Happy New Month

I'm using this medium to wish all my blog readers a fruitful month ahead. I pray this new month will bring you happiness, good health, divine favor, blessing and more. AMEN. ITS CUSTOMERS FIRST AT OLAOBI FARM LIMITED

Fingerlings production

The major problem is fish farming would be the CATFISH FINGERLINGS PRODUCTION, because it is the hardest and easier segment from the catfish farming. without the manufacturing of catfish babies, fish farmers cannot achieve there goals, because you will have no juvenile to stock. catfish fingerlings production starts with selecting females broodstock fish. Ideally, broodstock ponder between 500-1000g, with larger fish being difficult to deal with and often resulting in egg losses ahead of stripping, but its advisable to make use of large fishes if someone can help in handling. In general, mature females are selected as outlined by this criteria. A well distended, swollen abdomen from which ripe eggs can be purchased by slightly pressing the stomach toward the genital papilla. Ripe eggs are generally uniform in size and a experienced hatchery operator are able to see the nucleus as a small dark point in the heart of the egg, a swollen, from time to time reddish or rose colored genital papilla. The most common technique employed to induce final maturation and ovulation in African catfish is always to inject the female with bodily hormones or pituitary gland. Its advisable to Cover the top of the breeder with a towel in order to keep it quiet during injection. Generally speaking most fish keep still in case their eyes are covered. The females are mostly injected inside afternoon/evening and are kept (separated in the males) in a pond or perhaps basin, Of major importance is the breeders can be caught easily when its time and energy to ovulate the eggs as avoiding spoilage of eggs. The speed of the process will depend on water temperature, the higher this temperature the quicker the ova ovulate. Stripping from the female broodstock is carried out there by gently pressing the abdomen that has a thumb from the pectoral fin towards the genital papilla. Ovulated eggs will flow out easily in a very thick jet from the genital vent and so are usually collected into a dry out plastic container. The males from the African catfish cannot be stripped and therefore the sperm can only possibly be obtained by sacrificing a man. The male is killed and also the body surface thoroughly dried then the testis is dissected and put into a mortar or a teacup. The testis is rapidly cut into small pieces employing a scissor and finally the milt is pressed out that has a pestle or a teaspoon. some dilute the milt that has a physiological salt solution about any hour before the female is stripped and this solution is added using the stripped eggs. The advantage of this technique is that eggs from many females can be fertilized united testis of a mature male can potentially fertilize the eggs of 10-15 females. The sperm (diluted or non-diluted) is included with the stripped eggs, and the eggs fertilized with the help of an equal volume of clear water. The water and egg mass are then combined by gently shaking the pan. Eggs must be stirred continuously until there're placed in the hatching tanks for the reason that eggs become sticky and devoid of stirring will stick together straight into one clump. About 60 seconds after fertilization has taken place and the sperm features lost its activity, the fertilized ova are then ready for incubation with vats. The development process through fertilized egg to hatching, like all other biological processes, is dependent about water temperature; the higher the river temperature the faster the ova hatch. The time it takes regarding catfish eggs to hatch depends on water temperature. clarias catfish typically spawn inside spring, when water temperatures are usually between 70 and 84 °F (21 and 29 °C). A general principle of egg incubation is that water is renewed so as to provide oxygen and that following hatching the larvae are separated in the remaining egg-shells and dead ova. The latter is of utmost importance in order to avoid fungal or bacterial infections connected with hatch-lings and consequent larval fatality.

The reason Nigerian Fish Farmers Crash in Fish Farming

1. Absolutely no Market: Bad fish farmers begin looking for a market for fish when the sea food are ready for purchase. Meanwhile, because they are usuallystill feeding, the pool attains its maximum running and fish stop growing. The longer the fish stay in the pond after they have got stopped growing, the smaller sized the profit margin.two. 2 Poor Farm Siting: Including in a place together with inadequate water supply, bad soils for pond building (e. g. may possibly be rocky), far away coming from markets and/or supplies, and many others. 3. Poor farm in addition to facility design: Pond dikesnot really compacted properly, leak a good deal, may be too low, and consequently construction in addition tomaintenance costs become too high while optimum yields will not be achieved. Pooraccessibility to ponds, requiring workers to walk across difficult ground to transfer fish coming from pond to vehicle or maybe vice-versa. 4. Poor Investment Plan: Several farmersassume that to become commercial fish farmer one have to have several large ponds. Consequently,they construct many ponds at a time, which constrains their earnings. Because of this,some farmers require a while to start outputor may only afford to get started production in one pond after all the investment. 5. Deficiency of Technical Knowledge: Start output before knowing what operationsoptions are available or how you can farm fish. 6. Don't employ the right people.Entrepreneurs employ the right people whoare qualified for a selected job. Hiring family members who have minimal desire to learnproper fish farming techniques is a liabilitybecause most people find it difficult to dismiss them even after they have become apparent that they are the real reason for the poor performance from the fish farm. 7. Absentee Owners/Managers: Deal with farms by remote command or telephone. No primaryinvolvement in production in addition to managementactivities of the particular farm. 8. Irregular in addition to improper feeding: This ranges from complete lack of knowledge aboutthe nutritionary requirements and feeding ofcatfish to attempts at lowering costs by using cheap feeds. Some farmers just will not feed their fish given that they think fish will increase as long as there're in water. They don't realize that like all wildlife, best performance would be obtained if your fish have a well- balanced dietand that the feed must be palatable, easily digestible and does not disintegrate into the water prior to a fish can consume this. Fish should be fed using the correct feed of the particularright quality by a conscientious person who is aware that fish ought to be fed according to providing response. Fish may not invariably feed with the same intensity. They may not want to consume much in bad weather or having a sudden change in temp; fish may alsonot eat after they are sick. 9. Are not able to Use the Best Individual for Feeding:The person feeding fish ought to beconscientious and keen to look at the fish and learn their habits. Feed isn't to bedumped straight into ponds or tanks, but fedaccording to the particular fishes feeding response. Give food tois expensive (up to 60-70% of operating cost)and only the best laborer can purchase a low feed conversion and lowest cost. 10. Does not fully grasp managementregimes: Do not really appreciate that different operations levels have different requirements which consequently affects stocking rates. Stocking rates are some sort of functionof the particular management regime. 11. Consentrate on few large fish rather than Volume Production: Being a lot more impressed with harvesting the few large fish rather than looking at the all round picture andappreciating overall tonnage at harvest.Your survival rates and average sea food size matterwhen increasing table-fish, because profitmargins earlier mentioned operational costs generallyrange between 10 to 30% dependant upon one’smarket. The net gain is therefore largely some sort offunction of turnover. 12. Do not keep records , nor assess performance to re-adjust operationspractices accordingly after every cycle. A farmer is therefore not able to tell whether a profit or loss could have been made. Having profit one’s pocket after a sale does not imply one has made a profit. Records need to be kept on all facets of management to help the particular farmer evaluate and right his/hermanagement practices, pertaining to improving production and setting up a business plan. 13. Hobby farmers who forget to harvest at the right time, as though there're taking care of wild-life in a game park. 14. Wrong objectives for committing to aquaculture. Some do it since their friends are doing it or because they'retargeting ‘free’ funds coming from donors or government. Nothing these days is free.Always watch out for the hidden costs just before making a final determination. Furthermore, pond or tank construction is costly which is not something one should undertake for the sake of it. Think objectively prior to deciding to embark on fish farming. Farm fish as a business; as a source of employment and income for your self and others. Invest in fish farming provided that you have studied this and understand the difficulties. 15. Expand the farm like a solution to low benefit and yields. It is a bad business decision to expand a failing organization without first finding out what the sources of the failure are in addition to correcting them. 16. Feel consultants and newspaper reports that indicate fish farming requires little investment and leads to huge profits. Ifit were that easy, everyone would be doing it.And the so- called consultants will be busy making money coming from growing fish; not coming from advertising their expensive teaching programs.

