Maya Chay Aquaponic Fish Tank Systems

Growing Food, Generating Income, and Building Sustainable Communities

Imagine a system that can produce fresh fish and vegetables simultaneously, while using a fraction of the water required by conventional agriculture.

Maya Chay is an innovative aquaponic system developed in Guatemala by Energía y Ambiente S.A. (EASA). By combining fish farming with hydroponic vegetable cultivation, the system creates a sustainable cycle of food production that can help rural families improve their nutrition, generate income, and become more economically self-sufficient.

At Ecoconomist, we aim to bring these systems to rural Guatemalan communities where access to food, agricultural resources, and income-generating opportunities remains limited.

What Is a Maya Chay Aquaponic System?

Aquaponics is a method of agriculture that combines two different forms of food production:

• Aquaculture: Raising fish, particularly tilapia, in controlled water tanks.

• Hydroponics: Growing vegetables without soil, using nutrient-rich water to nourish the plants.

In the Maya Chay system, these two processes work together in a continuous cycle.

Fish produce natural waste that contains nutrients essential for plant growth. Beneficial bacteria transform these nutrients into forms that vegetables can absorb. As the plants take up nutrients, they help purify the water, which is then returned to the fish tanks.

This process allows the same water to be continuously reused, reducing water consumption and making it possible to produce two valuable sources of food within a single agricultural system.

How Does It Work?

1. Fish Production

Tilapia are raised in specially designed tanks. As they grow, their biological waste releases nutrients into the water.

2. Natural Filtration

Water from the tanks circulates through growing beds containing volcanic rocks and gravel. Beneficial bacteria help transform fish waste into nutrients that plants can absorb.

3. Vegetable Production

Vegetables grow directly in these nutrient-rich beds, without the need for traditional soil cultivation or synthetic fertilizers to supply their main nutrients.

4. Water Recirculation

As the plants absorb nutrients, the water is naturally filtered and returned to the fish tanks. The Maya Chay system also uses cascading water to improve oxygenation.

The result is an integrated agricultural system that produces both fish and vegetables while minimizing water waste.

Why Aquaponics?

Two Sources of Food and Potential Income

A single system can produce protein-rich tilapia alongside fresh vegetables. Families can consume part of the harvest themselves and potentially sell surplus produce in local markets.

Exceptional Water Efficiency

According to EASA, Maya Chay systems can reduce water consumption by approximately 90% compared with conventional agricultural methods. Water is continuously recirculated, requiring replenishment primarily to compensate for evaporation and plant uptake.

Sustainable Agricultural Production

The system reuses nutrients derived from fish waste, reducing the need for external plant fertilizers and limiting nutrient-rich wastewater discharge.

Opportunities for Rural Communities

For families with limited agricultural land or financial resources, a well-managed aquaponic system can provide an additional source of food, practical agricultural skills, and opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurship.

What Does the Economic Research Tell Us?

In 2023, an academic study conducted at Uppsala University examined the potential economic benefits of introducing an aquaponic fish tank system in San Andrés Osuna, Escuintla, Guatemala.

The community had experienced significant economic and infrastructural difficulties following the 2018 eruption of Volcán de Fuego.

The research investigated whether an aquaponic system could provide a financially viable source of food and income, using projected construction costs, operating expenses, market prices, and agricultural production.

The study’s estimated annual production and financial results, adjusted for Ecoconomist’s proposed operating conditions, are:

These estimates suggest that aquaponic systems could offer an economically promising opportunity for rural communities, particularly where suitable environmental conditions and local markets are available.

Important: These figures are projections based on a 2023 ex-ante study, with operating expenses adjusted to exclude labor and electricity costs already covered by the participating community. They are not verified financial results from an operating community project. Actual production, costs, earnings, and investment recovery will depend on local conditions, management, and market access.

Our Vision: From Financial Assistance to Economic Self-Sufficiency

At Ecoconomist, we believe that development assistance should do more than provide temporary relief. Whenever possible, it should help communities develop the resources and capabilities needed to sustain themselves over time.

Maya Chay aquaponic systems reflect this approach by offering communities the opportunity to produce food while building productive agricultural assets.

Our objective is to support community-led aquaponic projects that combine environmental sustainability, food security, and income-generating activities.

By working with local communities and technical partners, we aim to ensure that each system is adapted to its environment and managed with a long-term perspective.

Monitoring Our Results

Ecoconomist is committed to measuring the economic and social outcomes of its development projects.

For future Maya Chay installations, our goal is to monitor indicators such as:

• Quantity of fish and vegetables produced.

• Food consumed locally and surplus sold.

• Revenue generated and operating expenses.

• Number of households benefiting.

• Water consumption and resource efficiency.

• Long-term financial sustainability.

These indicators will help us evaluate whether the projects achieve their intended objectives and provide transparent information to donors and participating communities.

Help Us Build Sustainable Livelihoods in Guatemala

Your contribution can help turn an innovative agricultural technology into an opportunity for communities seeking greater food security and economic independence.

By supporting Ecoconomist’s Maya Chay projects, you can help finance productive agricultural infrastructure designed to provide benefits beyond the initial investment.

Support an Aquaponic Fish Tank Project

Together, we can help communities grow their own food, strengthen their livelihoods, and build a more sustainable future.

Our Technical Partner

Maya Chay aquaponic technology is developed by Energía y Ambiente S.A. (EASA), a Guatemalan company specializing in environmental engineering, water management, and sustainable technology.

Learn more about the technology at www.easa.gt/acuaponia.

Scientific Background

Hörmander, O. (2023). Results Measurement of Livelihood Interventions in the Humanitarian Field, using a Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to analyze the Economic Rate of Return (ERR) of an income-generating activity (IGA) project in a post-disaster setting, in San Andres Osuna, Guatemala. Master’s thesis, Uppsala University.