ACCOMPOLISHED PROJECTS

Seaweed, a natural bioactive compound, serves as a versatile resource meeting a myriad of demands including food, nutrients, medicine, oxygen, and biofuels (Kumar et al., 2008). Its multifaceted utility has propelled the cultivation of seaweed into a burgeoning global industry, increasingly vital in meeting both domestic and international demands (Yarnpakdee et al., 2015). In Bangladesh, this cultivation has assumed particular significance given the rapidly expanding global and local markets.

Beyond its economic value, seaweed cultivation offers significant environmental benefits. Seaweeds play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by absorbing excessive light, nutrients, kinetic energy, and carbon, thereby contributing to water purification and carbon sequestration. Additionally, they serve as habitat and food sources for diverse marine organisms, promoting biodiversity and ecological balance.

However, alongside these benefits, seaweed cultivation poses certain environmental risks. These include the potential absorption of excessive light and nutrients, as well as the release of dissolved and particulate matter into the surrounding environment and alter existing marine habitats and ecological dynamics.

Despite these risks, the overall positive impacts of seaweed cultivation, including its economic benefits and environmental contributions, underscore its importance as a sustainable resource with vast potential for meeting diverse human needs while safeguarding marine ecosystems. Efforts to mitigate the environmental risks associated with seaweed cultivation are essential to ensure the continued sustainability and resilience of marine environments.

Project Leader

Md. Shafiqul Islam, PhD

Professor

Institute of Marine Sciences

University of Chittagong

Chattogram-4331, Bangladesh.

Email: prof.shafiqims@cu.ac.bd

Role: Research Assistant (RA)

Responsibilities:

*   Experimental preparation, field data collection, and laboratory analysis

*  Species rearing and aquarium management

*  Reviewing literature, writing reports, and coordinating field and laboratory activities.

Throughout human history, aquaculture has played a vital role in sustaining global populations, particularly in countries like Bangladesh, where it has been a cornerstone of livelihoods for millennia. As the demand for animal protein continues to surge worldwide, aquaculture has emerged as a critical sector to meet this need. Remarkably, global consumption data reveals that approximately 3.3 billion people derive nearly 20 percent of their average per capita animal protein intake from fish (FAO, 2020), underscoring the indispensable role of fish in human nutrition. Notably, fish consumption is not only recognized for its nutritional significance but also lauded as one of the healthiest dietary choices with minimal environmental impact.

In this context, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stands out as a highly favored species among both farmers and consumers, cultivated commercially across the globe. The utilization of animal wastes as a cost-effective protein source for inclusion in tilapia diets presents a promising avenue for feed manufacturers, farmers, and other stakeholders in the aquaculture sector. This study aims to explore the feasibility of producing silages from animal wastes and their optimal incorporation into the diet formulations of Nile tilapia. The successful execution of this endeavor holds the potential to revolutionize feed production practices and enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of tilapia aquaculture systems.

Project Leader

Aysha Akhtar

Professor (Associate)

Institute of Marine Sciences

University of Chittagong

Chattogram-4331, Bangladesh.

Email: aysha_imsfcu@yahoo.com 

Role: Research Assistant (RA)

Responsibilities:

*   Preparation of silages, formulation of experimental diets and nutritional quality analysis

*  Experimental preparation, field data collection, data analysis with r programming

*  Reviewing literature, writing reports, and coordinating field and laboratory activities.