Shrimp culture in Guatemala – Video

Video credit: Alejandro Joachin (Guatemala) Review: Alejandro Joachin and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)

The inserted video was filmed in a shrimp farm in Aldea El cebollito, Monterrico (Guatemala). The farm consists of three ponds of 1-ha each. The white leg shrimp Litopenaues vanammei is the species farmed in the farm.

The stocking density in this project is 250 shrimp PL/m3. As shown in the video, the shrimp ponds are furnished by paddle wheel aerators sufficient to maintain optimum dissolved oxygen throughout the growing season. The salinity of the farm water is 15 gram/liter. As the temperature in the region throughout the year suits the growth of this species of shrimp, four production cycles are practiced every year of a 12-week each. The biggest shrimp harvest is targeted in the month of April (Eastern week) whereas the maximum demand on shrimp occurs and so the highest market value. The average size of harvested shrimp is about 14 g.

According to FAO statistics, the total production of shrimp from aquaculture in Guatemala amounted 17,273 tons in 2018.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15612

Pit fish smoking in Chad

Photo credit: Saleh Abakar Oumar (Chad) Review: Saleh Abakar Oumar  and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

The inserted picture shows a simple traditional smoking facility in Chad that is made of a pit (hole) dug in the ground. The soil selected for the pit digging should be stable to help the pit keep its shape and prevent the pit from caving in. A metal mesh is placed over the pit above which the fish is placed.

The logs and so the fire are produced in the bottom of the pit. Bearing in mind the simplicity of such smoking pits, and the escape of generated smoke, the cooking time ranges from 12 to 24 hours depending on fish type and size.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15607

Promoting aquaculture in Namibia – Video

Video credit: Kaulo Salushando (Namibia) Description: Kaulo Salushando and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)

This video was filmed during an official harvesting that took place in Fonteintjie fish farm which is a governmental farm. The harvest was covered by media and attended by the minister and top officials as well as invitees from the community including a number of school children who witnessed the harvest. The event targeted to promote aquaculture especially in the southern part of Namibia.

We can see that tilapia is the main species cultured in the farm along with some common carp.

The national strategy strongly advocates for aquaculture in that it empowers people, provides employment opportunities and provides food security for communities. It may worth noting that aquaculture in Namibia still in its infancy stage as according to FAO statistics, aquaculture in Namibia amounted 647, 626, 605, 587 and 472 tons during the years from 2014 to 2018 respectively.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15603

Small-scale aquaculture in rural development (2020 updated version)

I delivered this lecture in a regional short-term training courses held in Egypt during March 2020 and organized by the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture (EICA) and titled “Small-scale aquaculture”. The course hosted 25 participants from 21 African countries.

The lecture starts with an overview on the features of rural communities focusing whenever applicable on fish consumption. The items needed for the promotion has been addressed including appropriate technologies, selected species, labor, credit when required and others. The introductory part has been followed by examples of small-scale projects especially those integrated with other agricultural crops or livestock.

The adoption curve in rural community has been addressed. Moreover, a proposed criterion of small-scale aquaculture has been discussed. The lecture addressed the promotion strategy and the importance of initial success as well as the sustainability beyond the promotion program. The Special issues have been emphasized in the lecture including extension service, project planning, environmental concerns, subsidies and others.

http://fishconsult.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Small-scale-aquaculture-in-rural-development-Updated-2020.pdf

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15600

Role of women in seaweed farming in Zanzibar (Tanzania)

Photo credit: Farida Mlaponi Mohamed (Tanzania) Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Commercial seaweed farming started on Zanzibar (Unguja) Island in 1989 and expanded to Pemba Island and mainland Tanzania around 1994.  The seaweed strains of Kappaphycus were imported from the Philippines.

Tanzania Seaweed farming in Tanzania started commercially in 1989 and is mostly performed on the Zanzibar Islands (i.e. Unguja and Pemba) whereas the seaweed farming is currently the third largest industry that brings in foreign revenue (after tourism and the clove trade).

The available gender data revealed that 78% of seaweed farmers in Zanzibar are woman. The same trend occurs in the mainland Tanzania where about 90% of seaweed farmers are women.

It may be of interest to know that when the farming of seaweed started, almost equal numbers of men and women were engaged in different activities of seaweed farming. Afterwards, a gradual decrease in men engagement in the seaweed farming as the overall activities were believed to suit women more who showed enough patience and persistence with such new farming technology including seeding lines, tending lines, harvesting, drying, selling, etc.   Based on the success of women in seaweed farming, they are able to generate a stable income for themselves and their households. From social point of view, this work opportunity gave women elevated and more respected status in their households and communities.

