Economic analysis of intensive and super-intensive Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp production in a Biofloc Technology system

Abstract

In recent decades, new aquaculture technologies have been developed and improved, such as the Biofloc Technology system, which is considered an alternative to the conventional aquaculture model. This study compared the bioeconomic viability of intensive production in nurseries and super-intensive production of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei bioflocs greenhouses. The investment for implementing the project was US$ 767,190.18 for intensive production and US$ 807,669.16 for super-intensive production. The analyses showed Net Present Value of US$ 363,718.21 and US$ 385,477.42, Equivalent annual value of US$ 59,830.66 and US$ 63,410.00, Net future value of US$ 965,052.69 and US$ 1,022,786.35, Payback Period 4.12 and 4.11, Discounted payback period 5.64 and 5.63, Profitability Index 1.47 and 1.48, Internal Rate of Return 20.49 and 20.55%, and Modified Internal Rate of Return 14.61 and 14.64%. The investment analysis used in this study showed that super-intensive production in a greenhouse is the best investment option. The development of a new scenario simulating the super-intensive production of shrimp in a Biofloc Technology system, considering land use as a premise, made it possible to observe the possibility of obtaining financial gains in scale, both in the reduction of production costs and in the economic performance of the enterprise. However, the financial contribution for the implementation and operation of the project increased substantially.