FISH FARMING A PROFITABLE BUSINESS Guidelines for Site Selection, Pond Designing, Es aaa Management Strategy, Economics and Other Aspects of Fish Culture SILVER CARP BIG HEADContents Sr. No. TITLE Page no. + Introduction 1 > Site Selection 1 3- | Lay of the land 1 4- | Soil Sampling 2 5- | Types of Ponds 3 6- _ | Pond Designing 4 7- | Management Strategy 4 a) Water quality and quantity 4 b) Water quality Management 5 c) Fertilization 6 d) Stocking densities ~ 7 e) Fish Growth E 8 f) Supplementary feed 9 9) Feeding of Grass Carp 10 8- Economics of One Acre Fish Farm 12 9- | Management Calendar 13FISH FARMING A Profitable Business Guidelines for Site Selection Pond Designing, Management Strategy Economics and other Aspects of Fish Culture DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES PUNJAB1. INTRODUCTION This brochure provides essential technical information for the person interested in getting into the fish farming business in Punjab. The report focuses directly on step-by-step recommendations to fallow for a successful aquaculture venture in the Punjab. If further information is desired prior to enter into the fish farming business, the extension personnel of the Punjab Department of Fisheries should be contacted. Not every site is suitable for aquaculture, and not everyone should get into the fish farming business; the entrepreneur will have to examine his resources, both site-specific and financial, before breaking ground on the proposed facility. But if the site is appropriate and good management is practiced, a fish farming venture will provide the greatest economic return of any agricultural enterprise as well as an important high quality protein source for rapidly increasing population of the country. : os In addition to information provided on all aspects of fish farming specific to the Punjab, a flow of farm activities are provided for a calendar year in order that the entrepreneur and the farm manager can better anticipate and plan labour and financial resources. 2. SITE SELECTION Special consideration should be given to the location of the proposed facility. It should be located in an area that is not subject to frequent flooding, have enough elevation that it can be pumped dry at least during the dry season, have the proper soil so as not to seep excessively, have an adequate water supply year around, have market road access even during the rainy season, and be away from agricultural activities that would include the spray application of pesticides. 3. LAY OF THE LAND The proposed fish farm site will require proper surveying to determine the slope and tay of the land as weil as highest point of the site to take advantage of the natural slope by allowing the water to flow as much as possible by gravity, and by having the least amount of soil excavated for the proposed ponds.The more work that gravity can do, is the lowering of the operational costs of the fish farm. Thus, a slight slope to the lay of the land is desirable. Flat land, however, can and often is utilized for fish farms; though one must be aware that all management of water on flat land (initial fill and subsequent replenishment) will be by pumping. If there is a natural slope to the land, the tubewell should be drilled at the higher point, the water distribution channels should be placed on top of the pond dikes, and the drainage channels from the ponds should be at the lowest point of the land. Every effort should be made to utilize the natural attributes of the land to minimize capital costs and to facilitate the operational efficiency. 4. SOIL SAMPLING Soil samples should be taken from the proposed site. They should be from the surface, and from a depth that will represent that bottom of the ponds and slightly below: for example, if three feet of soil are anticpated to be excavated for the construction of the pond, the soil sample should be taken from between three and four feet deep. A soil sample is taken by drilling a soil auger in to the desired depth, and removing the auger. Atleast one kg soil in the head of the auger is then placed in a plastic bag and taken. The bag should be labeled with the name of the farm, the location, and the depth at which the soil sample was taken and then send it to the nearest soil testing laboratory of the Punjab Fisheries Department. The required lab tests are pH, soil composition (the ratio of sand to silt to clay), total dissolved salts, calcium and magnesium etc. Clay is most desirable for water retention in the fish ponds. If the soil is sandy at the surface but contains sufficient clay at an accessible depth, the sandy soil should be excavated completely, and the clay used for the final layers of the pond bottom and pond banks. In addition to this. two field tests can also be accomplished to give an idea of soil composition and permeability: a ‘squeeze’ test and a water retention test. The squeeze test simply requires that the soil sampled from the requested depth be moistened until damp, then squeezed together: if there is enough clay to construct ponds for a fish farm, the soil will form together in the shape of the hand, and indented sharply between the fingers if there is too much sand, the sample will not form the finger indentations well. 2A water retention test will confirm the clay content: a hole three feet in diameter and three to four feet deep should be dug and filled with water to the top. For two days, the hole should be refilled to saturate the soil with water in the hole. The hole should then be refilled on last time, covered with plastic to minimize evaporation, and the water loss due to seepage should not lose more than one to two inches of water per day. The hole should not lose more than one to two inches of water per day. If the loss is greater than this, the pond will require a clay lining of at least six inches in depth; otherwise the cost of adding water for seepage will increase the operational costs of the project. 