Fish Farming Business In Nigeria

Sea food farming in Nigeria is currently a very lucrative business which is mainly boosted by the continu-ous rise within the demand for catfish. Catfish farming the most popular form of fish farming in Nigeria which is therefore where the discourse of this article will likely be centred. Whether you are just starting aquaculture with the expectation of making just an additional income or going directly into full scale commercial production, Here you will discover the prospects and the challenges facing the catfish farmers in Nigeria. The most common species present in Nigeria are; Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Clarias Back button Heterobranchus hybrid (Heteroclarias) in addition to Clarias nigro-digitatus. Heterobranchus sp are incredibly common in the south eastern side of Nigeria with clarias spp now dominating the west. Despite the popularity of catfish farming throughout Nigeria, the fish farming market can best be described as being at the infant stage in comparison with the large market potential of its production and marketing. This is mainly as a result of unavailability of fingerlings as a result of lack of adequate facilities for hatcheries and fingerling production. Breeding If you intend to go into catfish harvesting in Nigeria, the first thing you will need to get hold of could be the fingerlings. The fingerling can be had mainly through artificial propagation within the hatcheries through hormonal induction. Inside Nigeria, it is usually inexpensive than the imported hormonal analogues. Fish Farmers also say that they are more reliable. And When i seriously don’t doubt these. But despite the attractiveness of induced spawning, you'll find challenges which you need to face. These problems all have their root within the extra care would have to be given to the fry during the first week of lifetime. In this regard, you will need to battle with provision of the zooplankton which serves as feeds for the larvae, fry and fingerlings thus playing an essential role on their growth and survival. There is usually the problem of cannibalism, heavy predation by frogs/aquatic insects plus the abiotic challenges such because water temperature, dissolved breathable oxygen (>4. 5mg/L-1), levels connected with ammonia. The brood stock to use when it comes to breeding should be among 0. 3kg and 2kg. Farming System Next thing on the line is the culture system you'll use. First, you have to bear in mind that these African catfishes (especially Clarias gariepinus) are cannibals. So you should consider great care in sorting them as outlined by size. If you intend to culture the fingerling outdoor, you should take directly into consi-deration the prevalence connected with predatory insects in Nigeria. For that reason, ensure you cover this tanks with mosquito nets in an attempt to keep the predatory insects away. For the person, poly culture of clarias gariepinus with tilapia spp is incredibly common in Nigeria possesses been known in recent times to be productive. This is carried out, using mainly concrete tanks which make it possible for supple- mentary feeding, thus being sure higher fish yield. A number of few farmers also utilize indoor water re- circulatory system (WRS). But it can be costlier, so most simply make use of the concrete tanks. Feeding methods To accomplish maximal yield and growth of catfish in Nigeria, you will need to ensure that the feed you might be offering contains the essential amino acids such as arginine, methionine and lysine present in crude protein sources. The richest source of crude protein for this specific purpose is fishmeal. But the high cost makes us to seek for a substitute, you can use different conventional and sometimes unconventional animal by-products as well as plant residue (such because groundnut cake, soyabean meal etc. ) that match the nutrient requirements of catfish. This is in order to reduce cost of production whenever possible. Through development of fish farming in recent times in Nigeria, feeding connected with catfish is predominantly carried out using pelleted floating feeds. This ensures adequate feeding in the fish thus increased growth rate. It is advisable to accomplish it on a particular section of the pond instead of only scattering the feed across the water surface. This helps you to minimize wastage of the feed and saves money too.

