M.Sc. / This project considers the feasibility of using heated cooling water from coal-fired power stations within Eskom for the culturing of C/arias gariepinus (Sharptooth catfish) and Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique tilapia). The work includes: an overview of world wide trends in power plant thermal effluent aquaculture, the identification of suitable power stations for aquaculture, long term monitoring of the physical and chemical characteristics of the cooling water at selected power stations, including the effects of the cooling water on the growth response, food conversion, condition factor, survival rate and suitability for human consumption of the aforementioned fish species reared in the cooling water at Matla and Kriel Power Stations.

M.Sc. (Zoology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Cu is one of the most toxic elements that affect fish populations when the fish are exposed to concentrations exceeding their tolerance. To investigate the effects of elementary Cu on aspects of bioconcentration, histology and behaviour, O. mossambicus were exposed to 0 and 0.75 ± 0.20 mg/l of Cu for 96 hours (short-term study), and 0, 0.11 ± 0.02, 0.29 ± 0.02, and 0.47 ± 0.04 mg/l of Cu for 64 days (longterm study) under controlled conditions in the laboratory. For the long-term study fish were sampled for gills, liver, and kidney Cu accumulation analysis after 1, 32 and 64 days of exposure and after 1, 2, 4, 16, 32, and 64 days for gills, liver and spleen histology analysis. Cu accumulation was concentration-duration dependent with the highest accumulation capacity in the liver. A multifactor linear model was developed for the relationship between exposure dose, exposure duration and Cu accumulation in the organs with the liver model: Log L = 3.35 + 0.85W + 0.31T (r² = 0.892) giving a better fit than the gills: G = −35.09 + 10.58W + 17.58T (r² = 0.632). Where L = Cu accumulation values in the liver, G = Cu accumulation values in the gills (both in μg/g dry mass); W = exposure dose in water (mg/l); and T = exposure time (days). Using this model Cu accumulation in organs can be estimated when exposure concentration and duration is known. This model should be tested under different conditions to determine the potential of the model in monitoring Cu toxicity in the environment. Lesions were observed in the liver, gills and spleen in all Cu treatments at all exposure concentration and exposure durations. However, the incidence and the degree of alteration was related to the concentration of Cu and duration of exposure. The sequential appearance of lesions in the order of, hepatic vacuolar degeneration, fatty degeneration and necrosis indicated a gradual increase in liver damage with larger duration of exposure time and increasing Cu concentration. The initial lesions in the gills were manifested as hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the gill epithelium causing increase in the thickness of the secondary lamellae, mucous cell hypertrophy and proliferation, mucous hypersecretion, proliferation of eosinophilic granule cells and hyperplasia of interlamellar cells. With increase in exposure time, necrosis of the eosinophilic granule cells, lamellar oedema, epithelial desquamation and increase in severity of lamellar hyperplasia were observed. These lesions indicated an initial defence mechanism of the fish against Cu toxicity followed by advanced histological changes that were related to Cu concentration and duration of exposure. Changes in the spleen were haemosiderosis, increase in the white pulp and macrophage centres, reduction in the red pulp, and necrosis suggesting that fish exposed to environmentally relevant levels of Cu may be histopathologically altered leading to anaemia and immunosuppression. Regression analysis was used to quantify the relationship between the total activity of the fish, and duration of exposure. There was a gradual decline in fish activity related to Cu concentration and duration of exposure before introducing food into the tanks. There was a constant activity after introducing food in the tanks at the control and 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu exposure levels irrespective of exposure time. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test for the difference in slopes between treatments. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between slopes of the control and 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu, and between 0.29 ± 0.02 and 47 ± 0.04 mg/l Cu before and after introducing food in the tanks. The slopes of both the control and 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu were significantly different from those of 0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.47 ± 0.04 mg/l Cu (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the mean opercular movements per minute between treatments (p < 0.05). There was hyperventilation at 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu i.e. 87 ± 18 opercular movements per minute (mean ± standard deviation) and hypoventilation at 0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.47 ± 0.04 mg/l Cu i.e. 37 ± 34 and 13 ± 6 opercular movements per minute compared to the control. Hypo- and hyperventilation were related to the lesser and greater gill damage, respectively. In conclusion Cu accumulation and effects on histology of the liver, gills and were related to the concentration of Cu in the water and duration of exposure showing a gradual increase in incidence and intensity with larger duration of exposure time and increasing Cu concentration. The fish were initially able to homeostatically regulate and detoxify Cu. However, as the exposure continued, the homeostatic mechanism appears to have failed to cope with the increasing metal burden causing advanced histological changes.

