Sustainable Fish Farming: 5 Strategies to Get

Aquaculture Growth Right

by Richard Waite, Michael Phillips (WorldFish) and Randall Brummett (World Bank) -
June 04, 2014

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On average, farmed fish convert feed to edible food as efficiently as poultry, making them an
attractive option for expanding the global animal protein supply. However, as with all forms of
food production, aquaculture isn’t without its environmental impacts. Photo credit:
WorldFish/Mike Lusmore/Duckrabbit

This post is an installment of WRI’s blog series, “Creating a Sustainable Food Future.” The
series explores strategies to sustainably feed 9 billion people by 2050. All pieces are based on
research being conducted for the forthcoming World Resources Report. Check out more posts in
this series.
The world’s appetite for fish is steadily growing. Finfish and shellfish currently make up one-
sixth of the animal protein people consume globally. As the global wild fish catch peaked in the
1990s, aquaculture—or fish farming—has grown rapidly to meet world fish demand, more than
doubling production between 2000 and 2012. New research shows that aquaculture
production will need to more than double again between now and 2050 to meet the
demands of a growing population.

The question is: Can aquaculture grow sustainably?

WRI partnered with WorldFish, the World Bank, INRA, and Kasetsart University to explore this
question. Our new paper, Improving Productivity and Environmental Performance of
Aquaculture, examines aquaculture’s environmental footprint today and explores various
scenarios of aquaculture growth to 2050. It uncovers several strategies that can lessen
aquaculture’s environmental impacts while also ensuring that fish farming provides employment
and nutritious food to millions more people.
Aquaculture’s Impacts: Encouraging Trends, but Challenges Remain

On average, farmed fish convert feed to edible food as efficiently as poultry, making them an
attractive option for expanding the global animal protein supply. However, as with all forms of
food production, aquaculture isn’t without its environmental impacts.

As aquaculture began to boom in the 1990s, several concerns emerged such as the clearing of
mangroves to make way for shrimp farms in Asia and Latin America, increased use of fishmeal
and fish oil made from wild marine fish, and the generation of water pollution and shrimp and
fish diseases. The aquaculture industry has greatly improved performance over the past 20 years,
producing more farmed fish per unit of land and water, lowering the share of fishmeal and fish
oil in many aquaculture feeds, and largely stopping mangrove conversion.

However, doubling aquaculture production without further increasing the industry’s efficiency
could lead to a doubling of environmental impacts. And unless the aquaculture industry is able to
boost productivity, the limited availability of land, water, and feed may constrain its growth.

Getting Aquaculture Growth Right: 5 Approaches

Our report recommends five approaches to help get aquaculture growth right:

