Biofloc technology: a review on the microbial interactions, operational parameters and implications to disease and health management of cultured aquatic animals

Aquaculture is increasingly becoming more intensified leading to challenges to maintain optimal water quality conditions but also reducing effluent discharge to the environment. Therefore, the needs for the development of production systems that can ensure sustainable aquaculture production through minimizing the release of waste to the environment. Such technology should be easy to operate and available at a cheaper cost, both in installation and operations in order to suit the needs of both low and high-income farmers. Biofloc technology is such a technology that can ensure sustainable aquaculture production, with low technical demands and it is available at a cheap cost. It is essentially a water quality management techniques, through manipulation of microbiota to convert the deleterious waste from aquaculture production to consumable body biomass and it has been established to have many other benefits asides from the intending water quality. This review discusses the developments of the biofloc technology, microbial interactions, important operational parameters and implication of the system to the disease and health management of cultured aquatic animals.