Factors in Establishing and Managing a Fish Farm

What is Aquaculture?
Aquaculture is the managed cultivation of aquatic life like fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, and other
valuable organisms like aquatic plants.

Types of Aquatic Environment

There are 3 main types of aquatic environments, namely:
1. Freshwater Farming: This is the procedure of raising and breeding aquatic animals (tilapia,
shrimp, cascadura, and so on) and plants for commercial purposes.
2. Brackish Water Farming: This type of farming is used for tilapia rearing, oyster, and prawn
farming.
3. Saltor Seawater(marine) Farming: This type of farming is used for shrimp farming, sea moss
cultivation, turtle farming, and lobster farming.

Roles of Aquaculture
The local economy is being helped by aquaculture in numerous ways, these are:
● Increasing fish production
● Nutritional necessities are provided for the community
● promotion of employment for the locals
● Effective use of resources
● Importing of fish produces is reduced.

Production Systems
Extensive System:
Fish are taken from a nearby river and placed in ponds in large systems. Animal manure is used as a
fertilizer to encourage the growth of pondweed, which oxygenates the water and feeds the fish. This
system is inexpensive because it does not entail much labor or additional food for the fish.

Intensive Systems:
In intensive systems, conditions are strictly controlled in tanks or ponds. To ensure maximum growth
rate, the temperature is kept within the optimal range for the type of fish, and the oxygen levels and pH
are carefully monitored. Organic matter from farm sewage or silage is carefully monitored to ensure that
it does not enter the water. Blue-green algae, which can be toxic to fish, thrive in organic matter. Algal
blooms can also clog pipes and drains.
Ponds can be made of concrete or earth. Clay soil makes the best earthen ponds. Ponds constructed from
other types of soil must be lined with durable plastic and compacted to prevent leakage.
The majority of the ponds will be 1.5-2 m deep, and the number and size of the ponds will be
determined by the project's scale and the production system. Ponds must be capable of holding clean
water all year. They should be placed in areas with some shade. A large fish farm will have a series of
ponds with walkways connecting them so that cleaning and feeding can take place. The ponds are
connected by water flow inlet and outlet channels. The series of ponds allow for the rearing of fish of
various ages and stages of development, ensuring a continuous supply for the market.

Hatcheries for Fish Breeding and Fingerling Management

Although most fish freed freely in ponds, farmers must consider using properly produced fingerlings
(young fish). This is because high-quality fingerlings are vital in gaining a good harvest. Developing a
hatchery allows farmers to have fingerlings ready and available and if managed well, this business will
be profitable.

Three methods of fingerling production are commonly practiced in the Caribbean:

• open ponds

• tanks

• hapas (net enclosures) placed in ponds.

Note

Fry (newly hatched fish) are collected from the spawning units and placed in

fertilised ponds for rearing to the fingerling stage. After that, they are placed in

growing ponds.

Hapa Method of Fingerling Production

A hapa is a rectangular or square net cage placed in a pond for holding fish. They

are made of fine mesh netting material so the fry cannot escape. Hapa sizes vary

but the ideal size measures 3 m long, 3 m wide, and 1.5 m deep.

When using hapas to generate fingerlings:

• hapas should be inspected for fry every day

• the fry should be removed using a scoop net after two weeks and stocked in

· other hapas or a rearing pond

• fry reared in a hapa should be fed four times per day until the fry reach the

· desired size

• a diet in powder form should be used at the rate of 5–10% of the total body

Advantages of Hapa Method Disadvantages of the Hapa Method

Fry and brooders are easily handled Management is more demanding compared
with open ponds

The loss of fry is minimised. Feeding is necessary.

Hapas can be set up in ponds stocked with Fish may easily escape if the hapa is
fish. damaged

When Setting up a fish farm, these management practices must be considered.

• Protection: Fences and bird nets can be used to protect fish against predators

• Fertilising: Fertilisers can be added to water to encourage the growth of algae, a source of food for
the fish.

• Observing: Observations of water quality, health of fish, behaviour and

mortality should be made daily.

• Aeration: The demand for oxygen increases with the number of fish in

the pond.

• Sampling: Growth of fish can be monitored weekly by weighing a sample of approximately 2.5% of
the population in the pond

• record-keeping: Records should be kept of all observations, sampling weights,

feeding and aeration on a regular basis

Harvesting

Harvesting takes place when fish have reached their ideal market weight(0.5 –0.75 kg for tilapia).
Generally, two-month-old fingerlings raised in ponds can be harvested in four months.

After harvesting, love or chilled is sold directly to consumers or taken to district markets, and dressed
fish (cleaned) is sold to supermarkets, etc.

Coastal Aquaculture

Coastal ponds can be used to farm marine shrimp. This type of farming depends on the tides filling and
emptying the ponds.