AQUACULTURE AND FISH FARMING

Aquaculture, also known as fish farming, is the practice of cultivating fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants for commercial or recreational purposes. It is a rapidly growing industry that plays a critical role in providing protein-rich food to the world\’s population while also supporting local economies.

Types of Aquaculture:

There are several types of aquaculture, including:

  1. Freshwater Aquaculture – Fish are raised in ponds, tanks, or other freshwater systems.

  2. Marine Aquaculture – Fish are raised in saltwater systems such as the ocean, bays, and estuaries.

  3. Cage Culture – Fish are raised in cages or nets in freshwater or saltwater systems.

  4. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) – Fish are raised in closed systems that recirculate water, making them more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

  5. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) – A system where multiple species are raised in the same area to create a symbiotic relationship that promotes a healthy ecosystem.

How Lucrative is Aquaculture?

Aquaculture is a highly profitable industry. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the global aquaculture industry\’s value is expected to reach $219.1 billion by 2027. This growth is due to increasing demand for seafood and declining wild fish stocks.

Terms Associated with Aquaculture:

Here are some common terms associated with aquaculture:

  1. Fry – A fish that has just hatched.

  2. Fingerling – A juvenile fish that is small enough to fit on a finger.

  3. Broodstock – Mature fish used for breeding.

  4. Aquaponics – A system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to grow fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship.

List of Fishes that can be reared in Aquaculture:

Here are some common types of fish that can be reared in aquaculture:

  1. Tilapia

  2. Salmon

  3. Catfish

  4. Trout

  5. Barramundi

  6. Shrimp

  7. Clams

  8. Oysters

Importance of Aquaculture:

Aquaculture plays a vital role in meeting the world\’s growing demand for seafood while also reducing pressure on wild fish stocks. Additionally, it provides employment opportunities in coastal and rural communities, supports local economies, and helps to improve food security. Furthermore, aquaculture can be a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fishing methods, as it reduces bycatch and can use recycled water and waste products to fertilize crops.

In conclusion, aquaculture is a growing and lucrative industry that plays a critical role in providing protein-rich food to the world\’s population while also supporting local economies and promoting sustainability.

MEANING AND TYPES OF AQUACULTURE

Aquaculture is the act of rearing selected species of fish, shrimps and prawns difference’, crabs, etc. under scientifically controlled conditions in enclosed bodies of water such as ponds, streams and rivers where they feed, grow, breed and are harvested for consumption or for sale

TYPES OF AQUACULTURE. The different types of aquaculture are: (i) fish farming (ii) shrimp farming (iii) crab farming

DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE OF FISH FARMING

Fish farming (culture) is the act of rearing selected species of fish under scientifically-controlled conditions in enclosed bodies of water such as ponds, streams and rivers where they feed, grow, breed and are harvested for consumption or for sale.

Terms associated with fish farming

Fingerlings – the newly hatched fishes
Fisheries – this is the study of fish 
Fish – this refers to a particular species, regardless of the number or quantity

Fishes – this refers to the different species of fish
Pond – this is an artificial body of water where fish(es) can be reared.
Gears – these are equipment used in harvesting fish.
Fry – this refers to young fish(es) or baby fish(es)
School – this is a group of fish (es).
Hatchery – this refers to a unit where fish eggs are incubated and hatched artificially
into fish.
Aquarium – this is an artificial fish pond kept for aesthetic or entertainment purposes at
home.
Aquaculture – this refers to the study and production of fish, shrimps and other aquatic
food organisms.

CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. Fishes can be classified into two main groups:

Classification based on fish habitat:

under this classification, two groups exist:
(i) Freshwater fishes: These fishes live in freshwater, i.e the water does not contain salts. Examples of such freshwater are ponds, streams, rivers and lakes. Examples of fish in this group are tilapia, carp, perch, trout and mudfish.

(ii) Saltwater fish: These fishes live in water containing salts such as lagoons, seas and oceans. Examples of saltwater fishes are salmons, mackerel, sharks, tilapia, rays and eels.

 

Classification based on body structure:

Under this classification, two groups also exist.
(i) Bony fishes: These fishes possess bony skeletons .examples are tilapia, salmon, carps, trout, catfish, salmon, perch and herring. The majority of these fishes are found in freshwater.
(ii) Cartilaginous fishes: These fishes possess soft bones composed of cartilage. The majority of these fishes are found in salt water and examples are sharks, dolphins, dogfish and rays.

Scientific names of fish species commonly stocked in a pond

(1) Clarias spp.

(2) Chrysichtyns nigro digitus(3) Gymnacus niloticus
(4) Tilapia spp
(5) Lates nilotica
(6) Gypramus carpis (7) Heterotis niloticus
(8) Labeo spp.
(9) Heterobranclues spp.
(10) Hypothmichitys spp.
(11) Cypramus
(12) Ophiocephalus spp.