M.Sc. / The organochlorine insecticides were amongst the first pollutants shown to cause adverse population effects. The potential adverse effects of these pollutants on wildlife are a cause for great concern. Severities of their effects were sometimes surprising given the low levels of the compounds in environmental compartments such as surface waters and soils. High lipophilicity combined with chemical stability and very slow biodegradation are characteristic features of these toxic Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Regional declines in fish, bird as well as invertebrate populations resulting from long term exposure to POPs such as 1,1-bis (4-chlorophenyl) -2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) and its stable metabolite 1,1-bis (4-chlorophenyl) -2,2-dichloroethene (DDE), could be related to some biochemical, endocrine and physiological effects in individuals. Some POPs have been suggested to have negative effects disrupting physiological processes and resulting in alterations of homeostasis, reproduction, development and behavior. Such adverse effects upon populations may be avoided if the potential of chemicals to cause them is recognized before problems arise. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the ongoing spraying of DDT in the Limpopo Province is negatively affecting the health of aquatic species found in surface water of the area. Extensive research has shown that biomarkers have been very effective in the trace determination of a number of adverse effects caused by metals, and thus, are also being used for POPs. A battery of biomarkers (EROD, CAT and CEA) were used, both in the field and in a controlled laboratory environment, in order to try and determine the long term effects of exposure to low environmentally relevant levels of DDE in the selected area. DDT levels in the biota, water and sediment samples were also measured to determine the possible levels of exposure. Dose-response relationships were most successfully determined by the EROD and the CEA biomarkers in this study. In a controlled laboratory study, a definite effect was noted on the Mozambique Tilapia with increasing concentrations of DDE. In the natural environment, dose-response relationships to DDE exposure were more difficult to quantify as additional chemicals and natural environmental stressors also affect the results.

M.Sc. / Heavy metals occur naturally in the environment and are found in varying levels in all ground and surface waters. Some heavy metals are essential elements for the normal metabolism of organisms, while others are non-essential and play no significant biological role. Anthropogenic activities do, however, cause an increased discharge of these metals into natural aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic organisms are exposed to unnaturally high levels of these metals. Fish are relatively sensitive to changes in their surrounding environment. Fish health may therefore reflect and give a good indication of the health status of a specific aquatic ecosystem. Early toxic effects of pollution may only be evident on cellular or tissue level before significant changes can be identified in fish behaviour or external appearance. Histological analysis appears to be a very sensitive parameter and is crucial in determining cellular changes that may occur in target organs, such as the liver. The liver is a detoxification organ and essential for both the metabolism and excretion of toxic substances in the body. Exposure to heavy metals may cause histological changes in the liver. Fish liver histology could therefore serve as a model for studying the interactions between environmental factors and hepatic structures and functions. In this study, the effect of two heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), on the histology of the liver of the South African freshwater fish species, Oreochromis mossambicus, was investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the toxic effect of cadmium and zinc on the histology of the liver, by identifying significant histological changes in the liver tissue, after exposing the fish to two concentrations of a mixture of cadmium and zinc, over both short and long-term exposure periods. Seventy two, adult O. mossambicus specimens were selected for the study. Two experimental exposures were executed under controlled conditions by means of a flow-through system in an environmental room. For each of the two exposures, twenty-four fish were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium and zinc. The remaining twenty-four specimens were used as a control group. The two respective metal concentrations selected for each exposure were 5% and 10% concentrations of both cadmium and zinc calculated from known LC50 values for cadmium chloride and zinc chloride. Liver samples were fixated in 10% neutrally buffered formalin and prepared for light microscopy analysis using standard techniques for Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) and Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining. The liver histology of all seventy two specimens - including the forty eight exposed specimens and twenty four control specimens - were analysed, compared and documented. Although histological analysis can provide a clear indication of the degree of damage caused in the tissue(s) or organ(s) of exposed specimens, the need arises to quantify the histological results in studies where the effects of the exposing substance(s) are compared, to illustrate the possible decrease or increase in histological changes over time or the effect of two different concentrations of the same exposure substance on the histology of the liver. The histological results in this study were quantified in terms of a histological index. An index value representing the specific histological characteristics of the liver was assigned to each individual specimen indicating either normal histological structure (index value of 0-2) or a possible pathological response (index value of 3-6). Histological changes were identified in specimens exposed for 12, 18, 24, and 96 hours to both the 5% and 10% concentrations of cadmium and zinc, indicating a toxic response after the short-term metal exposures. Similar histological changes were identified in both the 5% and 10% exposed livers. These histological changes included hyalnization, vacuolation, cellular swelling and congestion of blood vessels. The liver histology of fish exposed over a long-term period of 672 hours, did, however, appear relatively normal in both the 5% and 10% exposure groups, indicating an adaptative, regenerative response. According to the results obtained, it was clear that exposure period did influence the degree of histological changes identified. The two metal concentrations did however seem to have similar histological effects and no definite variation could be identified in terms of 5% and 10% metal concentrations used. It can therefore be concluded that low concentrations of cadmium and zinc exposure caused histological alterations in the livers of exposed specimens and therefore allows the liver of O. mossambicus to be used as a biomarker of prior exposure to cadmium and zinc. / Dr. G.M. Pieterse

A exigência de alimento proteico palatável e de alto valor nutricional torna a dieta dos peixes carnívoros altamente dependente de farinha de peixe [FP], alimento de alto custo e já escasso no mercado. Hidrolisados de subprodutos da indústria animal são alimentos de alta qualidade que podem ser usados para substituir a FP nas dietas para peixes. Este trabalho foi realizado em dois ensaios: o primeiro avaliou a digestibilidade de hidrolisados de resíduos de tilápia [RTI], cabeças de atum [CAT], fígados de suínos [FSU] e de aves [FAV] e a influência da inclusão dos hidrolisados nas dietas no perfil de enzimas digestivas nos estômagos, cecos pilóricos e intestinos de juvenis (39,73 ± 5,30 g) do Characiforme carnívoro dourado, Salminus brasiliensis; o segundo ensaio avaliou o desempenho de juvenis de dourados (4,57 ± 1,25 g) alimentados com níveis crescentes de inclusão de FSU (0, 70, 140, 210 e 280 g kg-1) na dieta. A inclusão dos hidrolisados na formulação das dietas diminuiu o pH das rações mas não interferiu no consumo pelos peixes. Os maiores coeficientes de digestibilidades dos nutrientes foram registrados em peixes alimentados com as dietas contendo RTI e FSU, enquanto os menores foram encontrados para aqueles alimentados com as dietas contendo CAT. A atividade da protease e da lipase foi maior nos estômagos dos animais, em especial aqueles que foram alimentados com a dieta contendo FSU. A atividade de amilase foi maior nos cecos pilóricos, enquanto nos intestinos foi registrada maior atividade nas dietas controle e RTI. Hidrolisados de subprodutos da indústria animal foram altamente digestíveis para dourados e o perfil enzimático dos peixes foi dependente dos nutrientes da dieta. No segundo ensaio os menores valores de ingestão diária foram registrados nos peixes alimentados com a dieta sem inclusão de hidrolisado, mas os menores valores de ganho de peso, peso final e das taxas de crescimento específico, de eficiência proteica e energética, e de retenção proteica foram registrados nos peixes alimentados com a dieta contendo 280 g kg-1 de hidrolisado suíno. A grande proporção de aminoácidos livres e pequenos peptídeos nas dietas com inclusões acima de 140 g kg-1 do produto aparentemente reduziu a síntese de proteínas dos animais. A saúde dos peixes não foi afetada significativamente pela inclusão de hidrolisados na dieta, porém, aparentemente, os peixes alimentados com dietas contendo até 140 g kg-1 de hidrolisado tiveram melhores índices imuno-hematológicos. / Carnivorous fish diets strongly depend on fish meal (FM), a high-cost, scarce feedstuff, given the need for palatable protein and high nutritious value. Animal by-product hydrolysates are high-quality feedstuff that can substitute FM in fish diets. This study evaluated digestibility of hydrolysates from tilapia residue [TR], tuna head [TH], swine liver [SL] and poultry liver [PL], and the profile of digestive enzymes in the stomachs, pyloric cecum and intestines of juvenile (39,73 ± 5,30 g) dourado, Salminus