Integration of Intensive and Semi-Intensive Aquaculture: Concept and Example

An experiment on integrated walking catfish-tilapia culture was conducted for 5 months. The walking catfish were stocked at 400 and 800 fish/cage in two 4-m nylon cages, which were suspended in each of two 250-m earthen ponds. Sex-reversed male tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were reared at 1 fish/m2 in the open pond. Whereas the catfish were reared with supplemental feed, tilapia were solely dependent on the natural diet derived from the recycled catfish waste. Weekly analysis of temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl organic nitrogen and chlorophyll a in the pond water showed that water quality was suitable for both tilapia and catfish growth. Total catfish and tilapia production was approximately 100 and 140 kg/pond, respectively. The experiment demonstrated that tilapia can efficiently use catfish waste and maintain desirable water quality.