Aquaculture Systems Matt Ferrell and Ken Semmens

Levels of Management Do nothingFertilizeSome FeedComplete feedAeration Water quality enhancement Cost, Risk, Yield

Types of Aquaculture Pond – Extensive – Semi Intensive – Intensive Cage Culture Raceway In-pond raceway Recirculating Aquaponics

Extensive Pond Management Requirements: Low – May fertilize the pond – organic or inorganic. – No feed – No aeration – Uses natural productivity Yield lbs acre bass/bluegill pond 150lbs/acre Risk- Low Examples: Fee fishing operations Most recreational ponds Nursery ponds

Extensive Pond Pros: Low risk – oxygen, etc. Utilizes natural productivity Low cost of inputs Minimal labor to grow fish Knowledge needed is minimal Cons: Low Yield Weeds Bloom and water quality not readily controled Poaching, predators May be difficult to harvest Harvest is labor intensive. Contamination with “Wild fish”

Extensive Pond Tips Lime in winter if needed. Nutrients for the bloom in spring right before natural reproduction of fish – Utilize the natural green water to provide the foundation of the trophic system

Moderately Intensive Pond Management Requirements: Med-High – Feed the fish conservatively – Occasional monitoring of DO, especially in warm months May use color as indicator – Uses natural productivity of phytoplankton to produce oxygen Yield- Catfish – 1,500lbs/acre without aeration (30lbs feed/acre/day) Risk- Med-High Examples: Catfish ponds Production ponds

Intensive Pond Management Requirements: Med-High – Feed the fish daily, close to satiation. – Regular monitoring of DO – Be prepared to aerate, most likely will need aeration nightly late in summer – Uses natural productivity of phytoplankton to produce oxygen Later in year these will also cause major drawdown at night Yield- Catfish – 5-10,000lbs/acre in south with aeration (up to 150lbs feed/acre/day) Risk- Med-High Examples: Catfish ponds Production ponds

Intensive Pond Pros: Grows more fish Greater return per acre More uniform growth Yield goes up with inputs Cons: Higher costs/acre Higher Risk Labor intensive Feed inputs drive water quality problems Have little idea of fish inventory

Cage Culture Management Requirements-Low to High – Use of a complete feed – Could require aeration – Water quality in the cage is always worse than the water outside the cage. – Can be managed by one person. – Can grow different kinds of fish in one pond. – Pond does not have to be drained. Yields- lower than intensive ponds Risk: Moderate Examples: Personal use cages-most common in WV holding fish for market growing fingerlings to a larger size so they can be released without being eaten.

Cage Culture Pros: Greater production per cubic foot of confinement space Utilizes larger body of water Utilizes natural productivity Production is based on input Easy to harvest Can sample fish to find out standing crop easily Seasonal operation can lead to extra income or food source Cages are relatively cheap to make Fertility benefits other fish in the pond. (e.g. trout in a bass-bluegill pond) Cons: Cost of cages Potential for escape. Disease risk Poaching/predators Windy location or device to circulate water desirable Supplemental aeration Can have low DO issues inside cage

Cage Culture Tips Mesh should be as large as it can be not to release the fish Have a top that locks Place in areas where they will not be disturbed Place the widest part of the cage perpendicular to the prevailing wind Demand feeders reduce work effort Space cages with at least 10 feet between them Place in water with at least two feet of water below catge

Raceway Culture Management Requirements-Low to High – Use of a complete feed – Could require aeration Yields- Depends on flow and oxygen – RMF about.5lb/gallon trout carrying capacity Risk: Med Examples: Trout farms

Raceway Culture Pros: Can grow a lot of fish in a small space. Risk easily managed – especially with gravity flow. Labor efficient Water quality manageable, usually not a problem Easy to harvest Can have multiple sizes of fish Very efficient feeding is possible See the fish, can monitor fish health Cons: Facility Cost Need a good Spring or groundwater and lots of it. Disease Easy to poach Hard to treat with exact dose rates Must maintain water flow

WVU Reymann Memorial Farm Hardy County

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Management- High – Use of a complete feed – Requires aeration – Must have biological filter – Electrically intensive – Water quality must be managed Yields: –.25/gallon is feasible – up to 1lb/gallon Risk: High Examples: Aquariums Blue Ridge Aquaculture

Pros: High production per unit water Complete control Easy to harvest Easy to monitor animal health Low environmental impact. Good FCRs should be possible Cons: Cost/unit production is high Must have backup system and even a backup to the backup. Expensive system and system components Energy intensive Little time to correct a mistake Usually must discharge high nutrient waste water Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

The Freshwater InstituteJefferson County

In Pond Raceways Management Requirements: Med-High – Uses airlift system or paddle wheel to drive water through raceways – Uses natural productivty to maintain water quality and provide oxygen – Allows for multiple species to be grown – High yields based on polyculture Yield- Catfish – As high as 17,000 pounds an acres in south(catfish, tilipia, paddlefish) Risk- Med-High

In Pond Raceways Pros: More return per acre More uniform growth Easy harvest Efficient feeding Uses pond to the fullest of its ability More efficient Cons: Investment cost Requires an energy source. Parasite and disease transmittance increases

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Aquaponics Management- High – Should use a complete feed – Requires aeration – Must have biological filter, media bed can serve as biofilter and plant bed – Water quality managed with plants – Fish culture should be secondary to the plants Yields: – Same as RAS, but not needed – Plants traditionally yield twice that of soil based crops Risk: Moderate Examples: Blue Ridge Aquaculture RMF- unique flow through Backyard systems

Pros: Uses 10% of traditional agriculture Grows protein and plants Water quality is managed by natural plant and bacterial processes System is more robust typically than RAS alone Multiple revenue streams More bang for your buck on inputs Added value to plant products due to growing style Cons: Must have backups in intensive systems Expensive system and system components Must find market for more products More work than RAS alone In temperate climate, greenhouses will most likely be necessary All your friends will be bugging you all of the time to should them how its done Aquaponics