The Lake Victoria Basin, a critical hub for aquaculture in Kenya, faces significant challenges in fingerling production, including water scarcity, poor water quality, and high mortality rates. This paper evaluated the potential of recirculating aquaculture systems to enhance efficiency in fingerling production by optimizing water use, improving growth conditions, and minimizing environmental impact. The technology integrated mechanical and biological filtration, automated oxygenation, and waste management to maintain optimal water parameters (dissolved oxygen >5 milligrams per litre, ammonia <0.5 milligrams per litre, nitrite <0.3 milligrams per litre), crucial for fingerling survival and growth.
A six-month comparative analysis between traditional pond systems and recirculating aquaculture systems was conducted at the Kibos Integrated Technology Transfer Centre in Kisumu County, focusing on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerling production. Results demonstrated a 35% increase in survival rates, a 25% reduction in water usage, and improved fingerling quality. The technology also achieved a higher specific growth rate of 3.2% per day compared to 2.5% in ponds, alongside a better feed conversion ratio of 1.1 versus 1.4. Economic analysis revealed a 20% reduction in operational costs per fingerling due to lower disease incidence and reduced water exchange.
The findings demonstrated that recirculating aquaculture systems could enhance small to medium-scale aquaculture enterprises by ensuring consistent fingerling supply, minimizing ecological impact and improving profitability, therefore, contributing to regional food security. The study recommended policy support and training initiatives to promote widespread adoption for sustainable aquaculture development.
Keywords: Recirculating Aquaculture System, Fingerling Production, Water Efficiency, Lake Victoria Basin, Tilapia, Sustainable Aquaculture.