Main reference: Flower E. Msuya & Anicia Q. Hurtado (2017) The role of women in seaweed aquaculture in the Western Indian Ocean and South-East Asia, European Journal of Phycology, 52:4, 482-494

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15595

Pond culture of African catfish in Togo

Photos’ credit: Sabi Asma (Togo)     Description: Sabi Asma and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

According to a conducted survey, two production systems do exist in Togo with extensive system (about 88%) that is carried out in earthen ponds and reservoirs, while the semi intensive system (about 12%) is practiced in tanks and ponds.  The pond shown in the inserted pictures covers about 600 m2.

Among the eight fish species that are farmed in Togo, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) combined represent about 80% of farmed fish production in Togo. In fact, the consumption of catfish is moderately appreciated in Togo because there are certain populations which do not consume it. However, it is much more appreciated by Nigerians residing in Togo.

Catfish fingerlings are obtained from fingerling farms in Togo. They are stocked at a density that ranges from 3 to 5 fingerlings/m2. The feed provided is extruded compound feed. The grow-out period lasts about 6 to 7 months depending on the stocking dates and market availability. The average weight upon harvesting is about 750g/specimen.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15592

Machinery use in the construction of Egyptian fish ponds (Video)

Video credit: Herman Hennig (Argentina) Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)

This video was filmed in 2015 during the construction of a fish farm in Egypt.

Typically, fish ponds in Egypt are constructed using different types of machinery that are required for excavation, compacting, levelling and dyke construction; bulldozers, rollers, tractors and may be others are used.

The average size of fish farms and so fish ponds justify the use of machinery in the construction and maintenance of fish farms. In fact, the gained experience over years encouraged the establishment of private enterprises capable to carry out the construction of fish ponds. In line with that and according to the official statistics by GAFRD, the land-based fish farms cover around 127,000 ha in 2017. This includes the governmental, private owned, private leased, and temporarily fish farms.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15587

Cage culture of gilthead seabream and European seabass fish in Egypt – Video

Video credit: Alejandro Joachin (Guatemala) Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)

This video was filmed in 2014 during a field visit by the participants in an international training course held and organized by the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture (EICA).

The non-floating cages shown in this video represent a part of a marine fish project that includes a hatchery, floating cages, non-floating cages (these ones), and a farm. The species produced in the said project are European seabass, gilthead seabream and marine shrimp. The whole project components whether land-based or water-based are located in Maryut valley, Alexandria (Egypt). The project is in operation since 1993.

Before this intermediate phase, the hatchery-produced 60-day old fingerlings are moved to floating cages with dimensions of 4m x 10m and 2m depth until they reach about 6-g as an average size and then moved to the fixed cages shown in the video. These cages can be square with 15m x 15m or can be rectangular with 15m x 40m dimension. During this phase, fish are fed and maintained until they reach an average size of 100 to 150 g then they are moved to the earthen ponds where they grow to the market size (500 g for seabream and 1 kg for seabass).

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15584

Pond culture of tilapia in Togo – Video

Video credit: Sabi Asma (Togo) Review: Sabi Asma and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)

Video credit: Sabi Asma (Togo)

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

The inserted video was filmed in a private fish farm in Togo showing the stocking of all-male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings of about 3 to 5 gram as an average weight. Typically, the stocking rate in such system is around three fingerlings/m2 whereas the growing season lasts about six months. The feed used in such farms is extruded feed which is imported from either France or Ghana.

According to FAO, the production of farmed tilapia amounted 278 tons in 2018 representing more than 95% of total aquaculture production in Togo in 2018.

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15574

Safe interaction with stingrays in touch tanks (Video)

This video was filmed by the author during a visit to the Sea World, California, USA.

As shown in the video, visitors surrounding the touch tank are trying and actually touching the stingrays which is a unique experience.

In order to ensure a safe touch, the barbs (stingers) of rays are constantly trimmed down like trimming fingernails, so the de-barbed stingrays are safe to interact with and touch. According to large aquariums, the trimming process is done every three months whereas each ray is gently taken out of the water to trim the barbs for about 10 seconds.

https://youtu.be/Rb1XgBdAEAA

Permanent link to this article: https://fishconsult.org/?p=15569

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