Design and performance of a zero-discharge integrated multi-trophic aquaculture recirculation system for the intensive culture of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Abstract

This study examines the performance of the Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Recirculating System (IMTA-RAS) over a 124-day production cycle, evaluating its water quality parameters, nutrient utilization efficiency, and economic feasibility. The system comprised three identical setups, integrating the cultivation of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), green seaweed (Cladophora glomerata), and red seaweed (Gracilaria tenuistipitata) within a closed-loop system. Results demonstrated stable water quality, reduced operational costs, and enhanced profitability. The system yielded 6.9 kg m⁻² shrimp, 3.1 kg m⁻³ fish, 5.3 kg m⁻² green seaweed, and 5.2 kg m⁻² red seaweed, with survival rates of 62.2 % for shrimp and 100 % for fish. Furthermore, feed accounted for 89.4 % of dry matter (DM), 91 % nitrogen (N), and 95.4 % phosphorus (P), with recorded retention rates of 40.3 % DM, 45.9 % N, and 27.6 % P within production outputs. These findings reinforce the IMTA-RAS model’s scalability potential, offering a sustainable framework for commercial shrimp farming through enhanced nutrient reutilization, reduced water exchange, and improved biosecurity.