Cage Culture

Fish culture in ponds is the primary method of freshwater and brackish water fish culture.
However, there are other methods of fish culture used in places where pond culture is not
possible. Other methods of fish culture are those carried out in dams and reservoirs, cages, pens
and rice fields. Due to exponential growth in population and the great pressure on land for
habitation and agriculture, the large water resources such as tanks, lakes, reservoirs and canals,
which have been not exploited so far, can be used for augmenting fish production. Due to the
large water bodies, the management has complex problems. The best thing seems to be captive,
regulated culture of suitable fishes in impoundments installed in them. Cages and pens could be
utilized as nurseries for raising fish seed and for the grow-out of table fish. They dispense with
the need for land based nursery forms cutting down on the cost of seed production. Investment
on long distance transport of fingerlings for stocking reservoirs and handling mortality can be
avoided by in situ rearing of fry in cages and pen installed in them. One of the impoundment
cultures is in cages. Many countries are practicing cage culture of fishes and prawns
successfully. Cage culture has also been started in India recently.

3.1 Advantages of cage culture

The advantages of cage culture are

1. Large water bodies could be utilized better for fish culture.

2. The flowing water could be better utilized for fish culture.
3. Cage culture reduces demands on prime agricultural land for fish farm construction.
4. Free exchange of water is possible in cages.
5. High density stocking and intensive feeding of the stock can be achieved, which gives
high yield per unit area.
6. Decomposition and degradation of concentrated waste products do not arise in cage
culture.
7. Oxygen depletion cannot be found in cages.
8. Monitoring growth of the stock, diseases is easy
9. Considerable reduction or extreme compactness in the production area is thus achieved in
cages.
10. Several units of cages could be installed in a water body for gainful employment and
income.
11. Harvesting is simple and easy.
12. Considerable indirect employment will be generated.
13. With cage culture, the animal protein production can be increased.
14. The left over feed, fecal matter and metabolites enrich the water body in which cages are
installed.
3.2 Disadvantages of cage farming
Dr.C.V.Narasimha murthy. Associate professor (Contract), VSUPGCenter,Kavali. M.Sc.Zoology, notes-2016
 1. Cage farms disrupt navigation.
2. Cages increases sedimentation in that area.
3. Cages alter water flow
4. Cages farm alter the flora and fauna of that area
5. The release of uneaten food affects the water quality.
6. High DO content is to be maintained.
7. High quality balanced food is needed.
8. Cage culture is nearly impossible where the area is frozen for long period.
Stocking
The cultivable species of freshwater fish such as Indian major carps and exotic carps can
be grown in sewage-fed waters. Considering the high carrying capacity and high productivity of
sewage-fed ponds with respect to plankton and benthic fish food concentration, fish are usually
stocked at a reasonably higher density. The stocking rate recommended 10,000 - 15,000 /ha of
carp fingerlings of about 10 reach and it is preferred to stock more of omnivorous scavengers and
bottom feeders to maintain fish pond hygiene for higher yield. The ratio of carps for better output
is rohu 2.5: catla 1: Mrigal 2.5: common carp 2 : silver carp 2. Omnivores and bottom feeders
directly consume the organic detritus of sewage-fed ponds, and thereby directly helping in
keeping the pond aerobic. The stocking rate of fish is kept on higher side considering the profuse
growth of algae which will otherwise grow, decay, putrefy and finally deplete the oxygen
concentration of fish pond.

Ecological considerations and algal control

maintenance of aerobic conditions of the sewage-fed pond is highly essential and as such
early morning dissolved oxygen level should not deplete below 2 ppm for carps. The BOD
should be below 30 ppm for better survival of fishes. CO2 concentration should not be allowed
to increase beyond 20 ppm to keep the toxicity level within tolerance limit for fish and to control
algal blooms. Liming helps in regulatingCO2. Heavy metal pollution, if any, can be controlled
by introducing water hyacinth at the pond margins and barricading them with bamboo poles to
prevent spreading of the weed throughout the water surface of the pond.
Algal control is a must to maintain proper dissolved oxygen. It should be more than 2ppm
and optimal 5 - 6 ppm in a sewage-fed pond. The presence of silver carp regulates the algae in
the culture system. When biological control of algal bloom is not possible, application of
samisen at rate of 0.5 - 1 ppm is recommended.