Commercial catfish production

Production Process A typical production cycle for channel catfish farming begins with spawning of brood fish. Spawning begins in the spring when water temperatures increase to above 70º F. At that time, brood fish held in ponds randomly mate and the fertilized eggs are collected from spawning containers and moved to a hatchery. Eggs hatch after 5 to 8 days of incubation and fry are reared in the hatchery for an additional 4 to 10 days. Fry are then transferred to a nursery pond, fed daily through the summer, and harvested in autumn or winter as fingerlings. Fingerlings are then stocked into foodfish growout ponds, fed daily, and harvested when they reach 1 to 2 pounds. Roughly 18 to 36 months is required to produce a food-sized channel catfish from an egg. Foodfish are harvested year-around to meet the needs of processing plants, so ponds on a given farm usually contain fish at various stages of growout throughout the year. Maintaining Brood stock Channel catfish brood stock are easy to maintain in pond culture, and spawning efficiency is reasonably good without any special manipulation of environmental conditions or the need for hormone treatments. Although channel catfish may mature at 2 years, they must be at least 3 years old and weigh at least 3 pounds for reliable spawning. Fish 4 to 6 years old, weighing between 4 and 8 pounds are considered prime spawners. Older fish produce fewer eggs per body weight and larger fish may have difficulty entering the containers commonly used as nesting sites. Brood stock are maintained at relatively low standing crops (less than 2,000 pounds/acre) to provide good environmental conditions and minimize suppression of spawning by overcrowding. Brood fish are seined from ponds and inspected every year or two. Large fish, which may be poor spawners, are culled and replaced with smaller, younger brood fish. Periodic inspection of brood fish also provides an opportunity for adjusting the sex ratios within brood populations. Spawning activity will begin in the spring when water temperatures are consistently around 75º F. Spawning occurs over a period of several hours as several layers of adhesive eggs are deposited in spawning containers. Females between 4 and 8 pounds typically lay between 3,000 and 4,000 eggs per pound body weight. Spawning success (percentage of females spawning) ranges from 30 to 80 percent each year, and depends mainly on the condition and age of the female brood fish and water temperatures during the spawning season. Nesting containers are checked every 2 or 3 days for the presence of eggs. The eggs collected from the brood pond are placed in an insulated, aerated container and transported to the hatchery. Hatchery Phase Hatcheries used to produce catfish fry are simple facilities that use flow-through tanks holding about 90 to 100 gallons of water for egg incubation and fry rearing. The most critical factor for a successful hatchery is a dependable supply of high-quality water. Egg hatching tanks are equipped with a series of paddles spaced along the length of the tank to allow wire-mesh baskets to fit between them. One or two egg masses are placed in each basket and the paddles gently rotate through the water to provide water circulation and aeration. The incubation time varies from 5 to 8 days depending upon water temperature. At hatching, the fry (called sac-fry at this point) fall or swim through the wire-mesh basket and school in tight groups. Sac- fry are siphoned into a bucket and transferred to a fry rearing tank. Aeration in fry rearing tanks is provided by surface agitators or by air bubbled through airstones. Initially, sac-fry are not fed because they derive nourishment from the attached yolk sac. Over a 3- to 5-day period after hatching they absorb the yolk sac and turn black. At that time fry (now called swim-up fry) swim to the water surface seeking food. Swim-up fry must be fed 6 to 12 times a day for good survival and growth. Fry are fed nutritionally complete feed for 2 to 7 days before they are transferred to a nursery pond. Fingerling Production Culture practices for fingerling production are relatively standardized across the industry, especially when compared to the wide variety of production strategies used to grow food- sized catfish. Fry grow faster when stocked at lower densities but more space is required to grow larger fingerlings at lower densities. Stocking rate is therefore a compromise between benefits of producing large fingerlings for foodfish growout and the economics of producing more small fingerlings in less space. Fish are fed a manufactured feed and grown to fingerling size (3 to 8 inches long) over a 5 to 10 month period. Fish are either allowed to continue growing in their original nursery ponds or are harvested and transferred to other ponds for growout to stocker-sized fish of 0.1 to 0.25 pounds or to food-sized fish of 1.2 to 2.5 pounds. It is important to fertilize nursery ponds so that they contain abundant natural foods to promote growth until the fry are large enough to switch to manufactured feeds. A finely ground feed should be offered once or twice daily to train fish to accept the feed. As the fish grow, feed particle size is increased. A month or so after stocking, the fish (now called fingerlings) are fed once or twice daily to satiation, using a small floating pellet with 32 to 35 percent crude protein. Because fingerling populations are particularly susceptible to infectious diseases, disease management takes on added importance in this stage of production. Survival of catfish fry to fingerlings varies greatly from pond-to-pond depending on the initial condition of the nursery pond, losses to bird predation, and the incidence of infectious diseases. Average survival from fry stocking to fingerling harvest in excess of 60 percent across all ponds on the farm is considered to be very good. Foodfish Production Cultural practices used for foodfish production differ from farm to farm, and the process of growing a food-sized catfish can take many paths after the fingerling phase. Most farmers divide fish stocks only once between the nursery phase and the foodfish growout phase. In this scheme, fingerlings are harvested and restocked into foodfish ponds at roughly one- tenth to one-twentieth the density of nursery ponds because fish will be ten to twenty times heavier when harvested as foodfish. This one-step production scheme is not as simple as it appears because there are many options for managing foodfish ponds. Another approach to producing food-sized fish is to divide twice between the nursery phase and foodfish growout. The first division produces a medium-sized fish called a "stocker". The second division is made when stockers are harvested and restocked for growout to food size. In this scheme, small fingerlings (2 to 3 inches) are stocked at about 40,000 to 60,000 fish/acre and grown over one season to produce stockers weighing 0.1 to over 0.3 pounds. The stockers are then harvested and moved to foodfish growout ponds. As with the one-step scheme described above, there are several options for foodfish growout using stocker-sized fish. The three fundamental production variables in foodfish growout are cropping system, stocking rate, and size of fingerlings to stock. Farmers use various combinations of these variables and it is impossible to describe a typical management scheme for production of food-sized channel catfish. Farmers have developed and used various production schemes based on experience, personal preference, and perceived productivity and profitability. Cropping system refers to the stocking-harvest-restocking schedule. In the single-batch system, the goal is to have only one year-class of fish in the pond at a given time. Fingerlings are stocked, grown to the desired harvest size, and all fish are harvested before the pond is restocked with new fingerlings to initiate the next cropping cycle. In the multiple-batch system, several different year-classes of fish are present after the first year of production. Initially, a single cohort of fingerlings is stocked. The faster-growing individuals are selectively harvested ("topped") using a large-mesh seine, followed by addition ("under- stocking") of fingerlings to replace the fish that are removed plus any losses incurred during growout. The process of selective harvest and understocking continues for years without draining the pond. Whether ponds are operated as single-batch systems or multiple-batch systems, stocking rate is best defined as the maximum fish density (number per acre) over the production period. Under commercial conditions, stocking rate becomes an approximate goal rather than a precisely managed population variable because it is nearly impossible to know the true inventory of fish in large commercial ponds that are used for several years without draining. There is no consensus on the best stocking rate for commercial production and rates used in the industry range from less than 500 fish/acre to more than 10,000 fish/acre. One explanation for the wide range of stocking rates used by catfish farmers is that production goals, facilities, and resources vary from farm to farm. The size of fingerling to stock is a critical factor in foodfish production, but very little systematic research has been conducted to determine the relationship between fingerling size at stocking and economic returns. Large fingerlings will reach foodfish size faster than small fingerlings, but large fingerlings are expensive because they require more time and space to produce. In addition, large fingerlings can be difficult to obtain because most fingerling producers prefer to stock fry at relatively high densities and move fingerlings to foodfish ponds as soon as possible to avoid risk of loss to infectious diseases and predacious birds. The best size fingerling to stock is therefore a compromise that depends on cropping system, fish stocking density, and fingerling availability.

