This lecture was delivered during November, 2014 in Fish Culture Development training course. This course is annually organized by the “Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture – EICA”. This lecture focuses on handling issues during main practices of aquaculture whether in hatcheries or farms. The handling stress is highlighted as well as means to alleviate the stress. The aquaculture practices include stocking, sampling, harvesting, grading, marking, anesthesia, hatchery operations, and transportation.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12051
Nov 11 2014
Use “kakabans” in pond spawning of common carp in Nepal
Photo credit: Bishnu khanal (Nepal)
Review: Bishnu khanal and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)
It is quite common fish farmers may adopt natural or semi-natural (or semi-artificial) spawning systems as long as found technically and economically feasible. The inserted photo presents an example of the pond spawning of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Nepal using “kakabans”.
The spawning takes place naturally whenever particular conditions are available especially temperature and adequate water rise. Assuming, the broodstock have been properly selected, the spawning would still need grasses or similar egg collectors in order for the laid eggs to stick to bearing in mind the adhesive nature of carp eggs.
“Kakabans” that are known and widely used in Nepal and Indonesia are shown in the inserted photo. Kakabans are made of dark horse-hair-like fibers of the indjuk plant (Arenga pinnata andArenga saccharifera) which are cleaned and arranged in layers whereas bamboo planks are used to frame the kakabans.
For the spawning procedures, Kakabans are kept in a floating position a little under the water surface, propped up on bamboo poles. The spawned pond is filled with clean water at the correct temperature the same day as the fish are introduced after being injected with the pituitary gland extract. For guidance, about 1 to 1.5 m2 of kakabans will be needed per a common carp female.
As soon as the eggs are seen on the kakabans, the egg-laden kakabans are transferred to hatching ponds in which embryos hatch. Care should be taken to ensure that the eggs remain fully submerged in about 8-10 cm of water. Common carp hatchlings stay in the hatching pond for about three weeks before they are collected for further use.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12047
Nov 06 2014
Promoting cage aquaculture in Lake Victoria (Uganda)
Credit: Stella Nabayunga Walugembe (Uganda)
Early in 2012, a joint Uganda – China 3-year pilot project on cage farming in Lake Victoria has launched. The fish cage demonstration shown in the inserted picture is located in Lake Victoria, Jinja and is affiliated and managed by The National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI).
The management of cages adopts the “Low Volume High density-LVHD system” in which 400 fingerlings/m2 of all-male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus are stocked in cages of 2x2x2 cubic meters.
Caged tilapia are fed on floating pelleted feed throughout the grow-out season till harvesting whereas the average harvest size ranges from 400-500 g.
In order to encourage the development of cage culture in Uganda, NaFIRRI has offered free training for those interested in cage farming.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12039
Nov 06 2014
African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Brazil (Introduction and ecological impacts)- Video
Video credit:Juan Martin Canturin Garcia (Peru)
Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel and website)
African catfish, Clarias gariepinuswas introduced from Africa to Brazil for aquaculture in 1986. However, the meat of catfish was not accepted well among consumers and hence the farming of the species is limited and its commercial farming could not develop as hoped. The recreational angling for the species has been practiced in ponds.
Reports mentioned that several hundreds of thousands of African catfish specimens have escaped from fish ponds and found their way to rivers and watersheds during floods in the upper Paraná watershed in 1996/1997. Consequently, it is believed that African catfish is found in almost all Brazilian watersheds. Reports highlighted severe ecological problems which are attributed to the introduction of this species especially the serious impacts of such predator on the restructuring of the native fish and invertebrate communities.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12036
Nov 05 2014
Cage culture of seabass (Lates calcarifer) in Phang-nga (Thailand)
Photos’ credit: Narin Songseechan (Thailand)
Review: Narin Songseechan and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)
The cage culture of seabass (Lates calcarifer) is popular in the southern and eastern coastal waters of Thailand. Cages shown in the inserted picture are located in Phang-nga Province, southern of Thailand.
Cages are usually square with a depth of about 2 meters and coordinates which could range from 4-10 meters. Because of the simplicity and profitability of this farming method, the cage culture of seabass has expanded rapidly in Thailand.
The seabass fingerlings are stocked at approximately 25/m2. The harvestable size is about 500 g and so, the production of about 20-22 kg/m2/year is considered a reasonable estimate.
