Jan 27 2016

Cage culture of rainbow trout in Lake Tota (Colombia)

Photo credit: Karen Sachica Cepeda (Colombia)

Review: Karen Sachica Cepeda and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Cage culture of rainbow trout in Lake Tota (Colombia) 01 Cage culture of rainbow trout in Lake Tota (Colombia) 02

 

 

 

Lake Tota with its 15,000-acre coverage is the largest lake in Colombia. The lake is located in the east of Boyacá department, inside the Province of Sugamuxi, and is the source of the Upia River which flows into the Orinoco River basin.

Lake Tota lies at about 3,200 m above sea level with annual temperatures of 10- 17° C (average 13 °C), which allowed for the introduction of rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss) in 1939 and created an excellent trout fishery as well as encouraged the trout farming industry.

According to FAO statistics, the freshwater trout aquaculture fluctuated from 9016 tons in year 2000 to 4248 tons in 2003 representing about 23% of total freshwater aquaculture in Colombia in 2003.

Trout farming in Colombia is distributed among several of the country’s departments whereas farming is practiced in ponds as well as in net cages. So far, the majority of the eyed ova used by the industry are imported from the United States amounting about 28 million eyed ova in 2005. Typically, the average harvest weight of trout from cages is about 250 g.

The inserted picture was taken in Lake Tota whereas trout farming is of utmost importance to the local area as many people are employed in this activity, half of whom are from households headed by women.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13126

Jan 26 2016

Pond culture of rainbow trout in Ecuador

Photo credit: Diego Mauricio Carrillo Freire (Ecuador)

Review: Diego Mauricio Carrillo Freire and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Trout aquaculture in Ecuador

 

 

 

 

The introduction of trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss) into Ecuador took place in 1940s for sport fishing and then after used in aquaculture. According to FAO statistics, trout production from aquaculture amounted 3,200 tons in 2013. Rainbow trout aquaculture has developed mostly in the inter-Andean region of Ecuador.

It is believed that expanding trout culture in Ecuador would be possible in the light of the availability of the many rivers and cool, unpolluted waters in the highlands of Ecuador. However, the main problems related to trout culture need to be addressed; formulating and manufacturing trout feeds suitable for all life stages of trout with a reasonable cost is seen a key obstacle at the moment.

Recently, at least one rainbow producers in Ecuador purchased genetically improved trout eggs produced in a commercial hatchery in Chile.

The inserted picture shows a trout farm with stone ponds located in Pillaro canton of the Tungurahua Province. This farm receives its water by gravity from a nearby river.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13117

Jan 23 2016

Lake Chad – Not only fish – It is a whole life – (Video)

Credit: Aliadoumadji Rimadoum (Chad)
Review: Aliadoumadji Rimadoum and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Lake Chad (01) Lake Chad (02)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Chad basin is one of the most important agricultural heritage sites in the world. The lake is shared between Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria whereas each country often has different fishing methods, laws, and conservation/production techniques. Lake Chad provides a lifeline to nearly 30 million people in the four countries. About 90% of the lake’s water comes from the Chari River.

The shrinkage of Lake Chad is the most striking fact. The lake is the remnant of a much larger inland lake, about 400.000 km2 at its largest around the year 4000 BC. Records show that in 1832, Lake Chad was one of the largest lakes in the world. In the 1960s, the lake covered 26.000 km2, making it the fourth largest lake in Africa. However, by 2014, it had shrunk to a mere 2000 km2. The lake is very shallow of about 7 meters at its deepest with an average depth of about 2 meters. Most of its shorelines are made up of marshes.

The increase in lake shrinkage has been attributed to population growth in the four countries whereas millions of people surrounding the lake partially depend on the lake for potable and irrigable water. Moreover, the overgrazing surrounding the lake, and subsequent decline in vegetation has caused extensive desertification. The global warming has been also blamed for the shrinkage of the lake.

The main ongoing activities on the lake are fishing, farming, ranching, and trade. In regard to fishery, Chadian fishermen employ hand nets, gill nets, fish traps and long-lines with multiple hooks; the four methods are found efficient while seine nets are the primary fishing practice in Lake Chad.

Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), is a regional management body that regulates the use of the basin’s water and other natural resources of Lake Chad.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13111

Jan 16 2016

Cage aquaculture of tilapia in Zambia

Photos’ credit: Alick Grunnie Mbewe (Zambia)

Review: Alick Grunnie Mbewe  and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Tilapia cage culture in Zambia (02) Tilapia cage culture in Zambia (01)

 

 

 

 

The inserted photos show Cage fish farming in Lumwana Dam in Solwezi District. This consists of 12 cages measuring 12 m X8 m X2 m deep.

The promotion of tilapia cage aquaculture has been based on the good number of vast lakes and rivers in Zambia. So far, cages have been established on Lake Kariba that has been found optimum for cage culture. There are several cage farms in Zambia operating on Lake Kariba in the Siavonga area that were established in the 1990s.

Most cages are square of around 40 m3, with wooden walkways. The production nets are nylon and are made either in Zimbabwe or imported.

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) which is not indigenous to Zambia and has been introduced in the 1980s is the only species cultured in cages in Zambia. Most cage farms produce their own fry in pond facilities before juveniles are transferred to the cages where they grow to market size of around 350 g. A production of around 20 kg/m3 is a realistic estimate. The cold season (June through August) retards tilapia growth during the mentioned period.

