Aquaculture systems

Biotic and abiotic components:

1. The fish component

• • Behavioral/physiological requirements –

must be in normal (optimal) range1. 2. 3. Dissolved inorganic and organic

compounds4. pH

Aquaculture systems

Biotic and abiotic components:

2. The water component

• •

–

3. Pond or rearing area/container

• Provide spatial requirements for species•

Aquaculture systems

Biotic and abiotic components:

4. Nutritional requirements

• Provides energy requirements to meet – standard metabolic demands

• Components associated with water quality

• •

Aquaculture systems

Biotic and abiotic components:

5. Management of the system• Fish culturist governs how well all

components will be “balanced”• Management factors:

• • • Record-keeping• Pond cleaning techniques and

frequencies•

Aquaculture systems

Management conditions:

1. Extensive culture: Low degree of input on manager’s part

• Low water exchanges• •

• Common in developing regions• Subsistence production

Aquaculture systems

Management conditions:

2. Semi-intensive

• Higher degree of management than extensive

• Common in warmwater foodfish industry – catfish• Feed daily• Assess growth and mortality

Aquaculture systems

Management conditions:

3. Intensive

• • Common in salmonid culture•

• • Feeding of commercial feeds at high rates• Continual sampling and monitoring

Aquaculture

Public aquaculture:

Purpose:• Mitigation• Conservation/species recovery

(ESA)• Management/sport fishing

Mitigation:• • Columbia/Snake River systems

Aquaculture

Conservation:• Endangered species preservation

• • Recovery of listed stock

• •

• •

Aquaculture

Management/sportfishing:

• Game fish stocking (non-salmonids)• Bass• Pike• Walleye

• Put and take fisheries• •

Aquaculture

Private aquaculture Purpose:

• Commercial:• Food/table fish and other aquatic

species• •

• Fee fishing• Trout/catfish• Common in Midwest/east

Aquaculture

• Bait fish – for sportfishing in many states• Forage fish

• • Tilapia/carp

• Ornamental species• Aquarium/hobbyist trade• Direct or wholesale markets•

Aquaculture

Components of private and public aquaculture:

1. Production:• All life stages

2. 3. Marketing (important in commercial)

• Sales and distribution4. Processing waste

• Disposal5. Value added product

Aquaculture

Factors to consider in private aquaculture:

• Feed availability/manufacturing• Equipment• Product development/marketing• Engineering/construction• Real estate

Aquaculture

Economics:• Variable costs

• Eggs/fingerlings• Feed• Mortality• Utilities• Maintenance

• Fixed costs:• Labor • Insurance• Taxes• Advertising