1. Invest in technological innovation and transfer. Aquaculture is a young industry—

decades behind that of livestock farming. Improvements in breeding technology, disease
control, feeds and nutrition, and low-impact production systems are interlinked areas
where science can complement traditional knowledge to improve efficiency. These sorts
of innovations—whether led by farmers, research institutions, companies, or
governments—have been behind productivity gains in every part of the world. For
example, in Vietnam, a breakthrough in catfish breeding around the year 2000—
complemented by widespread adoption of high-quality pelleted feed—unlocked a boom
in production growth and intensification. Vietnamese catfish production grew from
50,000 tons in 2000 to more than 1 million tons in 2010, even though the country’s total
catfish pond area only doubled during that time.
2. Focus beyond the farm. Most aquaculture regulations and certification schemes focus at
the individual farm level. But having many producers in the same area can lead to
cumulative environmental impacts—such as water pollution or fish diseases—even if
everyone is following the law. Spatial planning and zoning can ensure that aquaculture
operations stay within the surrounding ecosystem’s carrying capacity and can also lessen
conflicts over resource use. Norway’s zoning laws, for example, ensure that salmon
producers are not overly concentrated in one area, reducing disease risk and helping
mitigate environmental impacts.
3. Shift incentives to reward sustainability. A variety of public and private policies can
give farmers incentives to practice more sustainable aquaculture. For example, Thailand’s
government has provided shrimp farmers operating legally in aquaculture zones with
access to free training, water supply, and wastewater treatment. The government has also
provided low-interest loans and tax exemptions to small-scale farmers—helping them
 adopt improved technology that increased productivity, reducing pressure to clear new
land.
4. Leverage the latest information technology. Advances in satellite and mapping
technology, ecological modeling, open data, and connectivity mean that global-level
monitoring and planning systems that encourage sustainable aquaculture development
may now be possible. A platform integrating these technologies could help governments
improve spatial planning and monitoring, help the industry plan for and demonstrate
sustainability, and help civil society report success stories and hold industry and
government accountable for wrongdoing.
5. Eat fish that are low on the food chain. Fish farming can ease pressure on marine
ecosystems if farmed fish don’t need large amounts of wild fish in their diets. Consumers
should therefore demand species that feed low on the food chain—“low-trophic” species
such as tilapia, catfish, carp, and bivalve mollusks. In emerging economies, where
consumption of low-trophic species is still dominant, emphasis should continue with
these species even as billions of people enter the global middle class in coming decades.
At the same time, because fish are a major source of nutrition for more than a billion poor
people in the developing world, growing aquaculture to meet the food and nutritional
needs of these consumers will be essential.

With the global wild fish catch stagnant and the human population increasing, aquaculture is
here to stay. The world, therefore, needs to get its growth right—and ensure that fish farming
contributes to a sustainable food future.
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FEASIBILITY STUDY ON FISH FARMING Feasibility study on fish farming do vary

due to the; (1)location (2)cost of laboure (3)cost of materials (4)cost of feeding (5)cost of
fingerling (fish seed) (6) water (7)Marketing In carring out feasibility study in an area
this conditions must be satisfied. Feasibility Study on fish Farming business in nigeria –
fish farming Setting up a facility for catfish farming is a large investment. The most
major investment for a catfish farm is the construction of the pond for catfish growing.
Once the pond was cut into and the locality has been evolved, there is not anything one
can do to undo the work and retrieve the cost. And so, extensive evaluation must be
finished by somebody desireing to start a catfish farm before he finally concludes if it is
shrewd for him to chase the project. Pre-Construction Considerations LOCATION In fish
farming the area or location plays important role in deciding the type of pond to be
constructed. For example an area with swampy environment is useful in fish farming but
the suitable pond to be constructed is earthen pond. Pond Design and Construction One
major consideration in designing a pond for catfish production is the flatness or steepness
of the area and the source of water supply. For a generally flat area that has access to a
well, a levee pond could be built. Watershed ponds are built for steeper areas near a
natural source of water. The depth of the pond is also crucial as this influences the
availability of oxygen for the fish. And so is the amount of fish per surface acre of water.
Check catfish growing manuals for standards to adhere to. Catfish Farming Operation
and Management COST FOR FEEDING The cost of feeding varies depending on the
quality of feed in consideration. Foreign feeds are more costly, example cupens is sold
above 5,000 naira, while local feeds cost below 4,500 naira. The cost of producing the
feed locally which will still maintain the the high level crude protien equal to the foreign
feed.

