Aquaculture for all

Meet the farmerEgypt’s biofloc pioneer

Feeding systems Husbandry Water quality +10 more

Eslam Elsamadony is one of the pioneers of Egypt’s biofloc aquaculture sector, helping to transform a struggling farm into a system capable of producing 50 tonnes of tilapia a year.

by Egyptian aquaculture specialist
Yomna Elshamy thumbnail
Headshot of man with water tank in the background
Eslam Elsamadony at Faiyum Biofloc Farm

Elsamadony is the technical director at Faiyum Biofloc Farm where he's transformed a farm that suffered from water and production problems into the largest biofloc fish producer in Egypt

Can you describe your aquaculture career?

I’m the technical director of the Faiyum Biofloc Farm, head of the technical support department at Aller Aqua Egypt and a fish farming expert at the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD). I’m also executive director and consultant for a group of specialised aquaculture farms – which include RAS and raceway facilities – in Egypt and the Arab countries. I have a master's degree in fish production.

What is the Faiyum project’s original goal and what has been achieved so far?

The farm was suffering from mismanagement and a scarcity of water, so I was invited to completely re-establish it. I redesigned the ponds, and added four greenhouses, with ponds for collecting the wastewater, which can then be used to irrigate and fertilise local farms, and hatchery ponds on a total area of ​​about two acres.

What species and how many tonnes does the project currently produce per year?

We produce 50 tonnes of tilapia, divided into two or three harvests of fish up to 450 grams.

Close up of juvenile tilapia
Juvenile tilapia

The biofloc system converts organic substances into a microbial protein that the fish can feed on, meaning the farm can produce 50 tonnes of tilapia each year without needing to rely on supplementary feed © Shutterstock

How does the biofloc system work?

It converts organic substances such as ammonia into a microbial protein that the fish can feed on, which leads to a reduction in the amount of supplementary feed required.

What are the considerations for establishing a biofloc system?

The medium in which the fish are placed must be smooth and soft, so the tanks must be lined with plastic.

Aeration is very important, because the microbial activity consumes large amounts of oxygen. It is also important that the depth of the water does not exceed 1.25 metres, otherwise it can lead to a lack of aeration at the bottom, which creates microbial sedimentation.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the biofloc system?

One of its advantages is that it is a water-saving system, as the production is good compared to the amount of water consumed.

It is also a closed system that contains beneficial bacteria, thus improving biosecurity and preventing the entry of diseases. Furthermore, it reduces feed use by about 25 percent – thus increasing profits and improving water quality

The disadvantage is the increased energy requirements to ensure aeration.

Two clear containers holding brown liquid on the edge of a water tank
Biofloc culture

The biofloc system converts organic substances such as ammonia into a microbial protein used to feed the fish

What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting?

No one at the farm was fully aware of how to run a biofloc system, so I had to teach and train the young farm workers, and I bore the mistakes that resulted from their lack of experience.

I also had to overcome the idea that the system consumes a lot of electricity, and is therefore not economically feasible. This was dispelled after we had harvested 7-8 full cycles while only changing 30 to 40 percent of the water.

What does a typical day in a biofloc farm consist of?

Observing the condition and appetite of the fish, and assessing the concentration of the floc level in the water. If it is higher than the optimal level it’s possible to reduce the quantities of feed or change up to 10 percent of the water. Taking water samples for analysis is also important.

Man looking into a water tank
Eslam Elsamadony checking the tanks at Faiyum Biofloc Farm

After training the farmers in the new biofloc system, Elsamadony now only visits the farm a few times a month as a consultant

What is your biggest achievement on your farm so far?

The evolution of the farm from a place that suffers from water and production problems to a place that is the largest biofloc fish producer in Egypt. I have also helped to set up biofloc farms in the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

What are the plans for the future development of the farm?

We plan to raise the stocking densities to 30 kg/m3

Is the future of aquaculture represented by biofloc?

That depends on the location. In places of water scarcity, biofloc should be applied.

Create an account now to keep reading

It'll only take a second and we'll take you right back to what you were reading. The best part? It's free.

Already have an account? Sign in here

Series: Meet the farmer

Four ways Indian shrimp farmers can stay solvent

Times have rarely been tougher for shrimp farmers in India, but Balasubramaniam V, general secretary of the Prawn Farmers Federation of India, believes that the industry can transform its fortunes through a combination of improved genetics, the use of native s…

The tilapia hatchery that runs in the family

Mohamed Salah Ibrahim runs Al Sahaba Hatchery, one of the oldest tilapia hatcheries in Kafr El-Sheikh, and continues the legacy of his father, Dr Salah Ibrahim, one of Egypt’s pioneers of mono-sex tilapia production.

Taking fish farming in Nigeria to the next level

Akin Showemimo, widely known as “Akinfish”, is the director of Asher Royal Produce Limited, a company that produces its own catfish, tilapia and heterotis, and also helps to equip and train other farmers, both in Nigeria and further afield.