Australian Project Leader, Michael Burke, attended the World Aquaculture Society Conference and Trade Show Exhibition in Hanoi during August 2007, as well as travelled to several aquaculture sites around Ho Chi Min City to visit barramundi hatcheries, grouper and cobia sea cage sites to expand industrial applications of research outcomes. In Vietnam • One staff of the Faculty of Aquaculture, Nha Trang University – Mr. Ngo Van Manh was trained at MSc level. The Project Secretary – Ms. Banh Thi Quyen 8 Quyen, thanks to good research experience in the CARD project has been granted an MSc scholarship by V.L.I.R. to study at Gent University in Belgium from September 2007. The Project Technician – Mr. Huynh Kim Khanh has now joined the MSc program in Aquaculture at Nha Trang University. Finally, the Vietnamese Project Leader, Dr. Hoang Tung is promoted to Associate Professor in late 2007. • The technology has been uptaken by the Khanh Hoa Fisheries Extension Center and from now on they can further develop or disseminate it independently. 5.4 Publicity • The demonstration of marine fish (mulloway and whiting) growout at high densities in raceways at the trial site at BIARC continued to attract attention of visiting research institutions and commercial aquaculture operators. Extension of the technology has continued with project staff delivering presentations at the AAQ (Aquaculture Association of Queensland) Conference in July 2007 and during several site visits to BIARC. The CARD project and raceway infrastructure was highlighted during an official tour of BIARC following Australasian Aquaculture Conference 2008. • Australian Project Leader, Michael Burke, attended and presented project data at the World Aquaculture Society Conference in Hanoi in August 2007. • The Vietnamese Project Leader, Dr Hoang Tung presented three presentations at international conferences in 2007 about the project outcomes and had one publication in the national journal Fisheries Science and Technology in Vietnam and one publication on the GAA Magazine – The Advocate. Information is also made available at www.ntu.edu.vn • All project information was presented/exhibited successfully at the Asian Pacific 2007 Aquaculture Conference in Hanoi to 1,200 attendants from all over the world (one fourth were Vietnamese farmers, scientists and development officers). 5.5 Project Management • Several project staff changes at BIARC have been managed after the resignation of key project personnel. Luke Dutney, Stephen Nicholson and Dan Willett remained to manage daily on-ground activities and finalise the project. • All Milestone Reports have now been submitted to CARD. • Regular information exchange has continued between the senior Australian and Vietnamese project staff. • All funds transfers have been made by QDPI&F to NTU to allow trials to be conducted as planned. • Activities in Vietnam were implemented according to plans. 9 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment In Australia the promotion of raceway technology will need to address environmental compliance issues. While our research has demonstrated that raceways facilitate higher production efficiencies per hectare, uptake of the technology by existing coastal pond-based farmers will be restricted unless there are strategies for minimising nutrient discharge. This is because of State EPA discharge regulations. Research activities conducted during this reporting period focussed on this issue with trials evaluating waste collection sumps within raceways, seaweed biofiltration and the use of bacterial-based ‘biofloc’ treatment to progress towards zero water discharge. Results were reported in MS Report No. 5. Similarly, in Vietnam an integrated model with intensive nursing of marine fish in floating raceways and low-density prawn farming in the reservoir pond was developed and tested. Results showed that pond water quality was good and stable with no exchange for four months during which several batches of barramundi, grouper and cobia were nursed in raceways. The cultured prawns reached premium size after four months of culture with high feeding efficiency. Other emerging challenges such as predation of escaped fish from the raceways, difficulties in promoting Artemia biomass culture in the reservoir pond and possible technical damage of the air supply system were identified and addressed. This current study establishes important steps to further development of the proposing integrated model, which allows water reuse and thus imposes no environmental impacts on the surrounding environment. Results were reported in MS Report No. 5. 6.2 Gender and Social Issues In Vietnam daily management of the nursing system showed that the system requires continuous attention rather than hard works. This may facilitate further involvement of women in aquaculture. Within the scope of the project alone two ladies are involved in experimental works. However, high level of intensification and high productivity of this nursing system will limit the number of farms to adopt it. The social benefits should be considered as more quality fingerlings are made available to fish farmers. 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints • Due to increasing competitive pressures from cheap imported products, many Queensland farmers are looking to make better use of existing farm infrastructures through growing complementary species. The use of floating raceways as part of an integrated grow-out system should allow farmers to take advantage of multiple production ‘niches’ within the system (e.g., higher order fish within raceways and detritivores such as shrimp or mullet free-ranging in the pond). This potentially increases yield per area and per feed input. However, waste nutrient generation and discharge remain constraints to increasing yields/hectare in Australia. 10 • The availability of marine fish fingerlings in Vietnam will continue to be the major bottleneck for further expansion of floating raceway technology which requires large number of fish at once time. Operating cost in terms of energy consumption was not as high as thought and investment cost can be further cut down 50% with better design (SMART-2 version) and lower quality of fiberglass materials. 7.2 Options • Attempt to use floating raceways for nursing Pangasius catfish fingerlings which can be available in million. • Biofloc technology is an option to better manage high pond nutrient levels and reduce the need to discharge water to the environment 7.3 Sustainability • Appeared not to be an issue as more interested parties involved in the project. Already in Vietnam the number of provinces that are interested in this new technology keeps increasing. • In Australia, new uses for raceway production systems are being developed, including fish culture in municipal wastewater ponds and in extracted groundwater. The successful demonstration of the raceway system at BIARC has provided baseline production efficiencies and production guidelines for these new developments. • Not an issue in Vietnam. Several private companies in Vietnam has adopted the technology and built up their own system such as Viet Seabass Co., Truong Thanh Co., Australis, Minh Thuan Co. and the Ben Tre Seed Production Center. The success of these companies, particularly Australis and Ben Tre Seed Production Center will draw in substantial interest of other fingerling producers. 8. Next Critical Steps In Vietnam (beyond CARD project) • Further promote the developed technology through publication and teaching at university. Conduct research on the beneficial effect of flow rate on growth rate to optimize raceway design for particularly important fish species. • Look for financial supports so that R&D works will be continued to (i) apply floating raceway technology into Pangasius catfish nursing and grow-out, (ii) further develop a zero-discharged integrated system for coastal area using floating raceway and bioremediation technologies. In Australia (beyond CARD project) • Consolidate relevant data from previous milestone reports to produce a manual on the use of floating raceways for fish production. • Continue to promote floating raceway technology in Australia. 9. Conclusion Project has been completed according to plans in both Australia and Vietnam.