Biofloc technology: an emerging avenue in aquatic animal healthcare and nutrition

• Published in: Aquaculture international Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 1215 - 1226
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Irshad, Babitha Rani, A. M., Verma, A. K., Maqsood, Mudasir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-06-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetates; Aggregation; Aquaculture; Aquatic animals; Aquatic organisms; Bacteria; Bioactive compounds; Biofloc technology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosecurity; Defence mechanisms; Eutrophication; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Immune system; Immunity; Immunostimulants; Life Sciences; Microbial activity; Nutrition; Organic acids; Organic matter; Particulate organic matter; Pathogens; Phytoplankton; Probiotics; Proteins; Removal; Sludge; Technology; Wastewater discharges; Water exchange; Water quality; Zoology; Nutritional composition; Immunostimulation; Bioflocs; Zero water exchange systems; Sustainability; C/N ratio; Biosecurity; Carbon sources
• ISSN: 0967-6120; 1573-143X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10499-016-0108-8

Biofloc is a conglomeric aggregation of microbial communities such as phytoplankton, bacteria, and living and dead particulate organic matter. Biofloc technology involves manipulation of C/N ratio to convert toxic nitrogenous wastes into the useful microbial protein and helps in improving water quality under a zero water exchange system. It may act as a complete source of nutrition for aquatic organisms, along with some bioactive compounds that will enhance growth, survival, and defense mechanisms, and acts as a novel approach for health management in aquaculture by stimulating innate immune system of animals. Nutritionally, the floc biomass provides a complete source of nutrition as well as various bioactive compounds that are useful for improving the overall welfare indicators of aquatic organisms. Beneficial microbial bacterial floc and its derivative compounds such as organic acids, polyhydroxy acetate and polyhydroxy butyrate, could resist the growth of other pathogens, thus serves as a natural probiotic and immunostimulant. The technology is useful in maintaining optimum water quality parameters under a zero water exchange system, thus prevents eutrophication and effluent discharge into the surrounding environment. Moreover, the technology will be useful to ensure biosecurity, as there is no water exchange except sludge removal. The technology is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially acceptable.