The insufficient supply of supply of trash fish which used in feeding caged seabass is considered a major constraint to the operation and sustainability of this activity.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12031
Nov 02 2014
Eco-friendly commercial cage tilapia farm in Temenggor Lake, Malaysia
Credit: Vui Kien Liew (Malaysia)
Review: Vui Kien Liew and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)
The inserted photos have been taken in a state-of-art commercial cage farm for tilapia. The farm was set up in 2008 as an eco-friendly aquaculture facility and operates within an Industrial Aquaculture Zone in Temenggor Lake in Perak.
The farm consists of three modules (60 cages) in operation and 2 modules (40 cages) in construction. Each cage has a diameter of 20 meters with a cone-shape entrapment below the cage for waste. The production capacity of each module is 2,500 tons per year.
The farm has received a global certificate for Best Aquaculture Practices. The compliance with environmental and social issues have been considered in the design and operation of the farm. These include the feed type (vegetable fish feed), feed contents of phosphorus. Other issues include biodiversity, responsible use of resources, fish health and welfare, use of chemicals and antibiotic. The social responsibility has been highlighted in regard to child labor, forced labor and discrimination.
The farm has its own hatchery in Bongor in Grik which produces traceable Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Tilapia juveniles of about 40-g are brought to the cages for about 5-months reaching an average weight of about 1kg and become ready for harvest which is done by pumping fish from cages and transported live to a processing plant in which fish are filleted and then quick frozen before being packed for export. The processing plant has the same legality of the farm.
The full operation of the farm is done through a water quality monitoring system which covers the area around the cages as well as at important points in the lake.
References: audit reports, Trapia Malaysia articles
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12025
Nov 01 2014
Sistema Policultivo Bocachico (Prochilodus magdalenae) – Tilapia roja (Oreochromis sp.), apoyado en TIC (in Spanish)
Credit: Ana Maria Melendez (Colombia)
Generalidades: proceso de producción (A, Melendez, Universidad Simón Bolívar – Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje, SENA Colombia. 2010), con distribución en paralelo para el engorde del Bocachico en corrales de tierra, combinado con el cultivo de Tilapia Roja, a alta densidad, en Jaulas suspendidas de bajo volumen. Complementado con el desarrollo de un prototipo de sistema de información, para el seguimiento y control de Policultivos.
Para la ejecución de este proceso, se debe tener en cuenta que las dos especies a cultivar, presentan diferentes periodos de engorde; por ello, la Tilapia Roja será la primera en alcanzar el peso comercial, en un tiempo promedio de 150 a 180 días de manejo dentro del policultivo, mientras que el Bocachico, necesitara entre 300 a 330 días, para lograr la misma meta.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12021
Nov 01 2014
Supporting small-scale fish farming in Narino, Colombia
Credit: Andres Delgado (Colombia)
The photo shows the delivery of tilapia fingerlings as a part of a support program for small fish holders in Narino Department, Colombia. The project is funded by the Municipal Government, Ricaurte Government. In this small-scale system which is carried out in earthen ponds, fish feeds primarily on azolla while banana, yucca, bore are alternatives food sources. In addition to tilapia, Cachama and Sabalo are candidates for this project in which the family consumption of farmed fish is a primary goal.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12017
Nov 01 2014
Aquaculture survey in North Western Province of Zambia – Video
Credit: Alick Grunnie Mbewe (Zambia)
It is a news package on the aquaculture survey which was conducted in North Western Province of Zambia. The people interviewed talked highly of aquaculture and how it has helped them to improve their livelihoods as they are able to send children to school and families have increased their protein intake. With good management practice, aquaculture or fish farming is highly profitable.
Later on, the reporter interviews various staff in the Department of Fisheries about how aquaculture is progressing in their areas and the importance of having updated data on ponds and productivity. This is important for planning purposes as some have been abandoned for various reasons.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12014
Oct 31 2014
Planning of aquaculture projects (Aquaculture systems – site evaluation – management – production inputs – production economics)
This lecture was delivered during October, 2014 as an introductory component in Fish Culture Development training course. This course is annually organized by the “Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture – EICA”. This particular lecture links production elements in various aquaculture systems. Thus, the lecture begins with developing project objectives whether general or specific. The targeted fish species in relation to farming system as well as marketing has been addressed. The key production inputs including seed and feed are covered. The project infrastructure and machinery are addressed. Main aquaculture systems are covered in this lecture including farm, hatchery and integrated systems. The lecture concluded with the analysis of project proposal either through SWOT (Strength- Weakness- Opportunity – Threat) and economic analysis. The impact of proper or improper planning on the success of aquaculture projects have been focused on throughout the lectures which is supported by illustrations and case studies.
Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=12010