Economic feasibility for producing Imperial Zebra pleco (Hypancistrus zebra) in recirculating aquaculture systems: An alternative for a critically endangered ornamental fish |
| |
| Authors: | Danilo Araujo Soares Pereira Marcelo Barbosa Henriques |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Postgraduate Program in Aquaculture and Fisheries, Fisheries Institute, Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, State of S?o Paulo, S?o Paulo, Brazil;2. dasp.aquabio@gmail.com;4. Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, State of S?o Paulo, Fisheries Institute, Santos, S?o Paulo, Brazil |
| |
| Abstract: | AbstractThe L46 (Hypancistrus zebra) stands out as one of the most valuable Amazonian species in the international market for ornamental fish and faces a notable problem: the risk of extinction versus the demand for new specimens for aquariums. Considering that breeding in captivity can be a conservational tool for aquatic species and an alternative source for generating income, the objective of the present paper was to verify the economic feasibility of producing H. zebra in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS), in different scenarios of rearing: residential breeding (S1), mid-size store production (S2) and large-scale production as a supplier (S3). The main profitability indicators used were: net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period (PP). The selling price per unit was fixed in US$260.15 (S1/S2) and US$156.09 (S3). The largest investments were made with the acquisition of broodstocks (S1/S2) and property (S3), while the highest costs were with labor (S2/S3) and taxes (S1). Only S1 demonstrated economic profitability (NPV 8.50%?=?US$28,187.85; IRR?=?74.71%; PP?=?1.80?years). Conclusion: the production in this study appeared to be profitable on smaller scales, however the profitability of large-scale production depends upon reducing expenses and increasing the selling price. |
| |
| Keywords: | Aquarium captive breeding freshwater fish farming income Loricariidae |
|
|