Questions You Need To Answer To Determine the Performance of Your Fish Farming Business

Millions of new companies are started up each and every year and in most countries over 90 % of those new companies never survive beyond the first year of starting up. Why? Because many fail to understand the fundamentals of a true business. No matter how large or small your fish farming business is, you cannot gauge the effectiveness of any changes you’ve made over the year without analyzing the benefits and bottom line. You must take a step back from your business from time to time to see the direction in which your business is heading…. don’t just think because orders are coming in for fish that all is well with your business. Here are 10 simple questions you ought to the know the answers to as the owner of the business: How do your year-to-date in your sales compare to the last couple of years in your fish farm? Don’t be satisfied if you managed to match them because if sales stayed the same then you’ve achieved zero growth. With inflation, this flat growth line is a warning sign for more trouble down the road. What percentage of your fish farming business is from repeat customers? This is important to know because if it’s too low, then it needs to be improved. The estimated cost of getting a new customer versus retaining an existing one can be as much as five to one in terms of dollars spent. Keeping customers is more cost-effective than constantly seeking new ones. How long has it been since you offered a new service in your fish farm to your customers? Loyal customers like to see you are changing and progressing with the times. If you’re stuck for an idea, ask your customers what they need. Do you consider marketing and advertising expenses or investments? How you look at the money spent in these areas affects your willingness to spend money at all. Would you look at prescriptions as a waste of money? Marketing is really investing in you, your vision, and your company. The old adage that you must spend money to make money is true, but you must spend it wisely. Spend it on ads that are pulling responses and orders, and if they’re not maybe you need to change publications. Do you know what PR is and how to use it to positively position your business in the media? I’ll bet that at least one of your competitors does. Nearly every mention of a company or business in the newspapers and magazines is a direct result of publicity efforts. Being quoted or featured in an article speaks volumes to your clients and readers who are your potential prospects. A good PR consultant can do that for you and show you ways to extend the shelf life of that article beyond its publication. Are you listed in the yellow pages? If you only have a line listing, consider including a small ad in the yellow pages. If you can afford it, it will pay dividends throughout the year. Do you threat your regular customers better than your drop- ins? You shoul!!! If your customers don’t feel special when coming to you for your products of services, why should they remain loyal to you? Have a customer appreciation day or a special invitation only sale for your regulars. Create a mailing list of your regulars. Send occasional post cards or greeting cards for special events or just to keep in touch. Learn to recognize them on sight and greet them by name when they visit you. How long has it been since you really talked to one of your customers? Just as you appreciate when your Doctor takes time to talk to you, your customers will appreciate you if you take an interest in their needs. If you have a service business, have lunch or coffee periodically with some regulars – even if they only contact you once or twice a year. The personal touch in an impersonal world will be remembered. How is your business doing compared to your competition? Every company, no matter what the size, has competition – even home-based businesses. Are your competitors businesses growing or downsizing? Is their pricing or service better than yours? If so, what can you tell potential customers about the price difference? Think about how you can improve your service to meet or exceed your customer’s expectations. Are your employees happy? Don’t ask them directly, but observe them throughout the day. Watch, listen and learn. Employees who like their jobs don’t watch the clock for quitting time, aren’t habitually late, don’t have poor body language, don’t spend time on personal phone calls, and don’t look like they never smiled. Observe how they interact with customers. Not everyone is a match for direct contact with the public, so make sure you don’t have an employee who is driving business away.

How To Write A Fish Farming Business Plan

BUSINESS PLAN Mission Statement of Business State clearly in 2-3 sentences what you intend to do in business. 1. Executive summary a) Description of your proposed business 1) describe your product or business 2) support with diagrams, illustrations or pictures (if available) b) Summary of your proposed marketing method- design ponds or tanks to a size that all the fish produced could be marketed in one day. 1) describe the market you’re aiming for- look for value added, niche markets for catfish or tilapia. 2) outline the way you plan to reach your market – The fish farmers should seek to reach buyers through as many approaches as possible to provide the best profit, such as direct sales at the farm as well as through retailers. c) Summary of your financial estimates 1) state the total sales you aim to reach in each of the first three years 2) state the estimated profit for each of the first three years 3) state the estimated starting capital you’ll need 2.Statement of objectives a) Statement of the desirability of your product or service 1) describe the advantages your product or service has, its improvements over existing products or services 2) state the long-range objectives and the short-range objectives of your proposed business 3) describe your qualifications to run the business 4) describe the ‘character’ you want for your business, the image you’d like your customers to see, such as hygienic conditions of highest standard, live fish sales with cleaning and dressing of fish as per customer preference. For example, samples of cooked fish could be given to customers along with recipes. 3.Background of proposed business a) Brief summary of existing conditions in the type of ‘industry’ you’re intending to enter 1) where the product or service is now being used 2) how the product or service is now being used b) Detailed explanation of your place in the industry 1) describe the projections and trends for the industry 2) describe competition you face 3) state your intended strategy for meeting competition 4) describe the special qualities of your product or service that make it unique 4.Marketing strategy a) A description of your marketing strategy 1) design the farm with different sizes of ponds to meet different market demands and be able to sell all fish harvested from a particular pond. 2) describe the market you plan to reach 3) keep costs low with feeding of quality fish feeds by a feed manager who feeds by feeding response 4) under price the competition and make profit by tight management and low costs with lowest Feed Conversion Ratios. 5) describe in detail how you plan to distribute your product or service (retail shops, door to door, etc.) 6) describe the share of the market you expect to capture 5. Selling tactics a) An outline of the activities to be used in selling the product or service 1) state the methods you expect to use to promote your product or service (word of mouth, radio, newspapers, etc.) 2) include a sample brochure or other promotional literature 3) present any data which supports your ability to meet your sales goals (i.e. actual orders, potential customers, etc.) 4) explain the margins of safety you’ve allowed in your sales forecasts b) Propose entering different fish markets as in the North and SE, where prices remain high. 6.Plan of operation a) Description of the proposed organisation 1) show an organisation chart describing the needed business functions and relationships 2) describe the key positions and identify the persons to fill them 3) list equipment or facilities and the space and location required b) Farm pond operations 1) stagger pond stocking to allow one pond to be harvested per month, to maintain cash flow 2) manage to maintain low feed conversions and best management practices. 3) plan to purchase fingerlings and stock ponds every month to assure regular harvests 4) maintain proper storage of fish feeds without pests and moisture 5) practice proper sanitation programme of sterilizing tanks and liming ponds before restocking. 7. Supporting data a) Information required to support the major points in the business plan 1) a set of drawings of the product(s) to be made or a detailed description of the service to be offered 2) show a list of the equipment you’ll require for your business and estimates of the cost of that equipment 3) List the capital equipment you’ll need and its estimated cost. 4) List a price schedule for your product line or service 5) Include your market survey data (perhaps from your focus group) 6) supply the following financial data: – projected statement and balance sheet for the first two years by the month – Income statement for two years – cash flow projection for two years 8. Conclusions and summary a) statement of proposed approach in starting the new business 1) state the total capital you’ll need and the safety factor you’ve used 2) state how much profit you expect and when you expect to show it 3) decide what percentage of ownership you want for yourself and your partners 4) indicate the total capital you’ll need and how it’s to be made up: – your share of the starting investment – how much you’ll need from others and when you’ll need the money – state what share of the business you’ll give to investors or lenders 5) state your planned schedule for starting your business