Control of aquatic insect

Aquatic insects are found in sewage-fed ponds, especially more during winter months.
The insects of the pond mainly comprises hemiptera, coleopteran, odonata, zygoptera and
trichoptera. Dipteran insects dominate, especially the larval stages of Chironomids associated
Dr.C.V.Narasimha murthy. Associate professor (Contract), VSUPGCenter,Kavali. M.Sc.Zoology, notes-2016
with annelid worms of tubificidae. Other insect larvae of the sewage-fed ecosystem belong to
tubanidae, anthomyiodae, tetanocoridae, etc. The predacious hemiptera, coleoptera and a few
odonata, zygoptera are needed to be controlled. An emulsion of soap and vegetable oil at a rate
of 4 Kg/ha and in the ratio of 1:3 is applied to control these insects.

Harvesting and yield

After 5 - 6 months culture, when the biomass grows to an optimal level, the stocking
density is thinned out through periodical and partial harvesting. The water depth of the pond is
reduced by dewatering for final harvest when the fishes are removed by repeated drag netting. In
a mixed culture of five carp species in sewage-fed ponds, the yield rate varies from 5.4 - 8.6
t/ha/yr with an average production of 7 tonnes/ha/yr. The fishes are around 500 gr. to 1000 gr.
during culture operations.

The recurring expenditure on sewage-fed fish culture is meager compared to that of

fresh-water fish culture. This culture is lucrative and a fish farmer can obtain an income, on an
average of more than Rs.40, 000 /ha/yr. If Murrels are cultured in oxidation ponds and the excess
sewage is utilized for the cultivation of crops, the revenue could be further augmented.

Location of cages

The ideal location for cages is weed-free shallow waters. Flowing water is best for cage
culture. The site should have adequate circulation of water. The wind and wave action should be
moderate. The water should be free from pollution and weeds. The area should be easily
accessible. Cage culture can also be practiced in areas like swamps where there is water not
being used for any other purpose. Seed should be available in the vicinity. A ready market for
fish should be available near the site. Flowing waters with a slow current of 1 - 9 m/minutely is
considered ideal for cages. The cages should be a little away from the shores to prevent the
poaching and crab menace

Types of cages

Cages can be circular, cubic and basket like and the shape has little effect on yield rate.
Cages may be floating at the surface, just submerged or made to sit on the bottom. Floating cages
maybe the most appropriate for Indian conditions and the experiments conducted in our country
for seed rearing, grow out, nutrition and biomonitoring have been in such enclosures. The size of
the cage depends on the type of culture operation and the support facilities available. Large cages
are difficult to handle. Although the cost of small cages is higher, handlings easy with low risk of
losses. The nursery cages are generally of the floating type, while the ground cages may be
floating or immersed depending on the species cultured.

Construction of cages

Dr.C.V.Narasimha murthy. Associate professor (Contract), VSUPGCenter,Kavali. M.Sc.Zoology, notes-2016

 The type of material used for
cages will depend on the type of culture
whether they are used for fry or table
fish rearing. Bamboo inter spared with
wooden planks for cages is commonly
used in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand
and Kampuchea. Thick polythene
fibbers are used for cages in Japan.
Metallic grills are used in USA.
Aluminum frame and nylon webbing is
used for fabrication of cages in USSR
and West Germany. In our country,
fairly fine mesh nylon netting is used.
The cage material is used mainly
depending on their cost and availability.
Small cages with mats of locally

available plant materials such as palm

leaves. Cyprus Stem, Phragmites Stem
and split bamboo are used in India.
These cages are of 1 - 2 m2 area. Split bamboos are joined with the help of coir rope or nylon
twine. The cages are installed in the water body with bamboo supports at the four comers and the
bottom. Materials other than bamboo mats are decayed by the third month and collapsed within a
year. Split bamboo cages remain for over a year. Circular cages with thick bamboo stapes tied
with nylon twine the durability of over 3 years. Cages made up of monofilament woven material
of 1 - 3 mm mesh size and 0.3 - 1 mm thickness are light and easy to handle, but remain for 6 to
12 months.

A typical hexagonal cage with wooden frame work

The circular cages with conduit pipe structures which can be easily assembled have been
designed with nylon webbing in different dimensions. These cages are floated freely on the water
surface with the help of 3 - 4 sealed HDPP jerry cans. These are extremely useful for cage
culture. Due to their circular in shape the wave action in minimum. These can be moved from
place to place with least water resistance. Due to their circular shape, the rearing space is
Dr.C.V.Narasimha murthy. Associate professor (Contract), VSUPGCenter,Kavali. M.Sc.Zoology, notes-2016
maximum in side. The aeration and water
circulation is better in these cages. Fishes can move
in the cages with least obstruction. Auto-floating,
highly durable HDPP pipe frame nylon net cages
with 36 m2 area are also used. These are light in
weight and not need floats to float on the water
surface.

