Bell Work

• Who developed Aquaculture?

Introduction to
Aquaculture

Lesson #1
Area: Animal Science
Unit: Aquaculture
 Objectives

• Define Aquaculture
• Identify how Aquaculture is important to our
society
• Identify the components of Aquaculture
 Definition
“Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic
organisms, including fish, molluscs,
crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming
implies some form of intervention in the
rearing process to enhance production,
such as regular stocking, feeding,
protection from predators, etc. Farming
also implies individual or corporate
ownership of the stock being cultivated.”

SOURCE: FAO FISHERIES CIRCULAR NO. 815 REVISION 8, 1996

 In Other Words

• The controlled raising of aquatic

plants and animals in a confined
environment.
How Long Has Aquaculture
Been Around?
• First Developed in Asia
– 3500 BC Chinese raised carp in ponds
– Developed breeding techniques for
increased production
 Why has the demand for
fish in the US increased?
 Per Capita Consumption
POUNDS
17
16.2
16
15.5 15.6

15.1 15.2 15.2

15 15.0 14.9
14.8
15.0 15.0
14.8 14.9
14.6
14.2
14
13.4 13.4
13 13.0

1998
12.8 12.9
12.7 12.7
12.5 12.5 12.5
12.1 12.2
12 11.8
11.5
14.9 lbs./capita
11
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Nutritional Comparisons
Why is Aquaculture considered
the fastest growing industry in
the agriculture sector?
 World Production
115
MILLION METRIC TONS

110
105
100
95
90
85
80
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

SOURCE: USDC/NOAA/NMFS CURRENT FISHERIES STATISTICS 9600, JULY 1997

 Why Aquaculture Looks
Good to Farmers
• Increased Seafood Consumption
– 14.9 lbs per person in 1998
• Good quality of protein low in fat
• Better Production to Cost Ratio
– 1 1/2 lbs of feed to 1 lb of fish
Agriculture vs. Aquaculture
• Variable body 11 2 lb feed = 1 lb fish
Compared to
temperature
• Better converters
of foodstuffs
• Requires less energy
for body support
1995 Farm Bill Proposal

“Aquaculture is poised to become a

major growth industry.”
 U.S. Aquaculture
1998
• Food Fish Production increased
– 308 million pounds in 1992
– 768 million pounds in 1998
 U.S. Aquaculture
1998
• Total Value: $5.6 Billion
• 181,000 Full-time Jobs
• Fastest Growing Sector Of U.S.
Agriculture
Aquaculture Sales
Value by Category
 Top States

Source: 1998 Census of Aquaculture, USDA-NASS

 Production States
WESTERN NORTH CENTRAL NORTHEASTERN

Perch
Trout Striped Bass
Salmon Tilapia
Salmon
Shellfish Shellfish
Striped Bass Striped
Tilapia Bass

Catfish
Striped Bass SOUTHERN
Tilapia
TROPICAL & SUBTROPICAL
Ornamentals, Food and Shellfish
 Aquaculture Requires

• Land
• Water
• Money
• Training
 Species Selection
• Producer’s expertise
• Marketability

?
• Climate
• Production economics
• Species biology
• Production methods
 Types of Aquaculture
• Food Fish
• Baitfish
• Sport Fish
• Fee Fishing
 Water Temperature
• Warmwater Range
– 75º – 90º F
• Example: Tilapia
 Water Temperature
• Coolwater Range
– 60o – 80o F
• Example: Bass
 Water Temperature
• Coldwater Range
– 48o – 65o F
• Example: Trout
Food Fish
 Food Fish Species
• Catfish
• Tilapia
• Rainbow trout
• Atlantic Salmon
• Shrimp
• Shellfish
• Striped Bass
• Others
Baitfish
 Baitfish Species
• Fathead minnows
• Golden shiners
• Goldfish
• Crawfish
• White suckers
Pond and Lake
Stockings
 Pond Stocking Species
• Channel catfish
• Largemouth bass
• Bluegill
• Redear sunfish
• Yellow perch
• Trout
Fee Fishing
 Fee Fishing
• Long-term leases
• Day leases or “ticket lakes”
• “Fish-out” or by the pound ponds
 What are the types of
Production Methods used in
Aquaculture?
 Production Methods
• Ponds
• Cages
and pens
• Raceways
• Closed
re-use systems

Source: 1998 Census of Aquaculture, USDA-NASS

 Spawning
Ponds 0.1 acre

• Spawning Fingerling
– Broodstock 1 acre
– Hatching of eggs
• Fingerling
Food size
• Grow-out to
market size 20 acre
 Carrying Capacity
• Maximum weight that an area can
support expressed either as lbs/acre
or lbs/gal/min

Feed and
Feed aeration
300 lbs/acre 2,0000 2,000 - 8000
lbs/acre lbs/acre
Cages and Pens
4 feet

4 feet

4 feet
 Cage Culture
• Allows deep farm
ponds or lakes to
be used for production
• Low investment
• Decrease in production
rate
Raceways
 Raceways
• Yield
– 15-20,000 lbs for every
500 gallon/min flow.

Concrete Raceway

Earthen Raceway
 Water Re-use Systems
H2O
Fish

Solids Pump
filter

Bio.
filter
Re-circulating Aquaculture
Systems (RAS) Layout
 RAS

Biological Filters

Solids Filter

Tank
Aeration
How can fish be marketed?
 Market Techniques
• Direct Marketing
• Wholesale
– Whole fish
– Headed and gutted
– Fillets
– Steaks
• Value added
 Conclusion
• Aquaculture is a fast growing
industry with many possibilities for
production and marketing.