Aquaculture Systems - A Basic Overview

Summary

This video offers an in-depth exploration of basic aquaculture systems, with a focus on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF). It covers key systems such as ponds, raceways, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), and aquaponics, highlighting their biological, economic, and environmental considerations. The video emphasizes the importance of water quality, biological requirements, and location for successful aquaculture. It also introduces the specialized equipment and operational practices used in these systems, providing viewers with an understanding of both traditional and advanced aquaculture techniques.

Takeaways

• 😀 The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) is a leading institution focused on promoting sustainable aquaculture in northern climates.
• 😀 Aquaculture systems must meet the biological, economic, and environmental needs of the species being raised, including water quality, costs, and location considerations.
• 😀 Water plays a crucial role in aquaculture systems, with a focus on biosecurity and effective management of water in (input) and water out (discharge).
• 😀 Aquaculture systems can vary in intensity, ranging from low to high, with higher intensity systems generally leading to increased annual production.
• 😀 Ponds are a low-intensity aquaculture system, suitable for raising cool to warm water species, and are economical but require large land areas and have potential biosecurity risks.
• 😀 Raceways or flow-through systems offer a continual water flow, which is beneficial for cold-water fish species like trout and salmon, but require a consistent water supply and suitable topography.
• 😀 Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) allow for optimized control over water quality, temperature, and biosecurity, supporting a variety of species but are complex and costly to design and operate.
• 😀 RAS systems include processes such as solids removal, biofiltration, degassing, sterilization, and re-oxygenation to maintain a healthy environment for fish.
• 😀 Aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics, using fish waste as nutrients for plants. It can be coupled or decoupled, offering a sustainable method of food production.
• 😀 Aquaponics requires expertise in both plant and fish production and involves additional steps like mineralization to support plant growth, but research on diverse species beyond tilapia is still limited.
• 😀 The UWSP NADF is a resource for aquaculture education and research, offering opportunities for hands-on learning and specialized technical expertise in various systems and species.

Q & A

What is the primary mission of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF)?

The primary mission of UWSP NADF is to promote public education and advance the discovery, dissemination, and application of knowledge for sustainable aquaculture in a northern climate.

What types of species are commonly raised in ponds at UWSP NADF?

Ponds at UWSP NADF are commonly used to raise cool to warm water species such as bass, walleye, yellow perch, and panfish.

What are the advantages of pond systems in aquaculture?

Pond systems offer several advantages, including lower fish density, which reduces stress and disease transmission, and they are cost-effective globally. Additionally, they provide a buffering capacity for operational mistakes and are a good option for beginners.

What is a significant challenge when using ponds in aquaculture?

A significant challenge in pond systems includes the need for adequate oxygenation, as ponds often require electric aerators, diffusers, or paddle wheels to ensure fish thrive, especially in warm water conditions.

What are raceway systems in aquaculture and their key benefit?

Raceway systems are flow-through systems where water continuously enters from one side, passes through fish, and exits the other side. The key benefit of raceways is that they maintain water quality by replacing oxygen and removing ammonia and carbon dioxide, supporting higher fish density compared to ponds.

What are the main challenges of raceway systems?

The main challenges of raceway systems include the need for a large volume of continuously replaced water, difficulty in cleaning, and challenges in removing effluent waste, which can lead to additional permitting costs and regulations.

What makes recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) advantageous?

RAS are advantageous because they provide optimized control over water quality, temperature, and environmental conditions, which is highly species-adaptable. They also promote sustainability by conserving resources such as water, heat, and land, and they allow for low environmental impact and effective effluent management.

What are the key processes involved in a recirculating aquaculture system?

Key processes in RAS include solid concentration and removal, biofiltration for nitrification, degassing to remove harmful gases, sterilization for pathogen control, and re-oxygenation before water returns to the fish tanks.

How does the biofiltration process work in RAS?

In RAS, biofiltration supports nitrification by using beneficial bacteria to convert toxic ammonia and nitrite into less harmful substances. Biofilters provide a large surface area for these bacteria to thrive, enabling efficient treatment of waste in the system.

What is the role of aquaponics in aquaculture, and how does it work?

Aquaponics is a water reuse system where fish waste provides nutrients for plant growth. It can be a coupled system, where water cycles between fish and plants, or a decoupled system, where independent recirculating aquaculture systems send nutrient-rich water to plants. It requires expertise in both plant and fish production, as well as a solid understanding of nitrification and biosecurity.