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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Leetown, West Virginia » Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #155453
Title: FISH CULTURE SYSTEM DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE

Author
item Brazil, Brian
item VINCI, BRIAN - FRESHWATER INSTITUTE
item SUMMERFELT, STEVE - FRESHWATER INSTITUTE

Submitted to: American Fisheries Society Transaction
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2004
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Brazil, B.L., Vinci, B., Summerfelt, S. 2004. Fish culture system design for the future. American Fisheries Society Transaction. Vol 44 p. 635-644.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Concerns for long-term water supply, public calls for environmental compatibility, potential pathogen contamination from influent and effluent waters, and increasingly restrictive water discharge regulations have led to the application of advanced water treatment technologies at various aquaculture facilities. As a result, novel management strategies and innovative facility designs have been developed for culturing fish in controlled or semi-controlled environments. However, questions surrounding the quality of the product obtained from such facilities suggest that greater attention should be given to end use requirements during the design, engineering, and operation of facilities culturing food fish or facilities culturing fish intended for wild release. The optimal 'wild' fish that is to be produced for enhancement or mitigation purposes is profoundly different than the optimal 'domesticated' fish that is produced for food. Facility design considerations will be presented, which include the intended use of the fish and physical/chemical limitations of water sources. The various design and operating parameters that must be considered include differences in culture density, photoperiod, time to harvest/stocking, feed formulation, culture system scale and replications, tank surface properties, hydrodynamics, water quality, and physical/chemical limitations of water sources. However, assorted design parameters and culture conditions can be addressed with similar culture system unit processes. System technologies that are currently in use and those that look promising will be discussed. Finally, this paper will provide design examples for what the authors envision as food fish and stock enhancement facilities.