Best Management Practices for integration of water and fisheries resources in lowland ecosystems

Kevin Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.

Professor, University of Arizona

Visiting Fulbright Professor, Thailand

President, World Aquaculture Society

International Workshop on Integrated Water and Fisheries Resources Management in Developing Countries

Sept. 20, 2004

Introduction

Vastly increasing demand on aquatic resources

Need to protect water resources from pollution and degradation

Require improvements in water use efficiencies

Polyculture and integrated farming systems will lead the way

Introduction Polyculture and integrated systems in

Asia are thousands of years old. These highly efficient systems and the

healthy diets they produce are a primary reason for the high populations in East and South Asia.

Introduction Over 24 million hectares are irrigated in the

United States, mostly in the West. Irrigation water is well suited for aquaculture

and aquaculture effluent is ideal for plant crops.

Multiple-use of water is an important aspect of sustainable aquaculture systems.

Fish effluents should be used as input to another crop.

Introduction Water is already controlled. Either pumped from groundwater or diverted

from natural or man-made watercourses. Reservoirs and canal structures are easily

adapted as locations for fish culture. Water is usually of high quality, often from the

same source as drinking water. Most water fit for drinking and/or agriculture, is

fine for fish.

On farm storage pondsGrowing in ponds or cages in ponds.

Cages in Washingtonfarm pond

Cages in reservoir in Arizona

Introduction Effluent management

US - EPA is in process of regulating all US aquaculture wastes

Field crop irrigation is accepted as a “Best Management Practice” by EPA and several states

Pond culture to crop irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation from Washington fish pond

Nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems

Productivity of water can be a measure of fisheries potential

Waters with high productivity are able to support high fish populations and growth

Large scale pond culture integrated to field crop irrigation

Nutrients provided from pond sludge pumped to field crop

                                    

                

Nutrient Flow vs. Time

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

time (sec)

pp

m

TKN

NH4-N

ORG-N

NO3-N

PO4-P

TOTAL N

Nutrients provided in first minute compared to 60th minute

0.7

5.35

35.36

0

40.71

0.171.81 1.19 1.87

4.87

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

ppm

Initial Outflow 60 Minutes

8/25/2002 8/25/2002

Nutrient Concentration of Effluent8/25/02 Time Trials

PO4-P

ORG-N

NH4-N

NO3-N

TOTAL N

Review

Thank you for opportunity to present our research