Support capacity of a floodplain lake for intensive fish production (Rondônia, Brazil)

Abstract

The Amazon Basin stands out mainly for its large floodplain’s areas, which during the period of high water become important environments for the maintenance of the life cycle of many fish species. These floodplains act as a source of food and an area for growth and reproduction for the fish assemblages. However, there are few studies on the use of floodplain lakes for breeding fish in confinement. Therefore, we analyzed the support capacity and environmental parameters of Lake Cujubim, in the Madeira River Basin, regarding its use for the implementation of intensive fish farming (net tank system). From 2019 to 2020, bathymetric profiles and limnological data were collected, considering the seasonality of the water level and the shape of the Lake Cujubim. The bathymetry data were primarily used to verify the parameters of depth, area and volume of the lake, while limnological data contributed to statistical analyses for the evaluation of health status and support capacity of the lake for fish farming in an intensive production system. The data collected from the limnological analyses and the depth and profile indicate that Lake Cujubim is suitable for the cultivation of fish, and has an estimated support capacity for an annual production of up to 468.31 tonnes of fish. Herein, we propose a viable alternative for the social and productive development of intensive fish farming in an area of floodplain lake in the state of Rondônia, Brazil.

Keywords: Amazon basin, net tanks, pisciculture.