Sneak Peek
Learn to farm Fish
- Small scale at home
- A foundation for commercial scale farming
More than half of the fish eaten in the world are farmed; and with an ever increasing focus on conserving the environment; this has become a massive growth industry.
Aquaculture can be relatively unsophisticated and small scale through to very sophisticated, high tech operations in environmentally controlled tanks that produce more farm product, faster. Intensive fish farming operations can be a great way option for urban farming, farm tourism or just for an existing farm to diversify.
This course is designed to provide the framework you need to properly understand your options, and the important fundamentals that underpin aquaculture.
You might start growing your own fish in a tank or pond in your suburban backyard. Some people re purpose an old swimming pool (above or below ground). Starting out like this is relatively inexpensive. You may never go any further.
Alternatively, this course may provide the basis for developing a more substantial commercial operation.
COURSE CONTENT
This course has six lessons as follows.
LESSON 1 SCOPE AND NATURE OF AQUACULTURE
Introduction/Terminology
Farmed vs wild fish
Commercial aquaculture systems
Hatchery systems
Nursery systems
Grow Our Systems
Land based Freshwater aquaculture
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 2 METHODS OF FARMING
Extensive production (EP)
Stocking and cropping
Maximum sustained yield (MSY)
Intensive production (IP)
Open systems
Semi closed systems
Closed systems
Types of hatcheries
Clear water - intensive
Green water - semi intensive
Pond rearing
Nursery cages
Grow out systems
Land-based systems - water containment
Concrete, wood, brick, stone, fibreglass, earth construction
Lined ponds
Soil characteristics
Pesticides
Extensive production (EP)
Intensive production (IP)
Land-based systems - water containment
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 3 FISH SPECIES TO GROW
Choosing what to farm
Trout
Catfish
Perch
Bream
Bass
Carp
Milkfish
Murray Cod
Snakeheads
Roach
Saratoga
Sturgeon (Acipenser and Huso)
Tilapia
Red Drum
Other species
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 4 FEED
Fish food production
Pelletede food
Live feed
Night lights
Fishmeal
Oil meals
Fish food production
Beef hart
Legumes
Seafood and vegetable mix
Earthworms
Compost
Other feed organisms
Lesson 4 additional reading
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 5 PATHOLOGY
Introduction
Symptoms of ill health
Pathogens
Fish health
Rules to reduce infection
Common pests and diseases in aquaculture
Fish diseases in different types of fish
Review what you have been learning
LESSON 6. HARVESTING and PROCESSING
Harvesting techniques
Seine nets
Gill nets
Traps, Funnel trap, Flyke trap
Long lines, Fish pumps, etc
Mechanical graders
Fish poisons and electric shocking techniques
Lesson review
Final Assessment
SCOPE OF THIS COURSE
The aim of this course is to develop an awareness and appreciation of the scope, nature and possibilities for aquaculture broadly, but more specifically growing fish in fresh water, to harvest as food.
Most commercial aquaculture involves growing fish, to harvest. This could be for commercial or personal purposes. It can involve growing other things as well though, including crustaceans (e.g. prawns, crayfish), shellfish, or seaweed. Aquaculture can be in either frsh water or salt water. Salt water aquaculture is also called marine aquaculture or “mariculture”.
The scale of operation may be small through to very large. Common reasons for a significant shift to aquaculture (away from wild harvesting of fish), are:
- Environmental conservation
- Increasing industrialisation
- Global food shortages.
There are a lot of different terms used to describe growing fish, each with different shades of meaning. These include: pisciculture, aquaponics, aquaria or aquaculture:
- Aquaculture is an all embracing term, covering fish, crustaceans, shellfish and other species, including seaweed. It is farming fish and other water dwelling plants or animals in fresh water or salt water to harvest.
- Pisciculture is farming fish only (excludes crustaceans, molluscs, seaweed etc.)
- Mariculture is aquaculture in saline water.
- Aquaponics involves growing land plants such as vegetables and herbs together with fish, all in the same system (usually in tanks) using (nutrient loaded) water circulated from the plants to the fish, with the water then returned to the plants. It is a hybrid of hydroponics and aquaculture.
- Aquaria: Aquarium management or aquaria generally refers to growing plants or animals in water for purposes other than harvesting for food, such as conservation, research, or for a hobby or decoration.
WHY THIS COURSE?
- It provides the broadest foundation, allowing you to make better decisions about what you do no matter what type of aquaculture you do. It provides sufficient awareness of the subject to develop your knowledge properly through further research and experience
- It is a minimal starting point. If you cannot afford to commit to a larger course, or to engage an expensive consultant, this course is the fastest and most effective way to learn what is needed to minimise the risk of making poor investments or costly mistakes when starting out with aquaculture.
- It is a solid, well constructed learning journey developed by a team of aquaculture experts.
Other Options
If you have a specific interest (such as aquaponics, mariculture, or aquaria; we do have other courses covering those things too.
If you have the time and money to learn a lot more, we have longer 100 hour courses, and 600 hour certificates that can teach this subject in far greater depth and breadth
Contact us at anytime if you need to know about any of these other options. admin@acs.edu.au