brasiliensis, a carnivorous Characin fed diets containing graded levels of hydrolysates, and the performance of juvenile dourado (4,57 ± 1,25 g) fed diets containing increasing levels of FSU (0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 g kg-1). The addition of hydrolysates to diets lowered the pH of feed, but did not alter feed intake by fish. Higher digestibility coefficients of nutrients were recorded for fish fed diets containing TR and SL, and the lower for those fed diets containing TH. Protease and lipase activity in the fish\'s stomach was higher, especially for those fed diets containing SL. Amylase activity was higher in pyloric caeca, while in the intestines the higher activity was registered for fish fed control and TR diets. Animal by-product hydrolysates were highly digestible for dourado, and enzymatic profile of fish depended on nutrients of diets. In the second trial, the lowest values of daily intake were recorded for fish fed diet without inclusion of hydrolysate. However, the lowest weight gain, final weight and specific growth rate, protein and energy efficiency, and protein retention rates were recorded for fish fed diet with 280 g kg-1 of swine hydrolysate. The large proportion of free amino acids and small peptides in the diets with inclusions above 140 g kg-1 of the product apparently reduced the protein synthesis by fish. Health status of fish was not significantly affected by dietary hydrolysates, but apparently, fish fed diets containing more than 140 g kg-1 had better immuno-hematological indices.

O excesso de vitaminas lipossolúveis na dieta pode ser acumulado no fígado e causar hipervitaminose em animais. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar a exigência nutricional em vitamina A para juvenis da tilápia do Nilo Oreochromis niloticus, avaliar o desempenho da espécie através do ganho de peso e conversão alimentar e quantificar os depósitos de retinol hepático em animais de uma população revertida sexualmente para o sexo masculino (R; 13,76 ± 1,21 g) e outra não revertida (NR; 9,83 ± 2,30 g). Os peixes foram estocados em aquários de polipropileno de 100 L, em ambiente com condições controladas de temperatura (25,0 ± 1,0 o C) e luminosidade (12h00m:12h00m), e alimentados ad libitum duas vezes ao dia, durante 75 dias, com dietas semipurificadas, suplementadas com 0; 600; 1200; 1800; 2400; 3000; 3600; 4200; 4800 e 5400 UI kg -1 de dieta de retinil palmitato (Rovimix A 500 Roche ® ), em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x10 (n=4). Ao final do experimento todos os lotes de animais foram sacrificados para a análise de retinol hepático. Sinais severos de deficiência nutricional em vitamina A foram encontrados em animais dos tratamentos 0; 600 e 1200 UI vitamina A kg -1 de dieta; sinais moderados foram também encontrados em animais dos tratamentos entre 1800 e 3600 UI vit A kg -1 de dieta, em ambos os grupos. As interações grupo*nível não foram significativas (P<0,05) para todas as variáveis de desempenho analisadas. Níveis crescentes de inclusão da vitamina A influenciaram o peso final e ganho de peso dos peixes (P<0.05), mas não influenciaram o consumo de ração (P>0,05). Houve um efeito de grupo para todas as variáveis analisadas (P<0,0001). A análise cromatográfica somente detectou depósitos de vitamina A no fígado dos animais alimentados com a dieta contendo 5400 UI kg -1 de retinol. / Excess dietary fat-soluble vitamins can be accumulated in the liver and cause hypervitaminosis in animals. The aim of this research was to establish the vitamin A requirement for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, evaluating weight gain and food conversion ratio, and quantifying hepatic retinol deposits in a sex reversed, all male population (R; 13.76 ± 1.21 g) and a mixed sex population (NR; 9.83 ± 2.30 g ). Fish were stocked in 100-L plastic aquaria, in controlled environmental conditions of temperature (25,0 ± 1,0 ºC) and luminosity (12h00m : 12h00m), and fed ad libitum, twice a day, seven days a week, during seventy five days with semi-purified diets supplemented with 0; 600; 1,200; 1,800; 2,400; 3,000; 3,600; 4,200; 4,800 and 5,400 IU of retinol palmitate per kg of diet (Rovimix A 500 Roche ® ; 30 % vitamin A) in a totally randomized experimental design, factorial arrangement 2x10 (n=4). At the end of the experiment all groups were sacrificed and liver tissue excised for the hepatic retinol analyses. Severe signs of nutritional deficiency of vitamin A were observed in fish of treatments 0; 600 and 1,200 IU vitamin A kg -1 diet; moderate signs were also found in fish of treatments 1,800 trough 3,600 IU vitamin A kg -1 diet, both populations. Interactions group*level were not significant (P<0.05) to all analyzed performance variables. Increasing levels of dietary vitamin A influenced final weight and weight gain of the fish (P<0.05), but did not influence feed consumption (P>0.05). A group effect was observed regarding all performance variables (P<0.0001). Hepatic retinol quantification (High Performance Liquid Chromatogaphy) detected vitamin A only in fish fed 5,400 IU of retinol per kg of diet.

