Climate‐Resilient Greenhouse Approach for Sustainable Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) Seed Production

ABSTRACT

Climate variability poses a major challenge to sustainable aquaculture, particularly tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) seed production, which is highly sensitive to seasonal fluctuations in temperature and water quality. This study evaluated a pond greenhouse system as a climate‐resilient approach for winter tilapia seed production compared with conventional open ponds. The experiment was conducted from November 2024 to February 2025 at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, using replicated earthen ponds ( n  = 3 per treatment) stocked with tilapia broodfish under similar feeding, stocking density and management conditions, differing only in greenhouse coverage. Climatic variables, water quality, broodfish growth performance, feed efficiency and reproductive activity were monitored, with ponds serving as the experimental units. Greenhouse ponds maintained significantly higher and more stable air and water temperatures, improved dissolved oxygen, more stable pH and lower variability in total dissolved solids than open ponds ( p  < 0.05). These conditions resulted in significantly greater weight gain, an improved feed conversion ratio and a higher specific growth rate of broodfish. The greenhouse system also maintained water temperatures suitable for overwintering and reproduction, supporting repeated spawning events and the presence of multiple fry age groups throughout the study period. Mean fecundity in greenhouse ponds was 1350 ± 165 eggs per female (range: 1200–1500 eggs), whereas breeding activity was absent in open ponds. Overall, greenhouse‐assisted ponds reduced winter‐related environmental stress and sustained broodstock growth and reproductive performance under cold‐season conditions. The findings indicate that greenhouse pond technology is a simple, practical and locally adaptable climate‐resilient strategy for improving winter tilapia seed availability, although further techno‐economic evaluation is needed to assess commercial feasibility.