5. TYPES OF PONDS There are four types of fish ponds: barrage, excavated, elevated and combination excavated / elevated. (i) Barrage ponds: These types of ponds are most appropriate in hilly areas. This type of pond Is constructed by buildings a dam across a low point in a valley that may have intermittent water flow. The barrage dam captures the surface runoff, and a crop of fish can be raised in this water. This type of pond is the least expensive to construct and most appropriate for a hilly area; however, it is more difficult to manage than ponds with a more regular shape (See Figure 1). 0) Excavated Ponds: These are most appropriate in low- lying areas. Often this pond type will not be drainable because of natural seepage into the pond; because of the inability to dry the pond bottom, these low-lying sites are generally least preferred to build the fish farm. (See Figure 2) (iii) Elevated ponds: Can only be built when the soil contains high clay content. The water supply almost always has to be pumped; however, gravity can often be utilized for drainage.(See Figure 3) (iv) Excavated/Elevated ponds: The most appropriate pond type for most areas of the Punjab is the combination excavated/elevated pond. If the soil has sufficient clay content, the dikes can be built from the soil that is removed during pond excavation; thus excavation costs are minimized. Additionally, because the pond is not Ficompletely excavated, it can be partially drained by gravity. (See Figure 4). Size Of Ponds The grow-out ponds should be from one-acre to two and a half acres area. The nursery ponds should be from one to four kanals. The total nursing pond area should be one sixth of the total production area. Ponds should have an inflow structure that protects the ponds bank from erosion while aerating the water. Ponds should also have outflow structures that regulate their water level, and have an ample catch basin. (See Figure 5 and 6). 6. POND DESIGN Preferably a rectangular shaped production/nursing pond is most desirable as it can be managed easily. It can be ‘constructed by excavating 2 to 2.5 feet soil and then elevating it 4.5 to 5.0 feet. The crest of the embankment should be 10-15 feet and inner slope 1:2 and bed slope 1:100 towards harvest basin (see Figure 7). The depth of production ponds should be 6.5 ~ 7.5 feet and Nursing pond should be of 5.5 - 6 feet. 7. MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Prior to the initial filling of a newly constructed pond, five times the amounts of fertilizers either in Case 1 or Case 2 should be added in the pond. An aggressive fertilization programme should be implemented to develop and maintain a robust algal bloom throughout the year as the primary source of food for all of the Major/Chinese Carps. 7-a. Water Quality and Quantity Water should be sourced from a tubeivell. Irrigation canal water comes from the entire catchment area of the drainage; thus it carries high loads of silt, and is subject to changes in environmental conditions and water quality (i.e. temperature changes, rainfall silt loadings, alkali salt runoff, etc.) It may also carry a large number of trash / carnivorous fish. 47-b. The water guality of the tubewell should be analyzed. The temperature and dissolved oxygen should be tested at the site; a sample should be taken in a one litre bottle capable of being sealed, and transported immediately to a Department of Fisheries lab for further analyses. Totaf alkalinity, pH, total nitrogen, salinity, and total dissolved solids (conductivity) are required. The Punjab typically has high quality, slightly alkaline water (alkalinities greater than 100 mg/liter, pH greater than 7.5). This is a desirable characteristic for fish culture, At the tubewell source, however, the water often has low or no dissolved oxygen. This can be overcome by constructing inflow splash pads to break up and aerate the inflow water to the pond. The tubewell should have the capacity to pump sufficient water to make up for seepage and evaporative loss. If the farm is designed correctly and has sufficient clay content in the soils, a 10 surface acre farm will require a minimum pumping capacity of 1 cubic foot per second. Additional water may be required if the seepage rate and evaporative loss combined is anticipated to be greater than 2 cm per day, and if more complex water quality Management strategies are to be incorporated (see ‘Water Quality Management’). Water Quality Management Water colour is a good indicator of the pond water quality. A good robust green colour is most desirable, maintainable by the addition of fertilizers when the green starts to fade to a light brown. Transparency of the water gives a direct indicator of the intensity of the plankton bloom. A secchi disk reading of 30-40 cm is recommended. Water quality should be managed for fastest fish growth and optimum fish health. Since we do not have an adequate supplemental fish feed at this time, all of the food the fish consumes (except fodder for the grass carp) are produced by plankton blooms within the pond. Thus, better the plankton bloom is managed (see fertilization), the faster the fish will grow. The fodder fed to grass carp also functions as manure in the pond; be aware that the rate of cow dung application will have to be Jessened if the feeding rate of fodder is heavy.In the presence of phytoplankton, photosynthesis increases as the sun rises through the day. With the increase in photosynthetic activity, pond chemistry changes: carbon dioxide is consumed and oxygen is liberated in this reaction. At sunset, with the cessation of photosynthetic activity, transpiration begins; oxygen is then uptaken and carbon dioxide is liberated. During this 24-hour cycle, the lowest dissolved oxygen occurs in the early morning, just prior to sunrise. Dissolved oxygen levels in the pond should be monitored at this time regularly by the farm manager. Gathering of fish at the surface particularly at this time is an indicator of oxygen depletion in the pond water, it should be rectified forthwith through the addition of fresh water. If this situation does not improve the Fisheries expert should immediately be contacted. Fertilization Nitrogen and phosphorus are the primary nutrients required to stimulate phytoplankton growth. In Pakistan, we have two sources of organic fertilizers, chicken and cow manure. The recommended inorganic fertilizers are Urea, Di-ammonium Phosphate, single super phosphate, ammonium sulphate and Nitrophos. The following two combinations of manure/fertilizers applied per surface acre yield approximately the same, amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous: For Acidic and Neutral Soil For Alkaline Soil Case 1 Case 2 Di-ammonium Phosphate 5 kghweek Ammonium Sulphate 2 kglweek Urea 1.5 kglweek Nitrophos 2 kglweek ‘Cow manure '500 kgiweek Single Super Phosphate 2 kalweek Di-ammonium Phosphate 2 kghveek Urea 1 kgfweek Urea 1.5 kgiweek Cowdung of Chicken 200 kgiweek Chicken manure 300 kglweek Manure Following manure with liquid fertilizers can also be used to * enhance productivity of water particularly in Alkaline areas of the Province. i) Phosphorus plus : 5 kg/acre/week ii) Urea : 5 kg/acre/week iii) Cowdung or : 250 kg/acre/week chicken manure iv) Neutricalcium —: ~—-:10 kg/acre/fortnight7-d. Different fertilizers require ferent application procedures: manures should be spread evenly throughout the pond bottom prior to filling as mentioned above i.e. five times of the case 1 or 2. The inorganic fertilizers urea and others except DAP dissolves quite rapidly, and can be placed directly into the pond water; Di-ammonium Phosphate, however, requires considerably more effort to dissolve and should be mixed with water in a bucket or basin and dissolved as much as possible prior to distribution in the pond. Fertilizers should be added on regular basis throughout the warmer months to sustain the plankton bloom. Water transparency is a direct indicator of the intensity of the bloom (see ‘Water Quality Management). A secchi disk reading of 30-40 cm is recommended for nursery and grow-out ponds. If the transparency is greater than these recommendations, either case 1 or 2 should be applied to the pond; this can occur as often as once every week, depending on the amount of sunlight and the intensity of the bloom. Water colour due to the plankton bloom is also a good indicator; a robust green colour is the most desirable, maintainable by the addition of fertilizers when the green starts to fade to brown. Stocking Densities The desired final size of the fish within a designated period of time is determined by the environmental conditions of the pond, the stocking densities of the various polycultures species (See Figures No. 8-13), and the availability and application of the required resources necessary to maintain the optimum conditions for growth (i.e. water flow, supplemental fertilization). The most marketable size fish for the Punjab province weighs approximately 1-2.0 kg. This is attainable in an eight months culture period (March through October). If 100-200 gram advanced fingerlings are stocked, and the stocking density recommendations and fertilization application rates are followed. For each surface acre of pond area, the final product definition is 1000-1200 kg of 1.5 kg fish per culture period. To obtain this final pond weight and individual fish size, the following polyculture stocking recommendations are made: The recommended ratio of species is;Labeo rohita (Rohu) Cirrhnius mrigala (Mori) Catla catla (Thaila) Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Silver carp) Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass carp) HNyeew To obtain a final weight of 1000-1200 kg of 1.5 kg fish per surface acre, 750 fish per acre are required at harvest. Allowing for a maximum of 10% mortality, 825 fish per acre are to be stocked. The 825 fish are split according to the above stocking ratio, resulting in the following species requirements per surface are stocked: Labeo rohita (Rohu) 310 Cirrhnius mrigala (Mori) 103 Catla catia (Thaila) 103 Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Silver carp) 206 Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass carp) 103 825 Fingerlings are required to be at least 100-150 grams each. To obtain fingerlings of this size, the farmer is required to have a nursery to grow the fingerting stock from approximately 10 grams to the desired 150 grams during the growth period. Fish Growth Growth is defined as weight gain during a period of time. Fish are cold-blooded animals, and as such, their metabolic rate is governed directly by the ambient water temperature. Every species has an optimum temperature for growth (OTG), a temperature at which all of its physiological functions are optimized, including growth rate and resistance to disease. Although the OTG has not been precisely determined for the Major and Chinese Carps, the available empirical growth data suggests that their OTG occurs at approximately 25-30°C At temperature higher than this, a thermal stress occurs, resulting in an excessive metabolic rate, reduced growth, increased oxygen consumption, and greater susceptibility to disease. If temperatures are significantly high than 30°C to keep 87-f. at the desirable extent, the management strategy should be to add new water to the pond. Growth monitoring of all species are required at thirty- days intervals, and at the final harvest. These interval data are utilized to help/adjust the feeding rates of the grass carp, and the fertilization rates for the rest of the polycultured species. The desired final product for all species is a 1.5 kg fish at harvest. Supplementary Feeding In a well managed fertilized pond enough food will be produced to permit the silver, rohu, mori and thaila to attain marketable size in a prescribed growth period. All species including the specialist plankton feeders (silver and thaila) will accept supplemental feeds and additional weight gain may be realized, but the bottom and water column feeding species (rohu and mori) may receive the most benefit, especially if the amount of organic material in the pond is limited. Four rules should be followed when feeding fish. First, a regular feeding schedule must be followed, because infrequent feeding will have little measurable effect on growth. The fish should be fed, on daily basis during the warm months prior to harvest. Second, the quantity of feed given must be calculated by the farmer based on actual sample weight data collected at the end of each month. Third, the fish must be fed at the same time each day, and at the same place in the pond. The fish will quickly become accustomed to being fed, and will often move to the feeding area as soon as the farmer appears at the edge of the pond. This practice helps the farmers to avoid wasting feed. Fourth, the farmer must carefully observe feeding behaviour and determine the extent to which the fish are consuming the feed given. The following table shows some simple feeds and feed mixtures for supplemental feeding of carp. The most common supplemental feeds used in the Punjab are rice bran or polishings. These feeds are relatively inexpansive, but their low protein content necessitates that relatively large amounts be fed to the fish. Simple mixture of rice bran or polishings and any of the oilseed cakes commonly available in the Punjab can also be used. Addition of fish meal further improves the nutritional value 97-G. and increases the protein content of the feed. Although the cost of feed will increase with increasing protein content, the greater cost may be offset with higher growth rates and yield per unit feed intake. The farmer must maintain good records to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with the use of different feeds under the conditions at his own farm. Recommended Name of Percentage " 4 feeding Rate Ingredient of Ingredient (delly) = Rice bran/ Rice 45% 2-3% body weight pera Uae for fish in production -5' - Maize glutin 30% pondearid easeaeios (30% Protein) body weight of fish = Sunflower oil cake 10% seed in Nursery - Fish meal 5% on ti Mallases 10% Supplemental feeds and feed mixtures must never be fed dry, since the materials quickly disperse and become unavailable to the fish. Instead, the feed should be mixed with enough water to form a sticky ball. Balls of feed measuring 2-4 inches in diameter may be carefully placed in the pond at the designated feeding areas, where they will be readily located and consumed by the fish. The fish should be fed slowly, and the farmer must stop feeding the fish when there is no feeding activity and also in cloudy / rainy days. Feeding of Grass Carp The natural diet of grass carp larger than about 