Diagnóstico do uso da aeração em pisciculturas: na atual região de maior produção de tilápia do Brasil

Abstract

The aerator is essential for increasing fish production in aquaculture and improving water quality, especially in the western region of Paraná, the largest tilapia-producing area in Brazil. However, it is unclear how aeration systems are dimensioned in this region. In this context, we aim not only to understand how aeration system has been dimensioned, but also to determine the physical and management characteristics of these systems used in fish farms in the municipalities of Toledo and Maripá, in western Paraná. Our hypothesis is that aeration sizing in aquaculture ponds is carried out without prior planning, which could otherwise prevent resource waste during the implementation and operation of aeration systems. Additionally, we hypothesize that paddlewheel aerators are the most commonly used type. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a diagnostic study on the aeration practices used by fish farmers in Toledo and Maripá. The research have been conducted in two parts: first, a bibliometric study was carried out using the Web of Science (WoS) database (Clarivate Analytics), employing indicators that allowed for a quantitative data analysis. The second part of the study involved a questionnaire administered to fish farmers, with the collected data tabulated and summarized through descriptive analysis. The research highlighted that the use of aerators in aquaculture primarily supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, as aeration helps mitigate environmental degradation. Subsequently, the questionnaire data were analyzed using redundancy analysis (RDA). A slight segregation have been observed between the studied variables, with some overlap between fish farms that implemented prior aeration planning and those that did not. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) revealed that the fountain-type aerator was the most preferred by producers, followed by the paddlewheel aerator, which was often used either in combination with the fountain aerator or alone. Few fish farmers conducted prior planning before installing their aerators. Further studies be conducted on the optimal sizing of aerators is recommended in future studies and the adoption of sustainable technologies that can minimize costs and increase the profitability of fish farmers.