Why Some Fish Farmers Succeed In the Fish Farming Business

1. Know their Market before Starting Fish Farming: Identify their business opportunities and markets beforehand. 2. Know the Market Demand: Tailor their production to meet the market requirements in a profitable and reliable manner. 3. Invest wisely, step-by-step. Start small and build up only if they are making profits. Do not think of expanding (build more ponds for production) if/when they realize they are making losses. 4. Seek Advice only from Proven, Qualified Advisors: Are particular about where they source advice from and whom they select as advisors. Select those with a proven track record, who have been vetted by professional organisations. 5. Do not cover up their mistakes but rather learn from them as well as from other farmers’ mistakes. 6. Keep and use their records as management tools. Track their expenditure and losses. 7. Follow recommended Best Management Practices. 8. Use the best feed locally available to them correctly; closely monitoring their Feed Conversions and cost. 9. Owners are Managers: Owners are involved in the running and/or management of the farm. 10. Market Driven Management: Invest and manage their farms based on the market opportunities and their resource limitations. 11. Proper siting of the farms and adopt appropriate production technology. 12. Sell their fish to the market as soon as they reach market size and appreciate turnover. 13. Honor promises to their customers, even if occasionally it means they may have to make a no-profit sale or replace fish at no charge. 14. Are able to analyze their farm data themselves and use the data they obtain to assess the farm’s production and economic performance. 15. Use their own data as the primary basis for making management and investment decisions.

Practical Management of Fish Seeds (Fry and Fingerling)

In fish life history, egg(fertilized) Larva fry fingerling sub- adult/juvenile adult. The larval stage ends when it fills up its air bladder with air, begins swimming in a fish-like manner and starts to eat external food that it becomes to fry. In addition to needing all the essential requirements of the larva e.g. adequate O2, suitable temperature, removal of waste matter etc, the fry also requires external food which should be adequate both qualitatively and quantitatively. The early fry may still have a part of the yolk left and can draw on it for sustenance from 1-4days depending on the species. The fry spends this period and learns to find its own food. Fry are said to require a more precise and careful nursing to ensure their survival and proper growth. Authors have remarked that lack of suitable food caused high fry mortality. Fingerling is bigger than fry e.g. 5-10cm and it is the stage that is usually stocked. Management of these developmental stages is based on their fragility and difference in sizes in terms of their habitats, stocking density, feeding and control of their infections and diseases. These stages are crucial because there cannot be harvest without recruitment. Hence, these stages are called fish seed or recruits. Fry are nursed in small earthen ponds which vary from 100-200m2 for about 3-4 weeks to attain fingerling stage. Fingerlings are reared rather than nursed in bigger earthen ponds. The pond is usually prepared to have a standing crop of rotifers and must be checked to exclude cyclopoid copepods which are natural enemies of fry. Food is crucial for growth which must be observed daily. Fry have two sources of food during the initial stage – yolk and external food to ensure better survival. Maintain these. It is part of the management that mixing of different age groups of same species should be avoided and it is advisable to use a monoculture of fishseed. The most commonly provided artificial feed is finely ground and sieved through 100-150µm mesh called starter food. After two weeks, the size of feed particles is increased. Cutting the grasses on the dyke and throwing them around the shallow part of pond helps to increase natural food production in the pond. After about one month, the young fingerling have to be removed from the small nursing pond and stock in a large pond. The artificial feeding continues but the size of food changes due to changes in the size of mouth. It is necessary to thin out the stock in order to provide sufficient space, O2, food to the fast growing fingerling. Enemies of these stages must be managed too. These enemies change with the age of the fish. These are categorized as (i) enemies of fry (ii) enemies of advanced fry and (iii) of fingerlings. Identify these enemies and treat adequately. For example enemies of fry include carnivorous Cyclops, insect and insect larvae (e.g. dragonfly), which predate largely on the fry. It has been stated that Cyclops are responsible for the highest mortality of fry at this stage next only to that caused by hunger. The advanced fry is less prone to predation by Cyclops since it is more agile and its skin in thicker and stronger. It is the insect larvae that pose greater danger at this stage followed by hunger if there is acute food shortage. O2 deficiency may kill in heavily manured ponds. Abrupt changes in temperature and extreme cold may exterminate the fry population. Enemies of the fingerling – Besides hunger, O2 deficiency, sudden change in temperature, white spot disease caused by Ichthyophthirius, Trichodina and gill worm infections could exterminate the entire stock within a brief period in fingerling ponds. Infection of a pond with any protozoan or bacteria or fungus can be diagnosed through certain indicative signs such as: (i)swimming of fry/fingerling in large school near the surface (ii) their accumulation below the water inlet (iii) the occurrence of dark specimens (iv) sudden occurrence of dead fish on the surface. It should pointed out that fish that die because of parasitic infection usually float on the surface while those that die due to dietary factors often remain at the bottom.

Fish Feeding Systems and Techniques

A feeding programme is successful when the required amount of nutritionally adequate feed is consumed. The feeding plan and techniques are affected by fish species and size, time of the year and the type of production system. The best guide for the fish farmer is to place the feed where it can be obtained by the fish, offer it so that the fish will receive their share/rations. Floating feeds can be broadcast mechanically from specially designed feeding troughs or from mechanical feeders. For small ponds, the feed can be distributed by hand (self feeder). Feeding of fry and small fingerling poses different challenges. The experienced fingerling producer knows where the young fish are located in the pond. He may use containers or shelters to attract or hold the newly-stocked fry in an area. Note that feed placed in wrong location will not be eaten and will reduce overall water quality. Mechanical feeders include the demand type which is activated by the fish and the automatic type which is activated by a time clock. Both have serious limitations, one of which is the tendency to less frequent observation of the culture system. The demand feeder is useful in extensive systems where fish do not have to be observed closely e.g. in lakes, reservoirs. The automatic feeder is designed to offer a measured amount of feed at predetermined time of the day.

