Initiative, called Cultivating for Fishing, will be held in Areal, Entre Rios, Povoacao and Regencia, in Linhares (ES)
Professional fishermen and artisanal fishermen from four communities in Linhares (ES) will receive the aquaponics project Cultivating for Fishing. As a result of a partnership between the Renova Foundation and the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Espirito Santo (IFES) – Campus Piuma, the project will have at its disposal more than R$ 4 million for the duration of 24 months.
The agreement was signed after resolutions agreed with the CIF (Interfederative Committee) and meetings with the communities – in compliance with the TTAC (Transaction and Conduct Adjustment Term). The objective is to stimulate the generation of income for local fishermen.
How the project works
Aquaponics cycle:
1 – Water rich in nutrients
The fish feed and respiration of the fish produce residues in the form of effluents and ammonia, that will become toxic to the fish.
However, they are extremely nutritive and are pumped to the plants.
2 – Bacteria
The nitrosomonas and nictrobacter transform the ammonia into nitrates and then the nitrates are absorbed by the plants in a more efficient way.
3 – Clean Water
The ammonia, nitrates present in the water are absorbed by the plants, which, in turn, develop with these composts. After this, the water will be clean again and is returned to the fish tank.
4 – Residues
Ammonia: is produced by the respiration of the fish
Feces: by-product of the residues of the fish’ food cycle
Aquaponics integrates common fish farming with the cultivation of vegetables. Fish, raised in tanks and receiving feed, release nutrient-rich waste that is pumped to another part of the system, where the vegetables are. Thus, the roots of plants, grown without soil, feed on the nutrients and even purify the water, which goes back to where the fish are produced.
Each community will receive six collective systems for the production of tilapia and vegetables. In all, 24 units of aquaponics will be installed, as well as a control system in the IFES of Piuma.
The Tilapia specie was selected because of the better availability of quality feed on the market, the large number of suppliers of fingerlings and other inputs, certified buyers and good market acceptance by the final customer. The fish also has excellent zootechnical indexes of food conversion, survival, tolerance to challenging climate conditions and daily weight gain.
For implementation of the activities, a management group will be formed consisting of the Foundation, the technical staff of the IFES of Piuma, and representatives of the four beneficiary communities. The group will meet quarterly to discuss the development of actions and the need for project adjustments.
Camila Camilo, leader of the Renova Foundation’s Aquaculture and Fisheries Activities Resumption Program, highlights the importance of the project for the communities. “We intend to establish, in practice, a way to supplement the income of fishermen and fisherwomen whose activities were impacted. These communities will gain a new productive activity that includes training and monitoring,” she says.
Check out the locations and dates of the meetings for launching the Cultivating for Fishing Project in the four beneficiary communities: