Fish Farming

Otherwise known as Pisciculture, fish farming is one of the important components of aquaculture. It is the practice of raising fishes in controlled and semi-controlled environments in enclosures to increase their production for consumption as food.

The common species of fishes raised under this practice include cod, tilapia, catfish, salmon, and more.

As far as the enclosures for raising fishes is concerned, even man-made tanks can also be used for this purpose. That's not all; even the other methods of fish farming are also in use these days.

Fish Farming Methods

In broad terms, the classification of different forms of fish farming includes the following:

Cage System

As the name suggests, this form of fish farming refers to the use of cages in lakes, ponds, rivers, and marine water sources. This method is all about keeping fishes and harvesting them in cages. Harvesters use artificial feeding habits to meet the food or nutritional requirements of fishes.

Irrigation Ditch/Pond Systems

This method of fish farming is practiced in a ditch or a pond. Just like the cage system, this method of fish farming also involves artificial feeding. The waste released by fishes is used for the fertilization of farmer's fields.

Recirculating Aquaculture(RAS)

CW systems usually involve an external biofilter for nitrifying bacteria and filters for solids removal from the water. Some systems also have UV lamps for water sterilization. These systems typically have more filtration components and higher capital and operational costs.

Integrated Recycling Systems

Tanks made of plastic in conjunction with hydroponic beds are used to harvest fishes in this method. The circulation of water takes place through the hydroponic beds, whereas the waste released by fishes fertilizes the food crops raised on hydroponic beds.

Composite Fish Culture

Composite fish culture is the farming practice of introducing other species of imported fishes to the native ones in a pond so both can co-exist with one another. The careful choice of imported species is of paramount importance for the best results from this fish farming method.

Classic Fry Farming

Also called flow-through system, it corresponds to the act of releasing sport fish species raised from eggs into streams.

Fish Farming – Methods