Feed formulation and evaluation for semi-intensive culture of fishes and shrimps in the tropics

Abstract

Semi-intensive farming systems account for about 70% of fish and crustacean aquaculture production in the tropics, employing semi-intensive feeding methods ranging from the use of low-cost pond fertilization techniques to high-cost complete diet feeding strategies. The paper reviews the major feeding methods employed within semi-intensive farming systems, and emphasizes the importance of natural food organisms in the nutritional budget of pond-raised fish and shrimp. It also discusses the need of the aquaculture sector to reduce farm production costs through the use of improved feed formulation and on-farm feeds and new methodological approaches towards fish and crustacean nutrition research within semiintensive pond farming systems.