Native fish addition boosts productivity in biofloc aquaponics

A new study in Animals reports that adding a native South American fish, yellowtail lambari (Astyanax bimaculatus), to a biofloc-based aquaponic system with Nile tilapia and lettuce improved nutrient retention and overall productivity over a 35-day trial. The paper, published May 3, 2026, evaluated systems with and without lambari across eight experimental units and found that a more diverse fish mix may help keep nitrogen and phosphorus in productive use rather than losing them from the system. The work comes from researchers including Adolfo Jatobá and colleagues, and builds on a broader push in aquaponics to move beyond single-species tilapia systems and test regionally relevant native fish. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working in aquatic animal health, the study adds to evidence that polyculture design can influence not just production, but system stability, water quality dynamics, and species suitability. Yellowtail lambari has already been identified in the literature as a promising South American aquaponics species, and this latest trial suggests native species inclusion could improve resource efficiency in intensive systems that also produce crops. That has practical implications for fish welfare, stocking strategies, and how clinicians and consultants think about health management in integrated aquaculture settings where nutrient loads, suspended solids, and interspecies interactions all matter. (hero.epa.gov)

What to watch: The next question is whether these productivity gains hold up in longer, commercial-scale trials, and whether producers can replicate them without adding management complexity. (mdpi.com)