Recent progress towards the application of biofloc technology for tilapia farming

Water and land scarcity are both major barriers to aquaculture. New technologies such as intensive aquaculture with limited water exchange should be used as a way to overcome these barriers and increase production. Biofloc technology (BFT) is a novel technology, which has been widely studied and applied in high-density cultivation of fish and shrimp. As a novel technology, BFT can improve aquaculture production and also pursue sustainable aquaculture goals. Tilapia is one of the most important species for aquaculture that has gained worldwide attentions for farming. This species has been successfully cultivated under biofloc conditions due to its special characteristics such as the ability to eat particles, tolerance of moderate oxygen levels, high density in captivity and adaptation to different environmental conditions. In the cultivation of tilapia in the biofloc system, various factors such as cultivation period, size and stocking density, carbon to nitrogen ratio and the type of carbon source used affect the growth performance, survival, activity of digestive enzymes, liver and immune activity. The current review is a comprehensive and an updated compilation of the available works on recent advances in biofloc system application and researches in tilapia farming. The present study also elucidates the factors affecting the biofloc system including the type of carbon source used, carbon to nitrogen ratio, growth performance, survival, somatic indices, immune function, digestive and hepatic enzyme activity, nutritional value of biofloc as a natural food source for tilapia. • Different carbon sources and carbon to nitrogen ratio are effective in tilapia cultivation in BFT system. • Biofloc system improves the growth performance of the Nile tilapia. • Biofloc is an excellent source of organic compounds that have a positive effect on immune factors of tilapia. • Body composition of Nile tilapia in the biofloc system is affected by the presence of flocs.