The size of the cages depend on die scale of

culture, species cultured, infrastructure, financial
and management resources. The size varies from 2- 1 0m3 in India, 100 - 1 50m3 in Indonesia,
60- 1 80m3 in Kampuchea. 40 - 625 m3 in Vietnam and 30 m3 in Holland. Large cages are
operated in Germany with 42 m diameter and 16,500 m3 at the water depth of 12 m. These are
provided with automatic or water jet pump-feeding, special handling and harvesting accessories.

A series of floating cages moored to a jetty along the shore

the fishes used for the cage culture should be adaptable to captive culture, fast growing,
hardy and disease resistant. The Indian and Chinese carps, tilapia and magur can also be cultured
where trash fish is cheaply and abundantly available. In Thailand and Kampuchea the cat fishes,
Pangasius species are being cultured in cages successfully. Koi and Singh are also cultured in
India in cages. In India, the nursery cages are stocked with carp fry at the range of 150-700
fry/in2 in cases with different materials. In Japan 15.000-62.000 fry/nr2 of grass carp fry are
stocked in nursery cages. The common carp stocking density is 150/nr2 in Kampuchea, 133 -
417/nv1in Indonesia and 80 - 360/nr2 in Vietnam. and in Thailand Pangasius sutchi, P. Larmmdi
and P. Micronemus fry are stocked at densities of 150-300/ nr2 in cages of size 1-10 m2 area
with a depth of 1. 5m.

The number of fish that can be stocked in a cage is variable and depends on the caning
capacity of the water area, water quality and rate of circulation, the fish species, the quality and
quantity of feed supplied. A safe level may be about 3000 to 6000 fish/ ha. In cable - fish rearing
cages in India, the fingerlings of carps are stocked at density of 30 - 38no /m2. The tilapia,
Oreochromis mossambicus Can be stocked aerate of 100 - 200 m-2. Murrells can be stocked at
density of 40-1 00m2.

Management and yield

The cage culture can be taken up in two phases - nursery phase and table - fish rearing
phase. In nursery phase of cage culture, the spawn or fry are reared to fingerling stage in 2-3
months. Different feeds cane used for culture in nursery cages. Groundnut oil cake, rice bran,
egg yolk, soybean cake, soya milk and soya flour are used as food for fry in nursery cages. The
Silkworm pupae are also tried as supplementary food. The initial size of fish to be stocked in the
Dr.C.V.Narasimha murthy. Associate professor (Contract), VSUPGCenter,Kavali. M.Sc.Zoology, notes-2016
cages will depend primarily on the length of the growing season and the desired size at harvest.
The carp fingerlings for stocking in 16-20 mm mesh cages should be over 10 gr. to expect a final
size of over 500 gr. within 6months.

It should be ensured that the fingerlings used for stocking are healthy and disease free.
All the fish should be actively moving. It is ideal to stock cages in the cool part of the day
In India, the growing season is almost year round, except for December - January in
northern parts, where the temperature is low during these winter months. Very little natural food
such as plankton, insects and various other organisms enter the cages and is available to fish.
However, supplementary feeding is essential in the cage culture to get high production. The
types of feed used will depend on the species cultured and their prevailing market prices.
Murrells, for example, require to be fed with fish, shrimps or other animal matter. Most of the
fish cultured are omnivorous and they accept both plant and animal byproducts such as oilcakes,
barns, fish meal and silk worm pupae.

Cage fish are generally fed at least once daily throughout the growing period to get better
growth. The quantity of feed to be given is important, since under-feeding will reduce growth
and production, while over-feeding will waste costly feed and can affect the water quality. A
method used to estimate the daily feed to be given in cages is based on the total weight of the
fish. The feed is usually expressed on percentage of body weight. In carps, the feeding rate is 4 -
5 % of the body weight per day until they attain approximately 100 gr. And thereafter at 2 - 3%.

In table-fish rearing phase, involving the high-tech system of saturated stocking and feeding on
enriched formulated feeds, the production recorded in common carp is 25 - 35 Kg m° month’1 in
foreign countries. The channel catfish,

Dr.C.V.Narasimha murthy. Associate professor (Contract), VSUPGCenter,Kavali. M.Sc.Zoology, notes-2016