A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study shows a species of tilapia grows 15% faster in a system that recirculates artificial saltwater than in freshwater.
A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study shows a species of tilapia grows 15% faster in a system that recirculates artificial saltwater than in freshwater. This key finding comes from the new Tuahine Research and Education Center (TAREC), which is meeting the needs of Hawaiʻi’s growing aquaculture industry by researching sustainable food sources from our bodies of water.
While researchers expected this result, it is a significant finding because a recirculating system saves water and is being “increasingly adopted… especially in inland areas or areas with less access to water or other resources,” said Andre Seale, professor at the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences and lead author on the study.
By demonstrating that Mozambique tilapia can thrive and grow more quickly in saltwater, this research opens the door to studies on sustainable aquaculture where changes in salinity can improve the health, production and nutritional value of fish used for food. Added to the lower environmental footprint of employing a recirculating system, where most of the water is recycled, another benefit of identifying conditions where fish grow faster is a shorter time to market.
Read More: University of Hawaii
While TAREC is located in Mānoa, its saltwater and freshwater tanks can mimic a range of natural environmental conditions. (Photo Credit: University of Hawaii)
