Can Climate-Resilient Tilapia Cage Culture Support Sustainable Livelihoods in Flood-Prone Bangladesh?

The Haor region in northeastern Bangladesh, characterized by seasonal wetlands and a heavy reliance on fisheries, faces significant challenges due to climate change. Erratic rainfall, prolonged flooding, and ecosystem degradation threaten traditional fishing practices and community livelihoods. This study investigates the potential of climate-resilient cage aquaculture as a sustainable, alternative income-generating solution for vulnerable Haor communities. An 80-day experiment was conducted in five villages of Sunamganj district, Sylhet division, Bangladesh, where tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry were reared in climate-resilient floating cages at five stocking densities: T1 (800 fry/m3), T2 (900 fry/m3), T3 (1000 fry/m3), T4 (1100 fry/m3), and T5 (1200 fry/m3). Key environmental parameters, including temperature (28.12–29.55 °C), dissolved oxygen (4.61–6.55 mg/L), pH (7.53–7.72), and ammonia (0.05–0.76 mg/L), remained within optimal ranges across treatments. Growth performance, survival rate, and economic feasibility were evaluated with T5 yielding the highest gross production (51.77 ± 4.80 kg/m3) and net benefits (7500 ± 500 BDT/m3), achieving a benefit–cost ratio of 1:2.86. The survey findings revealed that a majority of fishers (82%) identified tilapia cage culture as a promising alternative livelihood, yet financial constraints and limited access to credit hinder adoption. Despite these socioeconomic challenges, our findings suggest that tilapia cage culture offers a viable income-generating solution, particularly during flood periods. The study highlights floating cage aquaculture as a climate-resilient strategy to mitigate climate impacts, enhance food security, and improve economic resilience in flood-prone and ecologically sensitive regions.