Kufos looks to leverage biofloc method for Vannamei farming

Fish culture can be taken up in limited space using the technology

The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) is looking to deploy the biofloc method to farm Vannamei shrimp even as COVID-19 restrictions and job losses are turning more and more people to self-employment in agriculture and allied activities. Vice Chancellor K. Riji John said the biofloc technology had now been standardised so that those with limited land area could take up fish culture using the technology. It has found acceptance among aquaculturists with the Department of Fisheries offering support for the programme. The fish that is now being widely cultivated using the technology is the genetically-modified farmed tilapia (GIFT). Such ventures can be turned into economically-remunerative ones for farmers by switching the candidate species to Vannamei shrimp, he said.