Atualmente, o consumidor está cada vez mais exigente. Além de procurar por produtos que tenham qualidade e conveniência, quer alimentos que sejam seguros do ponto de vista microbiológico e sanitário. Uma alternativa são produtos minimamente processados, que têm valor agregado, são atrativos ao consumidor, e por conseqüência, aumentam o lucro do produtor (e/ou intermediários), além de satisfazerem os desejos do consumidor de adquirir um produto de fácil e rápido preparo e que também apresente inocuidade, sendo que esta última poderia ser garantida por um certificado de rastreabilidade de toda cadeia produtiva do produto. Um sistema informatizado de rastreabilidade para um produto do pescado brasileiro, além de ser uma ferramenta de extrema necessidade, é uma inovação tecnológica, visto que poucos países no mundo avançam nesta direção. A rastreabilidade dos alimentos se apresenta de forma essencial e inevitável, como conseqüência de uma série de incidentes relacionados a segurança alimentar, ocorridas pelo mundo todo, durante os quais, os sistemas de informação disponíveis mostraramse inadequados, ausentes, demorados ou incapazes de assegurar aos consumidores a inocuidade dos produtos. Fica evidente, portanto, que o esforço conjunto dos setores produtivos e do governo para implementar e viabilizar o processo de rastreabilidade é um passo fundamental para garantir ao Brasil uma posição de destaque no cenário internacional do agronegócio. Dessa forma, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo oferecer subsídios para tornar viável o desenvolvimento de um sistema informatizado de rastreabilidade aplicado à cadeia de produção de tilápia minimamente processada. Sendo assim, pretendeu-se padronizar o produto e o processo de obtenção de filés de tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus) minimamente processados refrigerados e embalados a vácuo. Para tal, fez-se necessário: determinar as etapas de produção, através do aferimento de todas as etapas envolvidas na cadeia produtiva; e protocolar um padrão de identidade e qualidade para este produto advindo da piscicultura. Esses dados poderão fornecer os parâmetros para possibilitar, em pesquisas futuras, a rastreabilidade do produto, partindo da qualidade da matéria-prima até o alimento embalado para consumo. Este trabalho integra um conjunto de 5 (cinco) subprojetos que compõem o projeto: Rastreabilidade da cadeia produtiva de pescado cultivado tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus), financiado pela FINEP/FUSP, sob o edital Aqüicultura Ação transversal 12/2005. / Currently, the consumer is increasingly demanding. In addition to searching for products with quality and convenience, they search products with standards of hygiene and microbiology. An alternative in the segment of convenient foods is fish minimally processed, which have value added, are attractive to consumers, and consequently, increase the profit of the producer (and/or intermediaries), in addition to meeting the desires of the consumer to purchase a product for easy and fast preparation and also provide safety, and that it could be guaranteed by a certificate of traceability throughout the production chain of the product. A system of traceability for a product of Brazilian fish, besides being a tool of extreme need, is a technological innovation, since few countries in the world are moving towards this direction. The traceability of food is so essential and inevitable, as a result of a series of food safety incidents that occurred throughout the world during which, the information systems available have proved inadequate, absent, or unable to provide lengthy to the safety of consumer products. Therefore, it is evident that mutual efforts from both the government and producers to implement and make a traceability process viable are a critical step forward to grant Brazil a position of reference in the agribusiness international scenario. Thus, the present research aimed to offer basis to provide viability for the development of a computerized traceability process applied to the production chain of tilapia minimally processed. This way, it is aimed to standardize the product and the process to obtain the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) minimally processed. To do so, it is needed to: determine the phases of production, through the improvement of all steps involved in the production chain and establish quality and identification standards for the product deriving from fish farming. These data may provide the parameters to allow, in future research, the traceability of the product, starting from the raw material to the end wrapped product, including product labeling and also the possible ways to locate its paths along the distribution chain. This plan is part of 5(five) sub-projects which comprise the whole project: Traceability of production chain of farmed fish tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), sponsored by FINEP/MCT/SEAP edital aquaculture Ação Transversal 12/2005.