 

IMPORTANCE OF FISH FARMING

Fish farming is important for the following reasons;
(i) It provides fish which serves as a source of food, e.g protein to man and livestock.
(ii) It provides a means of increasing the availability of protein to people at a reduced cost.
(iii) It provides a means of recycling wastes, e.g animal dung from farms, factories and sewage disposal systems.
(iv) Fish can be processed into fish by-products such as fish meal, fish oil, manure and skin.
(v) It provides employment and income to many people.
(vi) A better use of land and water in our environment is also ensured through fish farming.
(vii) It can generate foreign exchange to a nation, especially when fish are extorted to other countries.
(viii) Fish farming is also useful in the area of research work and other educational purposes.

 

PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION OF FISH

Harvested fish is either consumed, sold or preserved for future use.
Fish processing involves the removal of scales, fins, gut and gills. The remaining part is then cooked or fried for eating. By-products of fish professing include:
(i) Salting: This is the application of salt to the fish. It prevents the growth of the spillage of organisms.
(ii) Smoking: This is the drying of fish over a naked fire. It reduces the moisture content and increases the taste and flavour of the fish.
(iii) Sun-drying: this involves the use of cold storage like refrigerators and deep freezers to store fish over a very long time.
(iv) Canning: This involves the storage of processed and consumable fish in cans under special conditions for future consumption, e.g sardine
(v) Roasting: Roasting of fish over a naked for a beam of light on harvested fish in an enclosed storage facility in order to preserve the fish.
(vi) Steam cooking: Steam cooking involves the cooking of harvested fish over hot steam. Such activity helps to preserve the fish.
(vii) Icing: Icing involves the placement of an ice block over or around harvested fish in a container. This method ensures temporary storage of fish.n

164. LICE

METHODS OF FISH HARVESTING

Fishing tools or gears
Examples of fishing tools or gears commonly used to harvest fish(es) are:
(i) Cast net
(ii) Drag net, draw net, or seine net
(iii) Clap net
(iv) Set net
(v) Trawler with seine net or fishing trawler
(vi) Fish traps, gill net, fishing basket, harpoon or spear

(a) Fishing nets
Functions/Uses
Fishing nets are generally used for the harvesting of fish(es) from either ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, oceans or sea
Description
There are various kinds of nets commonly used. Examples are:
(i) Scoop Net: This is a small net which may be rectangular or cylindrical in shape with the required or regulated mesh size. It has a wide mouth and a short /long wooden handle. After the pond has been drained, harvesting can be done with a scoop net.
(ii) Gill nets: Gill nets are used to harvest or catch bigger fish(es) in a pond, thus leaving the smaller fish(es) until they attain bigger sizes.

Gill nets are usually made of 2 – 3cm mesh sizes.
They are called gill nets because the fish pokes its head through the net mesh and is caught around the gills as it tries to wriggle through the net. The gill nets have lead sinkers (weights) at the bottom rope and float at the top ropes.

(iii) Seine net: A seine net is capable of collecting all the fish in the pond at once because it has a smaller mesh size than the gill nets. It is made of heavy fibres to hold the fish. The nets usually have lead sinkers (weights) attached to the bottom ropes.

weights hold the nets at the bottom of the pond so that fish cannot escape underneath the nets as they are pulled. The nets also have floats attached to the top ropes to help the net from an enclosure. Seine net is used with trawlers. Seine net is used with trawlers called fishing trawlers.
(iv) Fishing trawler: This is a large fishing boat in which large nets called seine nets can be attached. It is used for harvesting large fish(es) at a time for commercial purposes.
(v) Fishing basket: this is a fishing tool designed like a basket. It has a cylindrical shape with a wide mouth. It has a trigger close to the mouth while at the tapered end, holding the food (bait). The bait attracts the fish and when it enters the basket, the trigger is pulled down as the body of the fish touches it and this closes the mouth of the basket. By so doing, the fish cannot come out of the basket as it is being trapped.

(vi) Hook and line: The hook and line is also a fish harvesting tool. It has a long wooden handle, and a long line fishing is to offer the fish bait (usually a small piece of fish or earthworm) fixed to a hook at the end of the line or rope. The fish, while trying to bite the bait, swallows the hook and thus gets caught.

OTHER METHODS OF HARVESTING FISH INCLUDE :

(1) Trapping: This involves the setting of traps to catfish. It involves the use of gears made from ropes or raffia woven into various models of enclosures for capturing fish.
They are set along water courses and any fish that enters the trap would not be able to get out but remains there until it is caught by the fisherman.

(2) Netting: This involves the use of various types of nets to catch fish. Nets like gill nets, clap nets, trawl nets, etc. which have been woven into various sizes and thicknesses are thrown into the water to catch fish.

(3) Electro-fishing: This involves the use of electricity to catch fish by creating electric fields in an enclosed area such that current is sent across, killing fish between poles. It can only be used for the total harvesting of fish.

(4) Draining of ponds: This involves draining off pond water for easy use of a net to catch large fish.

(5) Use of ultrasonic: this is an instrument which can make a sound in water and attract fish so that they can easily be trapped or harvested using other means of harvesting.
(6) Impaling: This involves the use of spears or harpoons to attack and catch big fish.

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