Identifying the Suitable Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Species Combination for Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) for a Sustainable Pond Aquaculture

Abstract

The environmental problem caused by aquaculture contributes to poor production of the giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) globally and locally. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) lessens aquaculture environmental impacts through the addition of species in the system that could efficiently utilize inorganic and organic waste naturally. IMTA technique was designed to identify which among the species combination is suitable for Penaeus monodon IMTA pond culture. Four (4) treatment combinations from different trophic levels were evaluated for their suitability as IMTA species combinations in two areas: Mukas, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte [with Penaeus monodon, Siganus guttatus, Ulva fasciata, and Perna viridis (M1); P. monodon, S. guttatus, Gracilaria verrucosa, and P. viridis (M2); P. monodon, C. chanos, Ulva fasciata, and Modiolus modulaides (M3); and P. monodon, C. chanos, G. verrucosa, and M. modulaides (M4)] and in Naawan, Misamis Oriental [with P. monodon, S. guttatus, U. fasciata, and P. viridis (N1); P. monodon, S. guttatus, G. verrucosa, P. viridis (N2), P. monodon, C. chanos, U. fasciata, and P. viridis (N3); and P. monodon, C. chanos, G. verrucosa, and P. viridis (N4)]. All treatments showed non-significant growth of P. monodon at 2.66–3.21% d–1 (M1, M2, M3, and M4) and 0.09–0.17% d–1 (N1, N2, N3, and N4). The survival rate of P. monodon in N1 (32.59 ± 4.73%) and N2 (30.27 ± 2.51%) showed a highly significant difference as compared to N3 (24.08 ± 4.25%) and N4 (21.95 ± 4.76%). Treatments M3, M4, N3, and N4 generated the highest economic return of USD 101.83–237.58 compared to treatments M1, M2, N1, and N2. All water parameters are within the optimum for the growth and survival of the IMTA organisms. The results revealed that a combination of C. chanos with either of the seaweeds and mussels (M3, M4, N3, and N4) is suitable for IMTA pond culture for P. monodon.