Perfil de sustentabilidade da piscicultura do tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) sob diferentes sistemas de manejo e intensificação

Abstract

Global aquaculture is undergoing a period of adaptation in the face of significant changes related to environmental and socioeconomic issues. In this context, this study sought to evaluate the sustainability of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) farming by examining the performance of different intensification strategies and management methods applied to its cultivation. The first chapter addressed the concept of sustainability, the evolution of its definition, and its applicability to current production models, considering the potential for improving productive efficiency by reducing the consumption of natural resources. Sustainability assessment methods were observed, emphasizing the practical use of a set of indicators to measure the sustainability of producing aquaculture species, including tambaqui. The second chapter aimed to evaluate the zootechnical performance of fattening tambaqui cultivated on operational farms, considering three intensification models. Nine enterprises were used, equally distributed among these strategies: Low Productive Efficiency (LPE) – 6 to 8 tons year-1 without aeration; Medium Productive Efficiency (MPE) – 9 to 14 tons year-1 with emergency aeration; and High Productive Efficiency (HPE) – 15 to 22 tons year-1 with supplemental aeration. Management information and performance indices were obtained and compared during the production cycle. The results showed a difference (p<0.05) between the systems, with better overall results for HPE in final weight (2,726.53 ± 136.99 g), weight gain (2,719.98 ± 133.84 g), and Apparent Feed Conversion (1.82 ± 0.02) due to more careful management. The adoption of intensification strategies is recommended for optimizing resource use and increasing the scale of tambaqui production. The third chapter evaluated the economic performance of the farms under the same productive strategies, using profitability and viability indicators based on collected zootechnical, investment, and management information. Cultivation characteristics impacted the results, with a higher volume of sales generated by the high productivity of HPE. The net present calue indicated a negative return in all LPE fish farms and in two MPE ones. The rate of return was above the minimum attractive rate (12.81%) in one MPE fish farm (19.36%) and two HPE fish farms (14.66% and 22.54%), which also had the best payback period (3.86 years). The intensification of tambaqui production in excavated ponds has a great influence on the economic performance of the activity, being a determining factor in reducing risks in this agribusiness. The fourth chapter sought to evaluate the sustainability of tambaqui cultivation through a set of indicators for the environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Water, sediment, and fish samples were collected, and interviews with fish farmers and employees were conducted to obtain a General Sustainability Index (GSI) for comparison among the models. The environmental dimension showed an increase in resource use efficiency and a counterbalance in pollutant discharge with intensification. However, the ecological vulnerability of HPE (88.89 ± 19.25%) and the environmental adequacy of LPE (38.89 ± 9.62%) expose deficiencies in meeting legal requirements. In the economic dimension, viability is highlighted only for HPE due to the rate of return (16.56 ± 5.30%) and capital recovery (4.83 ± 0.87 years), with low innovation in LPE (21.21 ± 5.25%) and poor management in MPE (22.22 ± 19.25%) possibly justifying the poor performance of these enterprises. For the social dimension, all farms demand little labor and job retention, with higher income (R$ 19,454.22 ± 143.79 m. cycle-1), wage equity (55.28 ± 0.00%), and educated workers (13.33 ± 11.55%) for LPE. When comparing the dimensions, HPE was the most balanced, with the best GSI, classifying this strategy as the most sustainable. Intensification is a determining factor for increasing the sustainability of tambaqui farming, which, in addition to generating better use of inputs and increased financial returns for fish farmers, also produces benefits for other stakeholders involved in the activity.