Even though, a reasonably good quality locally manufactured extruded feed is available in Zambia but because of its high price, not all cage farmers use it and look for less expensive feed.

In regard to environmental concerns, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required before licensing the operation of cage farms.

 

Reference:  FAO, A review of cage aquaculture: sub-Saharan Africa. 2007

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13108

Jan 14 2016

Shrimp aquaculture in Colombia

Photo credit: Camilo Cristian Suarez Barazeta (Colombia)

Review:  Camilo Cristian Suarez Barazeta and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Shrimp aquaculture in Colombia

 

 

 

The inserted shrimp farm shows a shrimp farm in Punta Canoa Cartagena, Colombia.

Colombian shrimp production from aquaculture has witnessed significant fluctuations due to the high losses caused by the Taura Syndrome; according to FAO statistics, shrimp production in Colombia amounted 19,500 tons in 2011. While shrimp exports represent less than 1% of the total value of exports, they represent almost 50% of the value of exports created by the entire fish and fishery sector.

Almost all Colombian shrimp farms use 100% locally produced post larvae (PL) of the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei  compared to 1997 whereas only about 25% were produced locally.

Shrimp farms usually stock 12-day-old PL at a stocking density of about 20 PL/ m². Farms are capable to produce up to 2.6 to 2.8 production cycles per year; however, some farms are voluntarily reducing the number of crops to two crops per year. This leaves ponds to dry for several months, instead of producing in bad environmental conditions.

As shown in the inserted picture, emergency aeration may be practiced in shrimp ponds whereas paddle-wheel aerators are commonly in use.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13102

Jan 12 2016

African catfish from the farm to Ebolowa fish market – Cameroon

Photo credit: Francis Juliot Mougang (Cameroon)

Review: Francis Juliot Mougang and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Carrying African catfish to a fish market in Cameroon

 

 

 

 

Aquaculture sector in Cameroon is predominantly comprised of small-scale producers locating in most cases in the rural areas. The inserted picture shows the harvest of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) produced in a fish farm to the town fish market at Ebolowa. Fish seeds of African catfish and tilapia are produced in a public facility located in Ebolowa (Mvila Department). Also, Ebolowa is among the potential priority areas for the development of fish farming in the south of Cameroon.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13098

Jan 07 2016

Spirulina processing and Dihe consumption in Chad

Photos’ credit: Aliadoumadji Rimadoum (Chad)

Review: Aliadoumadji Rimadoum and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Dihe processing in Chad (01) Dihe processing in Chad (02) Dihe processing in Chad (03)

 

 

Spirulina collection and utilization have a long history in Chad and go back as the 9th century Kanem Empire.

In order to produce the “dihé”, the Kanembu women being in charge of the collection of spirulina from Lake Chad, pass their collection of wet spirulina over a filter made of cloth or sieves and then spread and sun-dry the product in a sandy pot for about 20 minutes before cutting the semi-dried dihé into small and thin squares and take it to the villages to finish the sun-drying on mats before selling it in the local market. The traditional methods of harvesting and processing of spirulina and making dihé have passed among Kanembu women through very many generations.

“Dihe” is a traditional component of the Kanembu people’s diet because of its richness in protein, iron and beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) and hence can enhance the nutritional value of diets especially for that are poor in these nutrients. On the average, the consumption of Dihé could be as high as 50 grams per person per week. Dried dihe is mainly used to make a traditional sauce, broth for meals and included in several dishes.

In addition to family consumption, dihé represents an important source of income for Kanembu women, who also sell excess amounts of the product to local consumers or wholesalers who trade in the product in larger markets; high quality dihé is being sold through pharmacies and groceries in Chad.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13087

Jan 06 2016

Aquaculture in Burundi (Feed formulation and tilapia reproduction)- Video (in French)

Credit: Alain Murekambanze (Burundi)

Tilapia sexing (female)

 

 

 

This video belongs to the “Direction du Centre National de Developpement de l’aquaculture et de la Peche Artisanala”- CNDAPA. The video focuses on aquaculture research; in particular fish nutrition and tilapia reproduction. The video shows the facilities and the descriptions of feed formulation as well as feed ingredients. Tilapia reproduction is also covered in the video including sexing and reproduction.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13079

Jan 06 2016

Introduction and utilization of Grass carp in Argentina

Photo credit: Herman Hennig Hernando (Argentina)

Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Grass carp in Argentina

 

 

 

 

The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) was first introduced in 1970s from Japan at the Chascomús and El Burro lakes in Buenos Aires province to control the growth of dense of aquatic plants in waterways and lentic water bodies. It is obvious the released grass carp were able to adapt and spread out.

Grass carp has been utilized in aquaculture by small-scale rural producers whether in monoculture or in polyculture along with other carps and/or “pacu”. The type of aquaculture is mainly practiced at the Misiones province (NEA). According to fishery statistics, about 3000 tons of grass carp were produced in 2003. The photo shows a field display of produced grass carp.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13081

Dec 30 2015

Aggressive feeding outside water by catfish – Video

Video credit: Hai DO Xuan (Vietnam)

Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)

Source: www.fishconsult.org

Catfish feeding

 

 

 

This short video which was filmed in Vietnam shows how African catfish are temporarily leaving pond water trying aggressively to capture feed pellets which could be accidently dropped out of water. One can easily watch the mass of pellets in the start and how much was consumed in a minute or so.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=13064

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