Orientador: Elisabete Maria Macedo Viegas / Banca: Cristiane Rodrigues Pinheiro Neiva / Banca: Maria Regina Barbieri de Carvalho / Resumo: A tilápia do Nilo é uma das espécies de peixes mais cultivadas no Brasil. A forma de processamento e comercialização deste peixe é como filé congelado, embora seu aproveitamento seja baixo (30% a 35%) gerando grande quantidade de resíduos. A partir destes resíduos é possível obter-se carne mecanicamente separada (CMS), com a qual se pode elaborar uma série de produtos entre eles os "snacks". O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar "snacks" com diferentes níveis de inclusão (20, 30 e 40%) de carne mecanicamente separada (CMS) de resíduos de filetagem de tilápia do Nilo e caracterizá-lo por avaliações físico-químicas (composição química, valor calórico, carboidratos, atividade de água, volume específico, densidade, absorção de óleo, expansão linear, textura instrumental, cor instrumental) e aceitação sensorial. A estabilidade do produto foi monitorada por meio de análises químicas (oxidação lipídica - TBARS), bases nitrogenadas voláteis - BNV, física (pH), microbiológica e aceitação sensorial aos zero, 15, 30 e 45 dias de estocagem a 25 ± 0,3 ºC. O aumento da inclusão de CMS proporcionou aumento no volume especifico (5,24 a 15,81 mL.g-1), densidade (0,01 a 0,06 g.mL-1), expansão linear (115,28 a 138,31%), atividade de água (aw) (0,2567 a 0,4813), luminosidade (L*) (40,61 a 65, 11) e textura instrumental (dureza) (487,01 a 1587,19 g/distância). No entanto, a adição de CMS causou diminuição na aceitação sensorial global (7,18 a 5,88), e na avaliação da intensidade da coloração vermelha (a*) (12,19 a 3,56) dos "snacks" fritos. Com relação a composição química dos "snacks" não fritos observou-se que o aumento da inclusão de CMS causou aumento nos valores da proteína (5,89 a 9,86%), extrato etéreo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Nile tilapia is one of the fish species most cultivated in Brazil. Commonly, the fish is processed and commercialized as frozen fillet even though yield is low (30 to 35%) and filleting generates large amounts of waste. The residues resulting from the processing can be used to obtain mechanically separated meat (MSM) that can be used to manufacture a wide range of products, among them the so called snacks. The objective of this work was to prepare snacks containing different levels (20, 30 and 40%) of mechanically separated meat (MSM) obtained from the waste of Nile tilapia processing. The physico-chemical characteristics of the snacks such as, chemical composition, calorie content, carbohydrates, water activity, specific volume, density, oil absorption, linear expansion, instrumental texture and color were evaluated and sensory analysis was performed. Product stability was monitored by chemical analysis (lipid oxidation - TBARS), volatile nitrogenous bases - BNV, physical (pH), microbiological and sensory analyses over time, at 0, 15, 30 and 45 days of storage at 25 ± 0.3 ºC temperature. The increasing levels of MSM resulted in increasing specific volume (5,24 to 15,81 mL.g-1), density (0,01 to 0,06 g.mL-1), linear expansion (115,28 to 138,31%), water activity (aw) (0,2567 to 0,4813), lightness (L*) (40,61 to 65, 11) and instrumental texture (hardness) (487,01 to 1587,19 g/distance). However, the increasing levels of MSM resulted in decreasing overall acceptance (7,18 to 5,88) and redness (a*) (12,19 to 3,56) of fried snacks. Regarding the chemical composition of non-fried snacks, the increasing levels of MSM, increased protein (5,89 to 9,86%), fat (1,13 to 3,43%), ash (2,47 to 3,28%) and decreased moisture (9,71 a 7,46%). For the fried snacks, protein (5,14 to 8,78%) and ash (2,30 to 2,86%) contents increased... