Title: Economic comparison of tilapia and carp aquaculture in Bangladesh

Information on economic viability of aquaculture is crucial for farmers and entrepreneurs when assessing different aquaculture practices; such information has been scarce in Bangladesh. This paper compares economics of carp polyculture and tilapia (GIFT, all male) monoculture in Bangladesh produced in semi-intensive system. For this purpose, an 800 m2 pond is used as the basis for analysis since it is the average size used by most private fish farmers in Bangladesh. A one pond production model and ten pond production model were developed for tilapia and carp aquaculture. Assumptions for this evaluation were based on data from the annual fish production report of Integrated Agricultural Productivity Project (IAPP) of the Rangpur region in Bangladesh. Other information came from the author’s experience in the aquaculture extension service and as a farm manager of a government fish farm service delivery. This evaluation finds that both tilapia and carp aquaculture practices were viable, although with different degrees of success. In both one pond and ten pond production models, tilapia aquaculture shows more profits and more yields than carp aquaculture. It is more profitable and results in higher yields to operate ten ponds than one pond due to economics of scale. However, the success of aquaculture in Bangladesh will not only depend on the use of higher yields gained through aquaculture technologies, but also on the confidence of farmers or investors. For this reason, the Department of Fisheries (DoF) in Bangladesh needs to have appropriate information available to farmers to assist them in making economic decisions on aquaculture practices.