30 mm is almost exclusively macrovegeta' jally tender aquatic weeds, and later, other aquatic vegetation and the softer land plants. Availability of aquatic macrovegetation in fish ponds is usually limited, so the farmer has to provide supplementary feed. Grass carp will accept a variety of supplemental feeds, including rice bran and polishings, oil seed cake, etc. However the most common method is to cut grass and feed it directly to 10the fish in the pond. Soft grasses should be selected, cut and fed daily. The amount of feed required will increase with as the fish increase in size. The amount to feed can be estimated using the following relationships. First, grass carp will consume their weight in fodder every day. If you know the approximate weight of the fish, you can estimate how much fodder to feed per day. Second, grass carp consume about 40 kg. of fodder for every 1.0 kg of gain in weight. Fodder should be placed in the same area of the pond at each feeding, and held in place with a floating enclosure constructed of bamboo or wood scraps. Grass carp should be given one morning feeding, and frequent observations made on how much is consumed over the course of the day. The fish should be able to completely consume the fodder by the end of the day. Coarse stalks of the plants and uneaten fodder should be removed at the end of each day, otherwise, it may cause ‘oxygen depletion in the pond water. WLECONOMICS OF ONE ACRE FISH FARM Capital Cost Buldozer Tractor - _ Excavation/compaction of Rs. 60,000/- 80,000/- pond embankments. - Cost of water channel Rs. 30,000/- 30,000/- Inletiout flow structure + Miscellaneous Rs. 10,000/- 10,000/- Total “A” Rs.100,000/- 120,000/- B. Recurring Expenses + Initial filing and subsequent Rs. 60,000/- Replenishment of water. - Cost of fish seed Rs. 6,000/- = Manure J Fertilizers Rs. 36,000/- - Supplementary feed Rs. 15,000/- - Fodder for grass carp Rs, 8,000/- = O&M and other charges Rs, 24,000/- Total “B” Rs.148,000/- Gross Income (1300 kg fish @ Rs.200/- per kg) Rs. 2,60,000 Net Income (Gross income — Recurring expenses) Rs. 1,12,000 Note: The installation of a tubewell and employment of full ime personnel for one acre fish farm is un economical. However, a commercial scale fish farm of 8-10 acre is economically viable.Month January February March April May June ine Yi lendar of Far Grow-out Pond Dry pond to cracking Plough the pond bottom until smooth and spread organic manure evenly on bottom, Fill the pond with water Add inorganic fertilizers, disperse evenly Transfer advanced fingerlings from the nursery pond to the grow-out pond. water at required Apply fertilizers at the required levels. Maintain water at required level. Apply manures/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth on monthly basis. Maintain water at required level. Apply manure/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth. 13 Nursery Pond Maintain water at required level. Maintain water at required level. Harvest advanced fingerlings and shift to grow out ponds. Drain out water and teave for Sun dry. Dry pond to cracking. Plough the pond until smooth Spread organic manure evenly on bottom. Fill the pond with water. Add inorganic fertilizers, disperse evenly. Maintain water at required level, Stock with fingerlings of Silver, Grass Carps.July August September October November December Maintain water at required level. Apply manures/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth. Maintain water at required level. Apply manures/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth. Maintain water at required level. Apply manures/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth. Maintain water at required level. Apply manures/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth. Maintain water at required level. Initial harvest of fish by net and market. Harvest by draining entire pond, to market. Drain, dry pond. Maintain water at required level. Apply manure/fertilizers at the required levels. Stock with fry of Rohu, Mori, Thaila. Maintain water at required level. Apply fertilizers at the required levels. Maintain water at required level. Apply manure/fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth. Maintain water at required level. Apply fertilizers at the required levels. Monitor growth, Maintain water at required level. Maintain water at required levelBARRAGE TYPE POND Figure-t EXCAVATED POND Ground Level St Water Level Figure-2ELEVATED POND Figure-3 ELEVATED/EXCAVATED POND Figure-4GRAVITY DRAIN OUTFLOW STRUCTURE AND HARVEST BASIN ‘SECTION OF SIDE VIEW +20 w+ TOP VIEW Figure-S&, SECTION OF WALL CATCH BASIN AND MONK SIDE VIEW 3-5 m+ cM 2-0 w+} ae ae ae 0-5 TOP VIEW Figure.5+ Gate valve compacte. 6 Dia water. supoly pipe Grovnd Level 4 HIN 1 SLOPE TO UARVEST OASIN prTcK of cow.naRvest i aya spa a gto SECTION AT AA ‘SCALE 1207 nd 6 Dia water supply 150 Figure-7Culturable Fishes of Punjab Fay Silver Carpimeeniaincntys mame) 2 Big Head/ristiontnys nits)DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES GOVT. OF THE PUNJAB 2-SANDA ROAD, LAHORE. PH: 042-9212374-75, 37171265 Websites: www.fwf.punjab.gov.pk: www.punjabfisheries.gov.pk E-mail: fishdept@!