1. 2. Another important section of feasibility study on fish farming is the marketing aspect.
In fish business the size of the fish determines the market. Consumers and retailers like
big fish than small fish when your fish grows big, the market will be looking for you. A
farmer can also go into smoking his/her own fish to enhance its market hence most of the
fish consumers likes smoked fish than fresh ones no mater the size of the fish. For one to
get the most profit for a catfish harvest, it is necessary to determine buyer requirements
when planning the season’s production. Consider what buyers demand in terms of
weight, frequency, size and price. One can sell the season’s harvest to fish processors or
directly to consumer. The latter results a greater return to the farmer. Feasibility study on
fish farming The feasibility study is updated before we send it to you. Here is what we
provide - * Provide you with an exclusive plan; not found in anywhere else. * Renew the
plan to reflect present economic state not those of years ago! * Use unique information
from sector experts, accountants and trade associations to ensure the plan is current. *
Use information from successful companies including tips and industry secrets so that
you can grow your business successfully. * Tell you how you can get new customers, and
keep the ones you already have, in the current complicated economic situation.
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Present Situation of aquaculture in Nigeria Aquaculture
Production in Nigeria Aquaculture Policy Environment at National and State Levels
Success potential Skills and abilities for success Production feasibility MARKET
 ANALYSIS Overview Product description Financial projections Competitors marketing
analysis Proposed Marketing Strategy TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Operational Details
and Structure
2. 3. Machinery/Equipment Requirements, housing, drugs and feeding Raw materials and
sources MANPOWER REQUIREMENT, MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
Management Personnel requirement Organization structure INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
Mathematical formula for catfish cost production in Nigeria Capital/initial Cost Pre-
Operating Expenses Cost production of 50,000 fingerlings Hatchery unit and expected
returns (cost of feed, cost of fingerlings, survival rates and sale price of the catfish) in a
year Cost production of 50,000 Grow-out pond unit and expected returns (cost of feed,
cost of fingerlings, survival rates and sale price of the catfish) in a year Cost production
of 50,000 smoked fish and expected returns (cost of smoking, weight after smoking, and
price of smoked fish) Feasibility study on fish farming do vary due to the; (1) Location
(2) Cost of labour (3) Cost of materials (4) Cost of feeding (5) Cost of fingerling (fish
seed) (6) Water (7) Marketing In carrying out feasibility study in an area this conditions
must be satisfied. LOCATION In fish farming the area or location plays important role in
deciding the type of pond to be constructed. For example an area with swampy
environment is useful in fish farming but the suitable pond to be constructed is earthen
pond. When the site located for fish farm is swampy, earthen pond will be the most fitted.
When the site located is not swampy but the soil has a high water retaining capacity,
earthen pond can also be ideal for such site. A bushy forest with lot of trees may cost a lot
of money and must be avoided if the chosen site has water, it
3. 4. will be of more advantage. Earthen pond is cheaper to construct and has high
productivity in terms of fish culture. When there is a nearby flowing stream close to the
site can be diverted and as water source and can be built a flow through pond system
which is more intensive and has high production level in terms of fast growing of the
cultured fish.

CONCRETE POND

Concrete pond can be constructed or built in any chosen site apart from heavy swampy
area to avoid high cost in construction. In building or constructing concrete pond, the
farmer should make provision for bore hole for water supply or alternatively buy water.
A little or total shade must be provided.

COST OF LABOUR

Cost of labour varies as labour can be cheaper at one area than the other, and is very
important in constructing earthen pond because to much labour needed for excavation.
Labour must be involved and cost is very important to be considered during preparation
of feasibility study.

COST OF MATERIALS

Cost of materials is very important hence pond cannot stand without putting one material
or the other together for example: (1) Cement, sand and gravel. (2) Inlets and outlets
facilities such as: joints, valves, glues, PVC pipes, etc. The cost of all these must be
considered must be considered during feasibility study.

COST FOR FEEDING

The cost of feeding varies depending on the quality of feed in consideration. Foreign
feeds are more costly, example cupens is sold above 5,000 Naira, while local feeds cost
below 4,500 Naira. The cost of producing the feed locally which will still maintain the
high level crude protein equal to the foreign feed.

MARKETING

Another important section of feasibility study is the marketing aspect. In fish business the
size of the fish determines the market. Consumers and retailers like big fish than small
fish when your fish grows big, the market will be looking for you. A farmer can also go
into smoking his/her own fish to enhance its market hence most of the fish consumers
likes smoked fish than fresh ones no mater the size of the fish. Feasibility study also
gives the farmer an overview of what he/she needs to know about the business, the cost
of starting and revenue or gain he /she is expecting to make at end of the business.