Fish Feeding Systems and Techniques

A feeding programme is successful when the required amount of nutritionally adequate feed is consumed. The feeding plan and techniques are affected by fish species and size, time of the year and the type of production system. The best guide for the fish farmer is to place the feed where it can be obtained by the fish, offer it so that the fish will receive their share/rations. Floating feeds can be broadcast mechanically from specially designed feeding troughs or from mechanical feeders. For small ponds, the feed can be distributed by hand (self feeder). Feeding of fry and small fingerling poses different challenges. The experienced fingerling producer knows where the young fish are located in the pond. He may use containers or shelters to attract or hold the newly-stocked fry in an area. Note that feed placed in wrong location will not be eaten and will reduce overall water quality. Mechanical feeders include the demand type which is activated by the fish and the automatic type which is activated by a time clock. Both have serious limitations, one of which is the tendency to less frequent observation of the culture system. The demand feeder is useful in extensive systems where fish do not have to be observed closely e.g. in lakes, reservoirs. The automatic feeder is designed to offer a measured amount of feed at predetermined time of the day.

How To Manage A Fish Farm In Nigeria Successfully

a. the best manager is one who is also the owner of the farm and lives at the farm. b. team building is a management tool for the workers at the farm. Regular meetings should be held with staff to strengthen human capacity and create a team spirit. Each worker is important to the farm enterprise and this needs to be communicated to them. This management approach will contribute to improved management and hopefully prevent theft at the farm by employees. c. Sampling should be well organized with all equipment, scales, nets and record keeping materials on site before starting the sample. Samples should be carried out in the early morning hours when cooler temperatures prevail. Avoid stressing fish. d. When sampling fish, they should be graded, to maintain fish of a fairly uniform size in each pond. Shooters can be separated and stocked in a pond for fast growers. e. Fish to be transported need to be held in tanks for 2 days without food to condition them for transport. f. Handling of fish should always be done in water in buckets. Tubs can be used to hold water and fish can be counted and sorted using plastic hampers with holes which are positioned in the tubs with water. When fish are to be weighed, the hamper with fish is lifted out of the water and the fish can be quickly weighed in the hamper without water; the hamper weight is tared prior to counting and sorting the fishing. The fish are then returned to water. g. Harvest of fish should be easy on a well-managed farm. All equipment, nets, buckets, tubs, scales and record keeping materials are put in place in advance. The market is ready to receive the fish. Hapas or cages are placed in a nearby pond to receive any undersized or small fish. The transport equipment is on site to transport the fish to market or to holding tanks. The workers are available for the seining and harvesting of fish in the early hours of h. All sampling and harvest information are to be well documented. Such records are used in planning for the next crop and for business management. Eventually good records will be used in establishing a business plan which can be used in applying for bank loans if needed.

How To Calculate Fish Pond Carrying Capacity Using Stocking Density

Each pond has a carrying capacity or production capacity based on species of fish, water quality, temperature and quality of fish feeds. All agricultural activities have such a carrying capacity. A maize farmer would space planting his seeds at certain distances apart to allow for maximum production; too many seeds planted too close together would produce a small crop. The same is true for fish. Under the best of conditions in static earthen ponds in Nigeria, catfish productions of 10-12 tons per hectare have been achieved although some farmers claim productions up to 50 tons per hectare. This is possible as Asian catfish farmers achieve productions up to 200 MT/ha/ year. For yields of 50 MT, it is necessary to stock ponds with catfish at a density of 6 fish/m2. This would assume a mortality of up to 20% and harvested fish averaging about 1 kg each in weight. Still many ponds are routinely stocked at 5-10 fish/m2. During rearing of juveniles, densities may be 50 fish/m2 or even more as their density would be reduced upon stocking in production ponds. Many fish farmers rearing fish in concrete block tanks stock fish for grow out at 15 to 30 catfish/m2 and achieve total productions of 750 kg in six months from 3 tanks of about 50m2 total surface area. This extrapolates to a production of 300 MT/ha/year, but this is by using the tanks in a partial flow through system to remove wastes and foul water with regular flushing of water. The less hardy tilapias cannot be stocked at such densities as Clarias as their tolerance for limiting conditions of low oxygen and accumulation of waste are very limited in comparison with catfish.

How To Calculate Fish Pond Carrying Capacity Using Stocking Density

Each pond has a carrying capacity or production capacity based on species of fish, water quality, temperature and quality of fish feeds. All agricultural activities have such a carrying capacity. A maize farmer would space planting his seeds at certain distances apart to allow for maximum production; too many seeds planted too close together would produce a small crop. The same is true for fish. Under the best of conditions in static earthen ponds in Nigeria, catfish productions of 10-12 tons per hectare have been achieved although some farmers claim productions up to 50 tons per hectare. This is possible as Asian catfish farmers achieve productions up to 200 MT/ha/ year. For yields of 50 MT, it is necessary to stock ponds with catfish at a density of 6 fish/m2. This would assume a mortality of up to 20% and harvested fish averaging about 1 kg each in weight. Still many ponds are routinely stocked at 5-10 fish/m2. During rearing of juveniles, densities may be 50 fish/m2 or even more as their density would be reduced upon stocking in production ponds. Many fish farmers rearing fish in concrete block tanks stock fish for grow out at 15 to 30 catfish/m2 and achieve total productions of 750 kg in six months from 3 tanks of about 50m2 total surface area. This extrapolates to a production of 300 MT/ha/year, but this is by using the tanks in a partial flow through system to remove wastes and foul water with regular flushing of water. The less hardy tilapias cannot be stocked at such densities as Clarias as their tolerance for limiting conditions of low oxygen and accumulation of waste are very limited in comparison with catfish.