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The Brazilian aquaculture sector has experienced growth in recent decades, and economic data from the sector is needed to characterize the supply chain, the consumer markets and financial indicators of fish producing units. Reliable statistical data on the Brazilian aquaculture sector is also needed to aid in the research efforts toward the sector. This dissertation analyzes data collected from experiments, suppliers and consumers of tilapia and tambaqui, the two most important fish farming species in Brazil, in three essays. <p></p><div><br></div><div>The first essay aims to fill a gap in the literature by assessing the economic returns to lettuce and juvenile tilapia production in an aquaponics system. Experimental data that varied fish stocking density and feeding rate when co-producing fish and lettuce in Brazil is analyzed. Using different nonparametric efficiency testing methods, a set of undominated technologies in the form of input mix, is identified. In addition, sensitivity analysis is used to assess the ranges for prices over which the choice of technology is robust. Results from the technical efficiency analysis show that it is possible to get marketable lettuce in synchronization with the fish production cycle using a reduced level of feed. At observed average regional market prices (0.18 R$/tilapia fingerling, 2.8 R$/kg for fish feed, 20 R$/kg for juvenile fish and 1.70 R$/lettuce plant), the highest profit alternative in the experimental design is from an initial stocking density of 250 fingerlings per m3, feeding at the recommended rate, and harvesting on the 29th day. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the choice of best input combination is sensitive to only the prices of fish feed input and juvenile fish output. A complete financial analysis was based on this production strategy, and results indicate that a 10-year project is economically viable.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Consumer demand for tilapia and tambaqui product attributes is studied in the second essay. Seafood supply chains, from fish farmers to supermarkets selling direct to consumers, must understand consumer demand for product attributes to ensure production and availability of desired products. Consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for tilapia and tambaqui fillets was estimated taking consumer demographics into account for each of the five Brazilian regions. A random parameters logit model was used to analyze data from discrete choice experiments conducted in-person at supermarket seafood counters. On average, Brazilian fish consumers prefer tilapia to tambaqui, and fresh to frozen fillets. Stated preferences were found to be related to knowledge about fish. This study is the first known analysis of national seafood preferences considering factors such as product form, species, and familiarity with fish and fish products in Brazil. <br></div><div><br></div><div>In the third essay, a spatial analysis of the supply chain of tilapia and tambaqui is conducted with a focus on potential policy interventions and changes in the economic environment. The analysis is based on a partial equilibrium model of the sector and is the first comprehensive model of the aquaculture supply chain for Brazil. The demand component of the model is estimated econometrically using synthetic data based on the previous consumer choice experiment combined with secondary data on aggregate fish demand. The resulting demand system reflects asymmetric cross price impacts violating Samuelson’s integrability condition. Rather than imposing symmetry during estimation, the model is formulated as a complementary problem. The spatially disaggregated model is applied to the evaluation of the impact of factors such as governmental incentives (subsides of fish feed), international oil price shocks (changes in the cost of transportation), increases in consumers’ income (shifts in demand), and decreases in retailers’ margins on the regional pattern of tilapia and tambaqui production and final consumption. Changes in transportation costs, impacted by oil prices or road improvements had little impact on market outcomes. A 10% reduction on retailers’ gross margins decreased prices by 5.2% and increased quantity demanded by 5.4%, while an 8% reduction in fish feed costs due to tax cuts indicates, on average, 5.4% lower selling prices for farmers.<br></div>