IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCED TILAPIA FRY AND FINGERLINGS PRODUCTION IN AFRICAN HATCHERIES (EGYPT CASE STUDY)  

This work was conducted through the African Union Project" Improved management and technological innovation in African tilapia farms and hatcheries" contract number AURG 2 - 139 - 2012 to improve the contribution of the aquaculture sector to the enhancement of African Food Security and Food Safety. This activity was focused on design and implement Automated Monitoring and Control System (AMCS) in Egypt and Senegal selected tilapia hatcheries. This activity has been successfully completed in the hatchery of El-Serow, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during year 2015.The design process has been coordinated by Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA) with the technical assistance of the organization INKOA SISTEMAS, S.L., Spain. The main task conducted within this activity the definition of the environmental parameters to be controlled: water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and ammonia. The ultimate goal of this task is to perform a validation of the

AMCS focused on two major aspects:

1.      Assessment of the technical viability and of the efficiency of the implementation of AMCS taking into account not only its installation but also maintenance and capacity-training activities required for the suitable management of the systems.

2.      Assessment of the economic viability and suitability of the AMCS through a cost-benefit analysis comparing the initial situation (prior to AMCS installation) with the final situation (post-action).

Preliminary results have shown that the AMCS System was more productive and economic feasibility as compared to traditional tilapia hatchery system, where the water quality was more stable and in the appropriate limits to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry growth and survival. This reflected positively on the productivity of Nile tilapia AMCS hatchery which amounted to 2410 fingerlings per cubic meter. While in the traditional hatchery amounted only 1120 fingerlings per cubic meter. Training to the end - users on the use and maintenance of the AMCS was also employed during the present work.