Qualities of A Healthy Fish Stock and Good Stocking Practices

a. Fish stock should be of known source (Dutch variety, etc) and be part of a breeding programme for continuous stock improvement; be sure fish fingerlings are not from unknown wild stocks of questionable species caught by fishermen. Fish fingerlings should be certified disease free. Farms should have tanks or ponds to quarantine fish initially to confirm the quality of their health. b. Fish for stocking in production ponds should be at least 10 cm in total length and preferably up to 15 cm in size. This will greatly reduce mortalities and ensure high survival of stocked fish. Fish of this size are very hardy and resistant to handling and transport. c. Fish fingerlings should come from a certified fish hatchery with procedures for conditioning fish (2 days without feed) for transport in tanks and/or plastic bags. Fingerlings should have been graded to have similar size fish. Certified hatchery should have standardized procedures for grading and handling fish and preparing them for transport. d. Fish for stocking should be in good condition without sores or injuries on their skin; uniform skin color is another indicator of good health. Fish should be acclimatized slowly to the pond environment. Fish should have good overall appearance and be lively. e. With catfish, stock the pond assuming a carrying capacity of 10-15 tons/ha, which will call for a stocking density of 2 fish/m2 assuming a mortality of 10% using 15 g fish fingerlings for stocking. Assume a harvest size of at least 800 g per fish. f. With tilapias, stock the pond assuming a carrying capacity of 5-8 tons/ha with use of quality fish feeds. Calculate stocking rate based on a harvest weight of 400-500 g/fish. Stocking should be done with monosex male tilapias as they grow twice as fast as females. Fish can be sexed visually by hand or sex reversed tilapias can be used. Mixed sex mono species cultures of tilapias will lead to stunted fish and over population. Catfish can be stocked at 1 catfish for each 10 tilapia to control reproduction. Catfish can be stocked up to 2 months after the tilapia are stocked. g. records should be kept regarding all fish stocks and growth.

What Type of Fish Feed Do I Choose or Use?

For some years, fish farmers in Nigeria have preferred highquality imported fish feeds, going along with the common belief, “if it is imported, it has to be better than locally made products”. Artisanal, locally produced fish feeds on left compared with locally manufactured feeds on right with oil coating. Note the local feed is dry and high in fiber with poor water stability, whereas the high quality feed is oil coated and much more palatable to fish. High quality fish feeds are stable in water for at least one hour. However this preference is changing as the cost of imported feeds has increased and now high quality, lower priced, locally manufactured fish feeds are becoming tested and proven by farmers. Increasingly such feeds are available and farmers are benefiting from their use. In spite of this, perhaps as many as 50% of fish farmers still make their own (artisanal) fish feeds (Aquaculture Director, Federal Department of Fisheries, pers. comm.,2010); some use high quality imported feeds for the first two months of growth, then switch over to their “home made” feeds. Many of these farmers do not keep records and fail to grasp their total expenditures and economic results be they positive or negative. By investing in low-cost feed milling equipment they feel they can save money but fail to realize the cost of their total investment in not only inferior equipment but also in a generator as they cannot rely on the national electrical grid of NEPA. One small fish hatchery operator was paying N118/hour to operate his generator while the same farmer stated his NEPA costs were only N8.3/hour.

How To Construct A Fish Pond: Principles

a. Most earthen ponds are built with hand labour in Africa. For ponds larger than 1000 m2, heavy equipment is most effective as larger distances to move earth make hand labour costly. Work crews building fish ponds require close supervision for quality pond construction. b. top soils are removed from the site, later to be placed on top of dikes for sowing with grass cover c. a general survey of the site showing elevations, angles and distances is useful for designing the fish farm pond lay out, showing water canals and drainage canals. Ponds should be staked out with pegs to show pond lay out for tops and bottoms of dikes. d. The shallowest depth for production ponds should be no less than 60-80 cm and the deepest waters should be at least 1.2 m to 1.5 m depending on the slopes. Brood ponds for reproduction should be more shallow e. pond bottoms are hard and clean without stumps or obstructions and slope gently towards the central drain. f. pond dikes are to be compacted every 15-20 cm of soil depth. Compaction is very important and cannot be forgotten. Manual compaction is done with laborers using earth compactors or dammers and will assure no seepage of water. This will later minimize water use and greatly reduce repairs and maintenance costs. Dikes can be washed out from leaks that enlarge as water flows through them. g. the most efficient and low cost pond construction uses dug soils (cut) to build (fill) the dikes. So “Cut should equal Fill”. h. Slopes on the inside dikes should be 2:1 up to 3:1, whereas outside slopes could be steeper at 1.5:1 to 2:1. Gentle slopes require less maintenance and lower cost in the long run. i. the dike height between the water level and top of the dike is called the Freeboard and should be 15-30 cm depending on pond size. Standpipes or drain systems used should be in place to allow over flow during rains to maintain the freeboard. j. the entry pipe should be located above the drain pipe and harvest basin. By having facility to add water above the drain area, you reduce stress on fish during harvest and you keep the fish from swimming out of the lowest area in the pond. (see Figure 3). k. the stand pipe drain should be equipped with a screen having a large surface area to allow over flow of water without loss of fish. Stand pipes are usually of PVC and have an elbow that swivels in the pond bottom at the point where the drain pipe goes through the dike. Thus stand pipes can be “tilted down” to allow water to flow out of the pond. l. drain pipes under the dike require “anti seep collars” of concrete to avoid seepage along the smooth PVC pipe; these collars also help stabilize the pipe. m. ponds should be fully drainable all year round and should be open to receive sunlight. n. a harvest basin is very useful for efficient harvest of fish. These can best be constructed with cement and bricks inside the pond of dimensions 1.2 m x 3 m x 0.3 m deep (see photo in document). o. in most cases, new ponds should be limed (Agriculture lime -1000 kg/ha) and filled. Fish should be stocked once the soils have become saturated with water….up to one week after filling. p. dikes should be covered with top soil and sown with grass cover to prevent erosion. q. most ponds are rectangular with smaller ponds (100-500 m2) used for holding brood fish and spawning and fry rearing. Fry are often raised in tanks or hapas to 1-3 g size as this reduces predation and increases survival. r. records should be kept of all aspects of pond construction including labour, materials, hire of equipment, etc.

Water Supply In Fish Farming: Sources and Management

a. water could be obtained from boreholes, streams or lakes. Gravity flow water is cheapest and best source. Borehole water is an option with little risk but requires pumping. b. unpolluted, uncontaminated water is required c. year-round availability is needed in abundance according to a water budget plan. d. should be under total control of fish farm manager e. water should not be sourced from the water table; ponds built in the water table are uncontrollable and often undrainable and have large build up of bottom mud. f. borehole waters can be excellent, but may costly to pump and may require conditioning to remove carbon dioxide and improve oxygen content and temperature levels. g. open waters from canals and streams may be polluted or be contaminated from runoff from farm lands or towns. h. waters used in aquaculture need to be tested for quality. i. water with alkalinities less than 30 ppm (CaCO3) will require liming to bring up pH levels close to neutrality (7.0) for best fish production j. all water entering fish ponds or tanks needs to be screened to eliminate entry of predators, fish eggs and larvae. Long, fine mesh “socks” are best used to filter entry waters and require a trough to support them. k. waters over flowing in the standpipe should also be passing through a screen having a large surface area, much greater than the area of the stand pipe.

