Spatial planning for forthcoming shrimp farming in southern coast of Brazil: a tool to coastal management / Análise das áreas adequadas para emergente carcinicultura na costa sudeste do Brasil: uma ferramenta para o planejamento costeiro

Geographic information systems, the integration technique of multi-criteria assessment, together with the analysis hierarchy process, are recognized in decision support to describe and predict locations for implementation of different projects. In Brazil, shrimp farming has been consolidated for more than 30 years in the Northeast and North regions and is emerging in the Southeast. The purposes of this study were to analyze, classify and quantify through spatial planning for the establishment of shrimp farming in the North Fluminense region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The composition of the final model was structured into hierarchical categories with two models, factors, and constraints. The model of factors was subdivided into five sub-models: water abstraction, environmental, transport, public, and economic infrastructure. In turn, restrictions were composed of urbanized areas, environmental reserves. The best areas were identified as those that were flat, close to rivers, related to the environmental sub-model criteria (21%); followed by the sub-models of public, economic, and water abstraction infrastructure (20%), and transport with the lowest weight attributed (17%). The analyses indicated a great potential for the implementation of shrimp farming in the region, estimated in a total area of 628,088 ha, classified as adequate or very adequate (> 0.6).(AU)

Sistemas de informações geográficas, a técnica de integração de avaliação multicritério, juntamente com o processo de análise hierárquica, são reconhecidos no apoio à decisão para descrever, explicar e prever locais para implementação de diferentes empreendimentos. No Brasil, a atividade da carcinicultura está consolidada há mais de 30 anos nas regiões Nordeste e Norte e desponta na Região Sudeste. As propostas deste estudo foram analisar, classificar e quantificar por meio do planejamento espacial as melhores áreas para o estabelecimento da carcinicultura na região norte fluminense do estado do Rio de Janeiro. A composição do modelo final foi estruturada em categorias hierárquicas com dois modelos, fatores e restritivos. O modelo de fatores foi subdividido em cinco submodelos: captação da água, ambiental, transporte, infraestrutura pública e econômico. Já as restrições foram compostas das áreas urbanizadas, reservas ambientais. As melhores áreas foram identificadas como aquelas planas, próximas de rios, relacionadas aos critérios do submodelo ambiental (21%); seguidas pelos submodelos de infraestrutura pública, econômica e captação da água (20%); e de transporte com o menor peso atribuído (17%). As análises indicaram grande potencial para a implementação da carcinicultura na região, estimada em uma área total de 628.088 ha, classificada entre adequada ou muito adequada (> 0,6).(AU)

Sterol profile of Neobenedenia melleni, a marine ectoparasite fish.

Neobenedenia melleni, a marine fish ectoparasite, is responsible for considerable losses in the mariculture industry. In maintaining the parasite's homeostasis, sterols are structural and functional lipids that perform vital functions. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of biosynthesis and the uptake of sterols can reveal potential pharmacological targets. The objective of this work was thereby to characterize the N. melleni sterols. The most abundant sterol found was cholesterol in either its free (47.48 ± 15.93 %) or esterified form. However, its precursors, squalene (3.53 ± 0.92 %) and desmosterol (0.25 ± 0.03 %), were also found, suggesting the uptake of these intermediates from hosts or an unusual active pathway of sterol biosynthesis, which can be further explored as pharmacological targets.

Common moist diet replacement to promote sustainable Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus) near - shore farming in Brazil

Cobia is one of the most promising warm water aquaculture species. In Brazil, cobia farming began in 2008 in the state of Rio de Janeiro from experimental scale facilities to regular near-shore farms based on fresh/frozen fish diets composed mostly of Sardinella sp. Despite the encouraging results achieved in the promotion of sustainable cobia farming, we advocate the replacement of fresh/frozen fish by a practical formulated feed. This experiment evaluated the zootechnical performance and environmental efficiency of moist and practical formulated feeds in early grow-out phases in the cycle of cobia nearshore cage culture. Four hundred and twenty juvenile cobia (151 ± 7 g) were fed with moist feed and practical formulated feed for 56 days. Biometrics were taken every two weeks and diets were analyzed for proximate composition, fatty acid composition and pellet quality. Although growth performance was equivalent between treatments, feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were different (p < 0.05) and varied according to water temperature. Cobia fed moist feed exhibited an FCR two times higher than those fed formulated feed. Elevated settling speed and low floatability contributed to higher heterogeneity and lower efficiency of fish fed moist diet. Nitrogen excretion rate was reduced (64 %) and protein efficiency ratio elevated (27 %) within formulated diet groups in comparison to those fed moist diet (79 % and 15 %, respectively). The fatty acid profile of cobia muscle was similar across the groups. With no negative effects of diet substitution on production performance and improvement of environmental efficiency, this approach can be applied and advocated globally and contribute to the responsible intensification of sustainable marine fish culture.

Common moist diet replacement to promote sustainable Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus) near - shore farming in Brazil

Cobia is one of the most promising warm water aquaculture species. In Brazil, cobia farming began in 2008 in the state of Rio de Janeiro from experimental scale facilities to regular near-shore farms based on fresh/frozen fish diets composed mostly of Sardinella sp. Despite the encouraging results achieved in the promotion of sustainable cobia farming, we advocate the replacement of fresh/frozen fish by a practical formulated feed. This experiment evaluated the zootechnical performance and environmental efficiency of moist and practical formulated feeds in early grow-out phases in the cycle of cobia nearshore cage culture. Four hundred and twenty juvenile cobia (151 ± 7 g) were fed with moist feed and practical formulated feed for 56 days. Biometrics were taken every two weeks and diets were analyzed for proximate composition, fatty acid composition and pellet quality. Although growth performance was equivalent between treatments, feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were different (p < 0.05) and varied according to water temperature. Cobia fed moist feed exhibited an FCR two times higher than those fed formulated feed. Elevated settling speed and low floatability contributed to higher heterogeneity and lower efficiency of fish fed moist diet. Nitrogen excretion rate was reduced (64 %) and protein efficiency ratio elevated (27 %) within formulated diet groups in comparison to those fed moist diet (79 % and 15 %, respectively). The fatty acid profile of cobia muscle was similar across the groups. With no negative effects of diet substitution on production performance and improvement of environmental efficiency, this approach can be applied and advocated globally and contribute to the responsible intensification of sustainable marine fish culture.(AU)