Four Steps To Monitoring Water Quality In Aquaculture

a. Year-round availability and the best quality are required. All water entering the pond or tank is screened/filtered through a fine mesh sock supported by a gutter. b. Increase water productivity through liming and feeding which result in “green water” phytoplankton blooms. c. The capability to understand and test water quality is needed for commercial fish farm management. A water test kit for measuring up to 10 or more parameters is best for most farms. An oxygen meter is a necessity for intensive fish farms. d. Keep records of all water quality analysis and other aspects of farm management. Farmers need comprehensive records to learn from their mistakes and successes.

Four Steps To Monitoring Water Quality In Aquaculture

a. Year-round availability and the best quality are required. All water entering the pond or tank is screened/filtered through a fine mesh sock supported by a gutter. b. Increase water productivity through liming and feeding which result in “green water” phytoplankton blooms. c. The capability to understand and test water quality is needed for commercial fish farm management. A water test kit for measuring up to 10 or more parameters is best for most farms. An oxygen meter is a necessity for intensive fish farms. d. Keep records of all water quality analysis and other aspects of farm management. Farmers need comprehensive records to learn from their mistakes and successes.

Four Steps To Monitoring Water Quality In Aquaculture

a. Year-round availability and the best quality are required. All water entering the pond or tank is screened/filtered through a fine mesh sock supported by a gutter. b. Increase water productivity through liming and feeding which result in “green water” phytoplankton blooms. c. The capability to understand and test water quality is needed for commercial fish farm management. A water test kit for measuring up to 10 or more parameters is best for most farms. An oxygen meter is a necessity for intensive fish farms. d. Keep records of all water quality analysis and other aspects of farm management. Farmers need comprehensive records to learn from their mistakes and successes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEAL WATER FOR YOUR POND

1. It should be greenish or bluish in colour due to phytoplankton. Yellow or brown colour may indicate acid water. 2. It should be about neutral or slightly alkaline. Best pH range for fish production is 6.5-9.0. Acidic and alkaline death point for pond fish is pH 4 and 11 respectively. 3. It must contain enough dissolve oxygen above 4mg/l. At values of 3mg/l or less growth will slow down, fish may become susceptible to diseases. 4. It must not be muddy or turbid. Secchi disc visibility less than 25cm is not desirable (adequate range = 40-90cm). When Secchi disc is unavailable, the palm should be visible when hand is dipped in water except turbidity is caused by plankton bloom. 5. It must not have offensive odour 6. It must be free of pollutants e.g. oil films, detergents, heavy metals e.t.c.

HOW TO CORRECT LOW OXYGEN LEVEL IN FISH PONDS

Low oxygen can kill fish. The decay of excess feed and organic fertilizer consumes oxygen from pond water. Fish will die of asphyxiation if too much oxygen is consumed. Ponds receiving large applications of fertilizer and/or feed must be closely monitored to determine if oxygen levels in the pond are satisfactory for fish. Low oxygen occurs most frequently just before sunrise. Farmers should visit their ponds early in the morning to see if fish are suffering from low oxygen. Fish will come to the water surface seeking higher oxygen levels from water in contact with the atmosphere. The fish appear to be "drinking" the surface water. Almost all fish in the pond will be evenly dispersed over the pond surface and gasping for air. When scared, they will make a splash and dive for deeper water, but will quickly return to the surface. This behavior is sometimes confused with feeding. However, feeding fish will not return to the surface quickly if scared. Fish suffering from low oxygen will usually not eat. Take immediate action to remedy low oxygen using the following steps. How to correct low oxygen in ponds. 1) Add fresh water to the pond to replace water with low oxygen until fish stop gasping at the surface. More oxygen may be added to the fresh water by letting it run over a terraced structure before it enters the pond. 2) Stop fertilization and feeding for several days. Observe fish behavior closely during this time. If low oxygen has been corrected, fish will resume their normal feeding habits. When plankton abundance decreases and a submerged object is visible at a depth of 30 cm, fertilization may be resumed. 3) If low oxygen becomes a chronic problem, reduce the amount of fertilizer and/or feed placed in the pond. 4) Make use of water aerators.

Steps in fish handling

1. Avoid exposing the fish to sunlight. Keep them in a shaded area. 2. Ice the fish immediately after they are caught to lower their temperature. 3. Remove the gills and internal organs. 4. Avoid soaking the fish too long in the water after death as this easily spoils the fish. 5. Use mechanical refrigeration if there are facilities. It is imperative to understand that all processing methods are preservation method but all preservation methods are not processing methods. Smoking or drying is the most common method of fish preservation in Nigeria. Traditionally, fish is smoked in mud kiln or halved cut drum with wire netting on top and use of wood as source. Hardwoods are preferred to softwoods for fish smoking because the former yield more acid and may therefore produce products that are more bacteriologically stable. If fish is not sold fresh, preservation methods should be applied to extend shelf-life. These include freezing, smoking, drying and heat treatment (Sterilization, pasteurization, etc). Efficient preparation of fish is important when top quality, maximum yield and highest possible profits are to be achieved. Whenever fish must be kept for several hours or longer before being consumed, they must be treated in some way to prevent spoiling. These are the basic means for preserving fish: - Cooling and icing - Salting and pickling - Pastes and sauces - Canning and bottling - Air drying and smoking - Kiln drying

CAUSES AND CONTROL OF WATER TURBIDITY IN FISH PONDS

Causes - Suspended silt or clay particles. Clay turbidity restricts light penetration and may limit growth of plankton. It may also clog and block gill systems of fish and affect rate of reproduction by damaging fish eggs and destroying breeding grounds. Habitats of benthic organisms are also damaged. - High plankton density. Turbidity arising from planktonic organisms is desirable so long as it is not in excess. Excess plankton bloom may limit light penetration due to algal scum on surface and may deplete dissolved oxygen due to respiration Control of Turbidity - Simply by soaking dry vegetation in pond. - By use of chemicals such as lime, filter alum to precipitate suspended solids - Fertilization should be suspended if turbidity is caused by plankton blooms.